LAKE COUNTY ? Lake County Special Districts Administrator Mark Dellinger was recently presented with an Energy Innovation Award for his contributions to green technology advancements in Lake County.
The award was presented in March during the 2009 Green California Summit and Exposition in Sacramento.
The two-day conference, in which 250 exhibitors were presenting their newest green technologies, reportedly drew influential figures from across the state including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Dellinger was joined by Chief Deputy Administrative Officer Matt Perry and county supervisors Denise Rushing and Anthony Farrington in receiving the award in Sacramento. The award recognizes the County of Lake”s Innovation in Sustainable Community Infrastructure in relation to the Pipeline Project.
Dellinger and the county were commended for using solar energy to power facilities that treat, transport and recycle wastewater to recharge geothermal resources for geothermal energy production. The project is part of a larger effort to create sustainable energy and community infrastructure in Lake County.
Since 1997, Lake County Sanitation District (LACOSAN) has reportedly led the nation in recycling wastewater for environmental and energy benefits. In partnership with the Northern California Power Agency and Calpine Corporation, the Pipeline Project is a wastewater reuse system that pumps treated wastewater effluent to the Geysers geothermal complex. The system reportedly has already avoided more than eight billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
Five solar arrays totaling 22.5 acres have been installed with a 3.2 megawatt capacity, making it the largest solar installation of any county in California. With the installation of its solar facilities, the county is using one alternative energy source (solar) as part of its efforts to treat, transport and recycle wastewater, which is then used to recharge and sustain another alternative energy source (geothermal), which generates power for homes and businesses.
These solar facilities reportedly enable the county to moderate and control long-term electricity costs and save businesses and residents millions of dollars.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
