CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA
City Manager
RESOLUTION 09-62(A)(S)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, EXPRESSING ITS SUPPORT FOR A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO FUND AN ANAEROBIC DIGESTION PUMP DEMONSTRATION PROJECT AT THE SEWER TREATMENT PLANT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TECHNOLOGY MATRIX CORPORATION AND THE NORTHERN BUILDING SCIENCE GROUP; COMMITTING THE HUMAN RESOURCES NEEDED TO DEVELOP A FULL APPLICATION PROPOSAL; AND COMMITTING TO THE REQUIRED LOCAL MATCH IF THE RESULTING PROPOSAL IS SATISFACTORY TO ALL PARTIES IN THE PARTNERSHIP AND SELECTED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR FUNDING.
WHEREAS, The City Council recently added an expansion and upgrade to the sewer treatment plant including a mechanical dewatering/digester facility to the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) priority list; and
WHEREAS, The Public Works Department recently became aware of an opportunity to apply for a grant from the Department of Energy for a more efficient anaerobic digester pump as part of a demonstration project in partnership with Technology Matrix Corporation and the Northern Building Science Group; and
WHEREAS, Technology Matrix Corporation holds the patent and is the developer of the Anaerobic pump and Northern Building Science Group is a locally based non-profit organization that provides professional, technical, and scientific services; and
WHEREAS, The Anaerobic Pump is of interest to the City because it is less expensive to build and maintain than the project on the CIP List, recovers far more methane that can be used for heating and electric generation, eliminates the need for a sludge lagoon, reduces electric consumption, reduces waste and pressure on the landfill, and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases; and
WHEREAS, The estimated project cost is $3.5 Million of which 80% will be paid by the Department of Energy and 20% will be paid by the City of Homer ($700,000); these are rough and preliminary estimates; and
WHEREAS, The Technology Matrix Corporation has submitted a concept paper to the U.S. Department of Energy to initiate the funding consideration process for the abovementioned Anaerobic Pump demonstration project; and
WHEREAS, Contingent upon the U.S. Department of Energy’s invitation to apply for funding and subsequent award, 80% of the project costs will be paid by the U.S. Department of Energy and 20% will be paid by the City of Homer,; and
WHEREAS, The development of a full application proposal (detailing the entire project and associated costs and benefits, including subsequent operation and maintenance) will require considerable staff time over a 31-day period; and
WHEREAS, The Council received a briefing by the potential partners and discussed this proposal in detail at a Special Meeting which took place on June 8, 2009.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Homer City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the City and its residents to commit to preparing a full application proposal to the Department of Energy to fund an anaerobic digester pump demonstration project in partnership with Technology Matrix Corporation and Northern Building Science Group if invited by the U.S. Department of Energy to do so.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council hereby authorizes the City Manager to apply the City’s name to the grant application and to enter into a preliminary Memorandum of Understanding between the partners that outlines how they will collaborate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council expresses its commitment to enter into a binding budget agreement for the required 20% local match in the funding application proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy, if the full proposal is satisfactory to all parties involved in the partnership..
PASSED
CITY OF HOMER
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JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR
ATTEST:
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JO JOHNSON, CMC, CITY CLERK
Fiscal Note: $5,000 to $8,000 in staff time for Application Preparation and an estimated $700,000 for local match if project is funded.