Riverbank, California, Upgrades Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cuts Energy Costs by 75 Percent

DALLAS and RIVERBANK, Calif. (Aug. 25, 2014) – Schneider Electric announced the signing of a $3.9 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) with the City of Riverbank, California. The city pursued the project after recognizing its existing facultative lagoon system may not comply with anticipated future treatment standards for the state of California. Upgrading the existing facultative lagoons through a conventional design/bid/build process would have added an additional 60 percent to project costs. Schneider Electric worked with the city to develop a turnkey retrofit solution for existing lagoons to be upgraded to extended aeration treatment utilizing the Parkson Corporation Biolac patented technology. The project is expected to cut the City of Riverbank’s wastewater treatment plant energy use by 75 percent, saving more than $240,000 in annual energy costs with no new taxes or increased fees to residents. The ESPC project delivery trend is gaining momentum across the U.S. Using the ESPC model, the City of Riverbank and other municipal governments are able to economically implement infrastructure projects by using projected utility cost savings from the project for funding over longer payback periods. Riverbank’s self-funded wastewater treatment project is guaranteed to save the city $2 million over the project lifetime. The project also continues the city’s long-term goal to green Riverbank by saving more than 2.5 million kWh each year, which is the equivalent of taking 372 cars off the road or powering 224 houses annually. Additionally, the project is expected to support 37 jobs and produce a total economic impact of $10.7 million. “The City of Riverbank welcomes the opportunity to partner with Schneider Electric. The project at the wastewater treatment plant will provide the city a cost-effective means to reduce energy consumption, to make improvements that would otherwise not be feasible and to help move the city into a more sustainable future. This project may also put the city in a better position to respond to any new requirements from the State Water Board Regional Quality Control Board. We could not be more pleased with the scope and timing of this project,” said City of Riverbank Mayor Richard O’Brien. In the past 22 years, Schneider Electric has implemented more than 530 ESPCs across the nation and helped clients around the world, such as the City of Riverbank, save more than $1 billion. ESPCs help publicly funded entities make capital improvements over longer payback periods. ESPCs offer many long-term benefits such as improved facility efficiency, occupant comfort, financial management and environmental protection. Typically, new, more efficient equipment and upgraded facility automation systems maximize energy efficiency and generate utility savings. Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including utilities and infrastructure, industries and machines manufacturers, non-residential building, data centers and networks and in residential.