News

Efforts to cut down on energy costs have paid off nearly one year after the city of St. Helens installed solar-powered mixers in its wastewater lagoons.

Since the SolarBee circulators and aeration controls were placed in the city’s primary and secondary
wastewater lagoons — seven in September 2010 and two in February 2011 — the city reports a nearly
60-percent savings in energy costs at the facility. That’s about $108,000 over the prior year, according to
Aaron Kunders, superintendent of the St. Helens wastewater treatment plant.

The mixers help aerate the lagoon to break down the waste much quicker than letting it dissipate
naturally, all while reducing odors. Before the SolarBee aerators were installed, the city had to regulary
spend money to repair its aging mixers.

After a 70-percent Bonneville Power Administration rebate, the city spent around $31,000 on the first
seven mixers, which were installed in the secondary lagoon in fall 2010. That lagoon receives waste from
Boise Inc.’s paper mill.

Energy consultants expect the cost of the aerators to be recuperated through energy savings near the
middle of 2013.

The SolarBee project was a joint effort between St. Helens, Boise Inc., Columbia River PUD and the
Bonneville Power Administration.

On Jan. 18, the city was honored by the state with an Oregon Leaders Award in the “Energy
Performance Improvements” category for the project. That award recognizes the greatest reduction in
energy usage over one year. It was presented at the NW Industrial Energy Efficiency Summit in Portland.