A Remarkable Project: Combined Cogen/Wastewater/Geothermal System

Abstract

ABSTRACT What does a cogeneration plant, a wastewater treatment plant, a geothermal system and free compost have in common? The answer: the city of Klamath Falls, OR. This creative municipality has brought these elements together to develop one of the most innovative and aggressive environmental mitigation projects in the Northwest and in the nation. The $350 million, 500 megawatt cogen plant is owned by the city and is being built, operated and maintained by PacifiCorp. IMCO General Construction, of Bellingham, WA, is giving the city-owned wastewater plant a major upgrade to supply the critically needed cooling water for the cogen plant. In addition, the City currently runs a geothermal system which provides many government buildings and local businesses heat. Included in this upgrade is extending the geothermal loop to include the WWTP. And the sludge from the wastewater treatment plant is being mixed into compost and then given away to local gardeners and farmers. The City of Klamath has hired IMCO to ...