Salem’s New Cogen Facility is Creating Renewable Energy from Wastewater

Back in 2019, ODOE Director Janine Benner took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the City of Salem’s latest renewable energy project — a biogas facility designed to turn wastewater into usable onsite energy.

The facility is now operational and is expected to cut about 5,000 metric tons of emissions while saving the city $300,000 on energy costs every year. The new addition is part of the Willow Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant and will allow much of the energy needed to power the plant to be generated in-house at the Biogas Cogeneration Facility. 

The Oregon Department of Energy was proud to support the project with a $250,000 Renewable Energy Development Grant. The project was also funded in part by Portland General Electric’s Green Future Program and Energy Trust of Oregon.

See the City of Salem’s video for more details about the project >>>

Video courtesy of the City of Salem