{"id":11699,"date":"2014-12-05T15:42:20","date_gmt":"2014-12-05T20:42:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?p=11699"},"modified":"2014-12-05T15:45:29","modified_gmt":"2014-12-05T20:45:29","slug":"valdosta-recognized-for-solar-power-led-lighting-wastewater-improvements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2014\/12\/valdosta-recognized-for-solar-power-led-lighting-wastewater-improvements.html","title":{"rendered":"Valdosta recognized for solar power, LED lighting, wastewater improvements"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\r\nCity of Valdosta PR today 5 December 2014,\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/Index.aspx?page=270&#038;recordid=3101&#038;returnURL=%2findex.aspx\">\r\nValdosta Named &ldquo;Smart Energy Municipality of the Year&rdquo;<\/a>,\r\n<\/p>\r\n<blockquote style=\"font-size:100%\">\r\n<p>\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/Index.aspx?page=270&#038;recordid=3101&#038;returnURL=%2findex.aspx\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;width:300px\" src=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/Modules\/ShowImage.aspx?imageid=1348\"><\/a>\r\nThe City of Valdosta was named &ldquo;Smart Energy Municipality of\r\nthe Year&rdquo; by the\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.tagonline.org\/chapters-and-societies\/smart-energy\/\">\r\nTechnology Association of Georgia (TAG)<\/a> on\r\nDec. 4, at an awards banquet held at the Georgia Tech Wardlaw\r\nBuilding in Atlanta, Ga. The event recognized successful\r\nindividuals, businesses and municipalities who have shown dynamic\r\nleadership over the past year in Georgia&#8217;s large and growing Smart\r\nEnergy sector.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nSixty nominations were received collectively in the three\r\ncategories. In the municipality category, which includes cities,\r\ncounties and state government agencies, the City of Valdosta was one\r\nof two finalists and the overall recipient of the award &rdquo; the\r\nother finalist was the Georgia Department of Corrections.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n&ldquo;We are extremely honored<!--more-->\r\n\r\n to have been selected for this award,&rdquo; said City Manager Larry Hanson. &ldquo;The City of Valdosta has consistently sought out energy-saving initiatives that demonstrate stewardship of our natural resources. We are a strong supporter of smart energy technology, and we consistently pursue efficiencies to optimize our operations. Utilizing cost-effective investments and creative conservation measures, our goal to reduce our energy consumption needs by 10 percent will soon be a reality.&rdquo;\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nHanson accepted the award on behalf of the city and presented Valdosta&#8217;s most recently implemented energy-efficient and demand-management strategies, which include:\r\n<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2011\/05\/putting-power-on-the-grid-at-wiregrass-solar-commissioning.html\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" src=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/images\/6a0120a58214e4970b017c34a69c3a970b-pi.jpg\"><\/a>\r\nIn partnership with the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority, a 20-year lease was negotiated with Sterling Energy Assets and Hannah Solar, LLC, in 2011, to develop a 0.35 megawatt solar array on open city property located near its Mud Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project represented a $1,750,000 capital investment by Sterling Energy Assets and Hannah Solar in equipment and construction. Electricity generated at the site is purchased by the Georgia Power Company under a 20-year purchase agreement.\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wctv.tv\/home\/headlines\/More-Solar-Panels-Being-Built-at-Water-Treatment-Plant-in-Valdosta-192587581.html\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" src=\"http:\/\/media.graytvinc.com\/images\/Solar+Power+6-13.jpg\"><\/a>\r\nIn 2013, again in partnership with the Valdosta- Lowndes County Development Authority, the city was approached by companies specializing in the development of renewable\/ sustainable energy projects proposing to develop and operate a solar photovoltaic facility in response to the Georgia Power Company Advanced Solar Initiative (GPASI), approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission. After review of proposals submitted by each company, Hannah Solar was again selected to construct and operate another solar array facility on remaining available land near the Mud Creek facility. A 20- to 30-year lease was granted on this property with Hannah Solar to produce up to 2.0 megawatts of solar energy for sale to the Georgia Power Company. The project represents a $2,500,000 capital investment by Hannah Solar in equipment and construction.\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\nAs is often the case, innovation is ahead of regulation. Currently,\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2012\/11\/tv-station-gets-it-territoriality-law-prevents-solar-in-georgia.html\">\r\nGeorgia law does not allow direct sale of alternative energy to a\r\nuser<\/a>, but the energy must be sold to a regulated utility, then\r\nre-sold. Legislation is being considered to change and modernize\r\nthis process. The city&#8217;s goal is to one day soon convert these land\r\nlease agreements to direct energy agreements (land use for energy)\r\nso that the Mud Creek facility can be powered directly by the solar\r\nenergy created on its property.\r\n<li>\r\nAt its newly modernized\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/Index.aspx?page=141\">\r\nMud Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant<\/a>, the\r\ncity installed energy efficient fine-pore diffused aeration systems.\r\nThis state-of-the-art process incorporates highly efficient turbo\r\nblowers, which greatly reduces energy costs and increases treatment\r\nefficiency. Along with numerous other plant improvements, such as\r\nenergy-efficient filtration processes, pump upgrades, and LED\r\nlighting, the Mud Creek plant will provide energy-efficient\r\nwastewater treatment for years to come. This facility also has a\r\nstate of the art power generation system for back-up power as well\r\nas use during peak rate season and peak day usage.\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/Modules\/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7164\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/Modules\/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7164\"><\/a>\r\nWithin its wastewater collection system, efforts are ongoing to\r\nmodernize and optimize\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/Modules\/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7164\">\r\nthe city&#8217;s pump stations<\/a> via its\r\ncomprehensive Lift Station Rehabilitation Program. Since 2011,\r\nvarious contracts have been awarded to design and upgrade 12 of the\r\ncity&#8217;s 28 wastewater pump stations, with more stations on the\r\nhorizon. These improvements include the installation of\r\nenergy-efficient pumps and screening systems, LED lighting, and\r\nstate-of-the-art computerized monitoring systems. Stations not\r\nscheduled for complete rehabilitation have been integrated into the\r\nmonitoring system and retrofitted with LED lighting and energy\r\nefficient motors, where necessary.\r\n<li>\r\n<a title=\"620x480 Curb, in Smoke Testing, by City of Valdosta, 5 December 2014\" href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?attachment_id=11687\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"300x232 Curb, in Smoke Testing, by City of Valdosta, 5 December 2014\" src=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/4909fa6427d96c34e2884f0c186f3925.jpg\"><\/a>\r\nEnergy consumption and costs associated with inflow and infiltration\r\n(I&amp;I) into wastewater collection systems can be extreme. With\r\nthe environment and efficiency in mind, the city initiated a broad\r\nmanhole and sewer rehabilitation program to thwart I&amp;I problems.\r\nThrough the use of\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/Index.aspx?page=647\">\r\nsmoke testing<\/a> and Closed Circuit Television\r\n(CCTV) view of over 300 miles of sewer lines, the city is able to\r\nsignificantly reduce I&amp;I through a find-and-fix approach\r\n&rdquo;a process that is saving energy and chemical costs in\r\ntreatment and essentially creating new capacity at the plants to\r\navoid multi-million dollar expansions. With ongoing sewer line\r\nimprovements and a goal of rehabilitating a minimum of 30 sewer\r\nmanholes per year, the city is on track to significantly cut energy\r\ncosts related to I&amp;I by 2018.\r\n<li>\r\nOver the years, Smart Energy processes have also been implemented\r\nwithin the city&#8217;s water treatment and distribution system. In 1993,\r\nthe city built its Water Treatment Plant using Ozone as the primary\r\ndisinfectant &rdquo;the first plant of its kind in Georgia. When the\r\nplant was expanded in 2003, the most modern technology was installed\r\nso that the plant can be remotely operated if necessary\r\n&rdquo;including chemicals, deep wells, and plant processes. This\r\nplant, named the 2013 Georgia Association of Water Professionals\r\nWater Treatment Plant of the Year withdraws 3.3 billion gallons of\r\nwater a year from nine onsite wells located 300-400 feet into the\r\nFloridan aquifer, then treats it and delivers it through over 300\r\nmiles of lines to over 20,000 customers. In addition, LED lighting\r\nis being installed or retrofitted throughout the water system at\r\nstorage tanks, water well sites, and the water treatment plant. The\r\nplant is equipped with its own stand-by generator, frequently\r\ngenerating its own power on high-demand days in order to free up\r\npower for other utility customers.\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2014\/10\/valdosta-converting-to-led-streetlights.html\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.jasonbgraves.com\/files\/2014\/02\/LED-Lamps-B-300x200.jpg\"><\/a>\r\nThe City of Valdosta Engineering Department changed all traffic\r\nsignal bulbs to LED bulbs about 10 years ago, realizing substantial\r\ncost savings in both power and life expectancy. Also, through a\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2014\/10\/georgia-power-plans-to-change-all-streetlights-to-leds.html\">\r\npilot project with Georgia Power<\/a> which begins in January 2015, the\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2014\/10\/valdosta-converting-to-led-streetlights.html\">\r\ncity will be changing all of its street lights to LED lighting<\/a>\r\n&rdquo;resulting in future power savings and tremendous\r\nefficiencies. Valdosta will be one of the first five cities in\r\nGeorgia to make this change and the first in South Georgia.\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>\r\nAlthough these improvements are a good start toward improving energy\r\nefficiency, the city realizes that Smart Energy will not succeed\r\nwithout an energy conservation mindset and culture. Understanding\r\nthis, city leadership routinely educates its management and staff on\r\nthe importance of energy efficiency and environmental awareness and\r\nencourages other community organizations to do the same.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n&ldquo;The City of Valdosta will continue to pursue and incorporate\r\nSmart Energy processes in managing our public assets,&rdquo; said\r\nMayor John Gayle. &ldquo;We encourage other entities to implement\r\nenvironmental sustainability and energy-efficient practices, as\r\nwell. In doing so, we can collectively and significantly impact jobs\r\nand economic growth in our community and throughout South\r\nGeorgia.&rdquo;\r\n<p>\r\nFor more information, visit\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/\">\r\nwww.valdostacity.com<\/a>.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"City of Valdosta PR today 5 December 2014, Valdosta Named &ldquo;Smart Energy Municipality of the Year&rdquo;, The City of Valdosta was named &ldquo;Smart Energy Municipality of the Year&rdquo; by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) on Dec. 4, at an awards banquet held at the Georgia Tech Wardlaw Building in Atlanta, Ga. The event recognized [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[264,265,16,18,24,54,55],"tags":[8754,8755,7187,8701,8708,8702,7218,7837,12,7,5220,8103,8104,8714,6,8726],"class_list":["post-11699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-energy-conservation","category-energy-efficiency","category-environment","category-georgia-power","category-solar","category-valdosta-city-council","category-water","tag-energy-conservation","tag-energy-efficiency","tag-force-main","tag-georgia","tag-georgia-power","tag-lake","tag-led","tag-lighting","tag-lowndes-area-knowledge-exchange","tag-lowndes-county","tag-mud-creek-wastewater-treatment-plant","tag-smart-energy-municipality-of-the-year","tag-smoke-testing","tag-solar","tag-valdosta","tag-valdosta-city-council"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p585fK-32H","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11699"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11702,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11699\/revisions\/11702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}