Peak Oil Task Force Report - City of Bloomington - State of Indiana
Peak Oil Task Force Report - City of Bloomington - State of Indiana
Peak Oil Task Force Report - City of Bloomington - State of Indiana
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MITIGATION GOALS & STRATEGIES<br />
A commitment to smart water management involves comprehensive planning to meet the<br />
long‐term needs <strong>of</strong> the community joined with greater efficiencies and a strong<br />
conservation ethic.<br />
SHORTTERM STRATEGIES (15 years)<br />
1. Explore hybrid energy generation.<br />
While the Monroe Water Treatment plant enjoys some flexibility to scale down production,<br />
it does not have the capacity to run without power. Water production and treatment<br />
requires a continual input <strong>of</strong> power. The plant cannot be frequently completely shut down<br />
and then turned on again without negative consequences.<br />
Given the precarious state <strong>of</strong> the grid and the need for continuous power at the plant, the<br />
<strong>City</strong> should explore alternative energy options to supplement the water treatment plant’s<br />
energy supply. Specifically, the <strong>City</strong> should explore the possibility <strong>of</strong> installing a second<br />
layer <strong>of</strong> pumps powered by a combination <strong>of</strong> both solar energy and hydroelectricity from<br />
the Monroe Dam.<br />
At the request <strong>of</strong> the <strong>City</strong>’s Environmental Commission and some members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>City</strong><br />
Council, the Utilities Department sent Black and Veatch a list <strong>of</strong> general questions<br />
concerning the possible use <strong>of</strong> alternative energy sources to power the water treatment<br />
plant. In October 2008, lead engineer Donnie Ginn, P.E., responded to these questions via a<br />
memorandum. 65 Ginn’s memorandum advised that completely transitioning the facilities to<br />
either hydroelectric power or solar power is significantly constrained by space, season, and<br />
cost. For example, hydroelectric power generated at the dam would have to be transferred<br />
about 10 miles over difficult terrain to the water treatment intake facility. Furthermore,<br />
the facility could only be operated for a few months in the late spring. Meanwhile,<br />
65 Memo from Donnie Ginn <strong>of</strong> Black and Veatch to Patrick Murphy, Director <strong>of</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Bloomington</strong> Utilities<br />
Department, Monroe Water Treatment Plant Alternative Energy Sources (October 21, 2008).<br />
<strong>Report</strong> <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Bloomington</strong> <strong>Peak</strong> <strong>Oil</strong> <strong>Task</strong> <strong>Force</strong><br />
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