A Small Utility's Path To Climate Change Readiness

The South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority provides wastewater treatment and collection service across eight towns in coastal New Jersey. The Authority has been one of the first in the state to undertake initiatives toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting climate change resiliency for their system. A renewable energy cogeneration system at their wastewater treatment plant provides approximately 50% of the plant's electrical energy and nearly 100% of the thermal energy required to operate the facility during 2015. A current project involves expansion of their cogeneration system to provide 100% of the plant’s energy during times of power loss. In addition, their sewer collection system includes new pump stations that are climate ready, and have prevented the release of millions of gallons of sewage in nearby waterways during extreme weather events, when conventional pump stations were rendered inoperable. The South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority has used avant-garde technologies and innovative financing strategies to develop a long term and regional Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Program.