LA Sanitation's (LASAN) known for trying new things. It owns one of the first wastewater treatment plants to produce Class A biosolids using thermophilic anaerobic digestion. Its engineers have used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to design treatment facilities. Now the utility's been rewarded for partially fueling its own operations.

Which are not insignificant. With 6,700 miles of sewers conveying 400 million gallons per day (mgd) to four water reclamation plants, LASAN operates the nation's largest wastewater collection and treatment system. The utility serves four million people within 600 square miles that include Los Angeles and 29 contracting cities and agencies. It also handles solid waste collection and disposal and flood control.

In May 2017, a digester gas utilization project (DGUP) for combined-cycle cogeneration that broke ground in November 2015 began operating at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant. Renewable energy production takes place in three steps. First, combustion generates power and waste heat from fuel gas. Then, the heat produced from combustion is used to create steam. Finally, that steam is prioritized for digesters to create fuel gas and the excess steam is fed to the steam turbine for more power.

The California Public Utilities Commission and Southern California Gas Co. awarded LASAN a $3,484,000 grant to install the facility. LASAN recently received half the final incentive amount via a $1,742,000 check. The remaining 50% will be paid annually over the next five years based on the system's performance.

“To achieve 65% renewable energy by 2035, we have to look beyond conventional wisdom and boldly explore new ideas and solutions,” says Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “This will help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions at our city’s largest water treatment facility.”

“LA Sanitation staff work tirelessly to develop new and innovative ways to achieve our mission of protecting public health and the environment,” says LASAN Director and General Manager Enrique Zaldivar. “We are thankful to the California Public Utilities Commission for acknowledging our staff’s vital work.”

"It's incredibly exciting that LA Sanitation is being recognized as a leader in renewable energy," said Heather Marie Repenning, Vice President of the Board of Public Works. "Innovative facilities and initiatives that reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution while increasing the ability to generate our own energy are critical to our environmental sustainability."