Atlantic County Utilities Authority


	Why Renewable Energy?
	With energy prices approaching all time highs…attention and resources at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority have focused on ways to reduce energy costs at all of its facilities. ACUA has learned that renewable energy options can be an effective way to limit energy cost increases and protect our environment. ACUA Renewable Energy Projects - 2009 Savings. The Mission Statement of ACUA makes the Authority a natural facilitator of renewable energy projects. Energy projects at the ACUA have a number of benefits including: cost savings; the opportunity to partner with local and national corporations; a chance to improve environmental image; provide a catalyst and resource for renewable energy information; and environmental education opportunities. Renewable energy includes hydro, wind, solar, hybrids, bio-fuels, electric vehicles, geothermal, and methane to energy. All of these options, excluding hydro-power, are being utilized by the ACUA in a variety of projects. Each of the ACUA's renewable energy initiatives is different from the next, in size, scope and how the projects are structured. In 2009, these projects saved ACUA and its ratepayers over $1.9 million dollars. Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm • NJ's first commercial wind farm • Five 380 foot turbines (each capable of producing 1.5 megawatts) • Owned by Jersey Atlantic Wind, LLC • Located at the Wastewater Treatment Facility in Atlantic City Energy and Financial Savings: • Wind energy used by ACUA in 2009: 13,571,236 kwh • Percent of ACUA energy provided by wind at the Wastewater Facilitiy: 62% • Depending on the time of year (winter months – production highest), • ACUA uses between 43% and 86% of what is generated (annual average just over 50%). • Cost saved from grid price in 2009 by using wind power: $543,199 Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm Overview Atlantic City Wind Farm - ACUA 2008 Total Electricity Savings Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm Fact Sheet Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm Web Cam Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm Construction Photos ACUA Solar Project • 500 kilowatt system • 2,700 panels • Installed at 5 locations at the ACUA’s Wastewater Treatment Facility • 2 ground mount, 2 roof mount, one canopy array over the parking area Energy and Financial Savings: • Solar: 617,440 kwh produced in 2008 • Savings from using solar: $70,023.87 • Revenue from selling solar renewable energy credits: $286,718.86 • Total cost saved from solar: $211,746.73 ACUA Solar Array Energy Output Monitoring Solar Energy Fact Sheet Solar Generation System Landfill Gas to Energy Project • ACUA’s solid waste division is powered by a landfill gas to energy (LFGE) plant • Methane is produced when organic material breaks down in the landfill - it’s a potent greenhouse gas, but the ACUA’s project turns it into electricity. • The project is owned by AC Landfill Energy LLC (a joint venture of DCO Energy and SJ Industries Energy and Financial Savings: • Electricity from LFG used by ACUA in 2009: 3,256,304 kwh • Total savings for LFGTE project: in 2009: $885,959. • ACUA’s uses approximately 11 percent of the total power generated, with AC Landfill Energy sending the remainder to the grid. Landfill Gas Fact Sheet Landfill Gas Project Overview Biodiesel Fuel • More than 120 collection vehicles use B5 biodiesel • ACUA operates the largest biofuel fleet in NJ ACUA Biodiesel Project Biodiesel Fact Sheet Hybrid and Electric Vehicles • ACUA owns several hybrid vehicles and two all electric plug in vehicles. ACUA's hybrid fleet includes several Ford Escape hybrids, and a Chevy Silverado pickup truck. Electric vehicles include a GEM car, “Sunny” which is used onsite at the Wastewater facility – it’s an electric vehicle that gets power from the solar panels. ACUA has added an all electric Ford Ranger which is used by recycling staff. The Ranger, a 2000 model, gets 60 miles per charge and "fills up" on electricity generated from landfill gas at ACUA's solid waste facilities. The ACUA has charging stations at both its locations and looks forward to building its electric fleet further. ACUA also participates in MAGICC, the mid-Atlantic grid interactive car consortium. This group is working on the development of electric vehicles that can give energy back to the grid - batteries providing energy storage to offset need for power, especially during peak demand times. Hybrid Vehicle Fact Sheet Hybrid Vehicle Overview Electric Vehicles Fact Sheet Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems • ACUA has a geothermal heated and cooled administrative building • Geothermal systems reduce energy costs by approximately 30 percent • Geothermal uses earth’s natural cooling/warming Project Overview Geo Building Fact Sheet