Energy Plan Approved, Powered by 100% Renewable Sources

(Milwaukee, WI) – To help reduce climate change and become more sustainable, Commissioners of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) today approved an energy plan that utilizes 100% renewable sources. Read the full plan.

“Climate change is a daunting, never ending challenge, but in Milwaukee, we have been and are meeting that challenge head on,” said MMSD Executive Director Kevin Shafer. “We now have a plan that embraces clean power, reducing this region’s contribution to world-wide climate problems.”

The plan cuts MMSD’s greenhouse gas emissions by 99.7%, relying heavily on the District increasing its own renewable power sources. At the same time, the plan examines opportunities to cut overall energy consumption and needs. Bio-gas (landfill gas and digester gas) energy production would see a significant boost in total generation going from 15 megawatts to 25 megawatts, the latter being enough to power 25,000 homes.

 Overall goals for the energy plan include:

• Meet a net 100% of MMSD’s energy needs with renewable energy sources.
• Meet 80% of MMSD’s energy needs with internal, renewable sources.
• Reduce MMSD’s carbon footprint by 90% from its 2005 baseline.

 Solar Panels
The plan calls for Installing more than 40 acres of solar panels. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that’s enough to power 3,100 homes or 95 million miles in electric vehicles.

 Digester Gas

Plan architects recommend additional engine/generators to increase energy production at the Southshore Water Reclamation Facility, as well as ramping up digestor gas storage capacity 20 times more than current capacity.

 To implement all the Energy Plan recommendations, engineers estimate a total price tag of $727 million in 2023 dollars. The investments will face healthy debate and prioritization reviews as other needs compete for funding, including wastewater treatment, flood management, and green infrastructure.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.