Polaris Renewable Energy Review

By Lisa Libby

Last Spring Polaris Renewable Energy Corporation submitted a proposal to the City of Portland outlining the benefits of drying sewage sludge, called biosolids, from Portland's wastewater treatment plant, and using it as a renewable energy source for private industry. The Bureau of Environmental Services and Polaris have differing opinions about the expected benefits and costs in the Polaris' proposal.

Commissioner Adams' has asked both parties to review their original assumptions and summarize where they agree and disagree on the proposed biosolids alternative. The attached report is the product of this review and available for public comment. It will also be evaluated by an independent panel to determine whether or not the alternative would be beneficial to ratepayers and worthy of further environmental and economic development analysis.

Please give us your feedback. We will keep you posted on the results.

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Posted Tue, 12/11/2007 - 5:53pm.

[[ Categories: Environmental Services | Livability & Environment ]]

Other sources besides Polaris

Submitted by Steve on Tue, 12/11/2007 - 8:07pm.

Crazy idea - Has anyone else besides Polaris been abel to quote on this. Usually these one party contracts mean Mr Adams wants it real bad and the salesmen know that. Then the taxpayer gets screwed since a city commissioner really doesnt have the training to evaluate a quote and he doesn't trust BES' decision.

If we could bring some competition to the table and compare quotes, you might be surprised. Heck, let them have each others quotes and rip 'em apart.I mean has Polaris ever done a project like this before? Or are we going to get another water billing computer?
I don't see why we are having BES spend more time and energy when they already gave you their opinion.

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There are many holes in this review.

Submitted by Frank on Fri, 12/14/2007 - 7:41am.

Switching from land application to biofuel generation reduces our reliance on petroleum products. That's a big plus. As a matter of fact, it was one of the primary benefits that this City Council used to justify switching to biodeisel to fuel city vehicles. The analysis doesn't discuss this important benefit of biofuel generation.

Land application of sewage-derived biosolids is harmful to the environment and to human health. In addition to the viable pathogens, there are many other harmful compounds contained in our sewage plant waste, including heavy metals and many other toxic compounds. The practice of land-applying this waste as fertilizer for grasses that are consumed by cattle, ultimately bound for human consumption as milk and meat, is a dangerous practice. The fact that this is allowed by the current regulatory regime, is cold comfort to those who know better.

There are many other "externalities" that need to be brought into a thoughful analysis. Sam - send these guys back to the drawing board, and demand a tuly comprehensive analysis.

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I gave up and moved out of

Submitted by GTinSalem on Sun, 12/30/2007 - 12:22am.

I gave up and moved out of Portland after living there for over 12 years. Shortly after relocating to my new community north of West Salem there was news about Salem doing this same thing with their city's "crap" except they wanted to force it upon rural landowners in Yamhill County. A bitter fight ensued and the rural residents won the battle. The City of Salem said it was "so safe" to spread this human waste all over the rural areas as fertilizer but refused to use it in its own parks. I have a better idea - with this dried "crap" bag it up and sell it as a novelty in New Seasons and Whole Foods Markets so Pearl District residents can use it as fertilizer in their rooftop gardens. People in Portland are so idiotic they would probably even pay a premium for it! I think instead of drying the biosolids a better way to dispose of it is incineration.

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Modern day alchemy...

Submitted by Stoney Wagner on Sat, 12/29/2007 - 10:46am.

In medieval times there were alchemists, - people to claimed to be able to transform common compounds and elements to something of value - precious metals.
In modern times, we have salesmen, - Polaris, who claim to be able to turn Sh@t into gold.
Grow up Sam.
I mean, why wouldn't Portland want to hitch our wagon to an old out dated paper mill that is currently for sale (because it's not profitable), while we allow our current low cost land application program to be dismantled. Then, in a few years, when the paper mill shuts down, we can pay Polaris a few million to get out of the contract and spend a few million more to rebuild a land application program.
And Polaris gets to use energy grants to build a company and sell it for a tidy profit, on the backs Portland rate payers.
We currently have some of the highest sewer rates in the country. We need sustainable sludge disposal that is cheap. Why would we want to pay more to assume such incredible risk?
Sludge is sludge. It is not an energy source. By the time you dry it to the point that it can be burned, you've wasted a ton of energy and added to the problem of global warming.
Brilliant!
Land application provides beneficial nutrients as a soil amendment and is truly a sustainable practice. Listen to the experts, not the alchemists!
Now that's smart.

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Mayor Sam - Let's be smarter about sludge disposal in 2009.

Submitted by Frank on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 9:55am.

This idea seemed to run out of gas in 2008. Why not take another look in 2009? With fuel prices rising greatly since we last looked at Polaris, why not take another look using more up-to-date assumptions on fuel costs??

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