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Home My WebLink AboutBiochar letter Chapman taPr NGELES s` WASH I N G T O N, U. S. A. City Council October 21, 2019 l�Y!pfui'frSJl%lsJii�tl��i'1�' ti tf r1�t�✓J�11 f��rj`��Jrt fr� lfonorable Mike Chapman �i£/Jj1JjfJ�i�f�{j f f7rJjfJ 1.3213 Legislative Building, PO Box 40600 f Y P , Ol m is WA 98504-0600 J Dear Representative Chapman: Attached is a project sheet for a pyrolysis system for the City of Port Angeles. As you know, Port r Angeles has invested heavily in environmental projects that have taxed our ability to implement this project. In the past 5 years, we have spent $46.1 million to prevent sewer overflows into our harbor and $14.8 million(out of total of$21M)to prevent a trash cell from our landfill from falling into the strait. The Coity of Port Angeles is proposing to use a reasonably priced pyrolysis system that converts the sewage solids(through very high heat)into biochar—a stable, carbon residue that improves soils. Biochar can be used for fertilizer, it also is being used for road pavement, mixed with concrete for stronger and lighter building blocks, and other environmentally friendly products. In January of 2019, City Council established this project as a legislative priority with a goal to introduce biosolid pyrolysis as an improved bio-solids management technology to mitigate the discharge of micro- pollutants to the environment where biosolids are applied to land, This process adds to the dewatered bio-solids to create biochar. The technology results in the reduction of wastewater biosolid output in the compost. The City is seeking$4.5 million in State Grant opportunities to demonstrate the implementation of this environmentally beneficial technology. i -Fhe attached sheet covers the budget for the pyrolysis system similar to other systems in the US. Representatives of businesses capable of implementing such a system have visited Port Angeles and have sized the system according to our needs. This approach will improve our soils,reduce infrastructure maintenance, since it contains few moving parts, and will create a usable product. 'rhe timeline follows the budget and the estimated total project length is 14-21 months. We are asking that in the 2020 and 2021 legislative sessions, you help the City cover costs to build the biochar system. We see this as part of a plan to help protect our soils, air, water, food crops, and the health of humans and wildlife. Should you have any questions,please don't hesitate to call me and we will ensure that you are supplied with any information you need. Thank you for all your help on this. ;1 would suspect that all communities will need a system'.like this in the future and we are happy to be the pilot city for the Olympic Peninsula. Sincerely, vwc,r ( Sissi P. Bruch, Mayor Phone: 360-417-4500/ Fax: 200-417-4509 0 TTY:360-417-4645 ' Website:www.cityofpa.us 1 Email: councilcityofpa.us 321 East Fifth Street/ Fort Angeles, WA 93352-0217 BUDGETARY QUOTE FROM BIOFORCETECH � Included in the capital cost: - 2 BioDryers - 1 P-FIVE Pyrolysis' aC,�x ,� wt,rxiA . - Bio-scrubber or Biofilter N`"EaR - Pyrolysis exhaust cleaning container - Caustic Soda holding tank: - Conveying system from dewatering building to the BFT plant - BioDryer and P-FIVE conveyors and handling systema�a. - Biochar unloading system - Electrical panels - Automation systemM„ - Loading system ; - Control station -Water heater and piping - Dried biosolids storage tank , - Hangar building - Shipping of all equipment to the project site � i - Start up and training a , " - Engineering, Project Management and Permitting Support - Construction and Site Preparation - Contingency � -7 „N Roi,4w w� t ens 0cho S 7# , Project Cost, Not to Exceed: $4,500,000.00 Estimated annual O&M cost (not including Bio-scrubber Operations): $95,000 This cost includes: • Utilities: $15,000: • (electricity cg $0.1/kWh): $1.4,000 • (natural gas g$I/therm): $1,000 • Spare parts and components replacement: $50,000 • Maintenance: $30,000 • Operation(24/7 - fully automated) BioForceTech will assume responsibility of removing the charcoal Biochar byproduct, free of charge. f NOTE: Carbon in biochar can persist in soils over long time scales. Beyond the carbon sequestered in the biochar itself, biochar incorporated in soils also offers numerous other potential climate benefits. I. Soil Fertility: Biochar can improve soil fertility, stimulating plant growth, which then consumes more CO 2 in a positive feedback effect. 2. Reduced fertilizer inputs: Biochar can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, resulting in reduced emissions of greenhouse gases from fertilizer manufacture. 3. Reduced N 2 0 and CH 4 emissions: Biochar can reduce emissions of nitrous oxide (N 2 0) and methane(CH 4)—two potent greenhouse gases—from agricultural soils. 4. Enhanced soil microbial life: Biochar can increase soil microbial life, resulting in more carbon storage in soil. 5. Reduced emissions from feedstocks: Converting agricultural and forestry waste into biochar can avoid CO 2 and CH 4 emissions otherwise generated by the natural decomposition or burning of the waste. ~woo col 4"WW ow cmtoowot 0YT*Wt1;1 10111m 10 OIZI...1141. 11.