HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2010-07-12 Green Reserve loan
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Aref Etemadi
Deputy Director of Utilities
aetemadi@leesburgva.gov
703-771-2754
Town of Leesburg Receives Funding from Virginia Department
of Environmental Quality for Hydroelectric Generator
Leesburg, VA (July 12, 2010) – Town of Leesburg officials announced that the Town has
received funding from the Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund for the construction of a
38-horsepower hydroelectric generator. The generator will use the existing hydraulic fall at the
Town’s Water Pollution Control Facility outfall into the Potomac River to generate electricity.
The electricity generated will be used to power parts of the Town’s water treatment plant and
dechlorination facility.
“The Water Pollution Control Facility outfall is a clean, renewable source of energy that is
currently untapped,” explained Aref Etemadi, the Town’s Deputy Director of Utilities. “The new
generator will capture that energy and, in doing so, reduce operating costs for the Town.”
The generator was identified as a potential project during an energy efficiency audit conducted
by ConEdison for the Town’s Utility Department. In February 2010, staff submitted an
application for funding under the Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund’s Green Reserve
program. This program is jointly administered by the Virginia Resources Authority and the
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
In this latest round of funding for Green Reserve projects, DEQ received 32 applications.
Seventeen projects, totaling $10.1 million, were selected for funding. According to Walter Gills,
DEQ Construction Assistance Program Director, projects that involved new production of
energy using green resources received preference in the award decisions.
DEQ will loan the Town up to $200,417, at 2.93% interest for 20 years with 50% of the loan
principal forgiven. The final loan amount will be determined after the contract for construction
of the generator has been awarded. Once the project is complete, average savings to the Town
in electricity costs are expected to be $48,000 per year.
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