Clean Energy is Topic of Discussion at MWRD Board Meeting

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (Mwrd) Board Meeting   
March 16, 2023

Board Action:
Clean energy:

• Item 15 #23-1215 The Board authorized an increase in the cost estimate for a Biogas Combined Heat and Power System, EWRP, to $10,344,000. This item had been deferred from the March 2, 2023 meeting.  Commissioner Garcia asked staff to give the Board “a clear memo” on where the MWRD is going with clean energy.  In related discussion, Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda asked if a current study on bio-gas would provide insight the agency could apply to other facilities. Executive Director Perkovich said the bio gas study applied mostly to the Hanover Park plant, and that it should be available to the board in draft form by summer. He noted the study might apply to all the MWRD facilities that had digestor gas.  ​Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda asked staff to consider using clean hydrogen as fuel in future projects. 
• Item 16 #23-0246 Authorization to exercise an option to extend agreement or administer a reverse auction to procure electricity and renewable energy credits (RECs) under Contract 20-RFP-24 for years 2025 and 2026.  The Board approved authorization but Commissioner Spyropoulos noted the board was being asked to approve something with two options, and requested reports to the Board on the impact of each option on the business of the MWRD.  

Nutrient Removal and Recovery:

• Item 23 #23-0267 The Board granted authority to advertise Contract 21-091-3P Phosphorus Removal Modifications to Battery D, O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant, estimated cost between $16,638,205 and $20,140,985.  Contractor is AECOM, and the project cost estimate is $17.5 million.
• The MWRD must install biological phosphorus removal in all wastewater treatment facilities by July 31, 2025 to meet new federal total phosphorus effluent limits beginning August 1, 2027. Enhanced phosphorus removal through return activated sludge fermentation will be used. The fermentation of return activated sludge in this process encourages the growth of phosphorus accumulating organisms, stabilizes phosphorus removal, and allows for greater phosphorus removal under less favorable influent conditions, according to the project report.

Stormwater Management

• Item 35 #23-0260 The Board approved a $203,864 increase to the cost of decommissioning the Thornton Transitional Reservoir in the Calumet service area. IHC Construction Companies holds the contract. The increase brings the new contract amount to $26,100,447. 
• Item 36 #23-0289 Commissioner Spyropoulos questioned why the non-tax revenue for the stormwater fund in the revenue and spending report for 2022 exceeded the budget.  Executive Director Perkovich said he would get back to her via e-mail. 

New Business:

• Commissioner Davis introduced a statement, including a tight timeline, asking the Board to approve a motion at the April 6th Board meeting to establish a Department of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within the Agency, with its own Director.  The statement requested staff to provide a budget estimate and staffing requirements by May 21st, in time for funding to be included in the Agency’s 2024 budget.  Commissioner Davis envisions a 5-year implementation process, and noted the MWRD’s need to seek  legislative authority from the State to create such a department.  
• President Steele responded to Commissioner Davis’s statement, noting his was a statement – not a motion. She reminded the board that she, Executive Director Perkovich, and MWRD Department Heads were already crafting inclusionary policies. A memo about a reorganization was given to Board members that morning, she said, and she asked for coordination between Board and Staff efforts.
• Subsequent discussion revealed other commissioners had become impatient with the Agency’s progress on inclusion. It was not clear if the majority of the Board was willing to break with Steele and staff and embrace Commissioner Davis’s urgent appeal.

Public comment: Emmanuel Koubarakis, Consulate General of Greece, addressed the board regarding recognition of Greek Independence Day.

Observer -  Laurie Morse                                                       No Executive Session   No Study Session