At a special council meeting Monday night, Columbia Borough Council voted 6-0 to contract with AIM Advisors and project partner Rettew Associates to undertake a study to determine the feasibility of converting the borough’s wastewater treatment plant into a natural gas production facility. The study will cost $75,800 and could be completed by March 1 of next year.
David Nikoloff, principal at AIM, told council that the enterprise could be a “public-private partnership” and would entail restaurants and other businesses providing food waste as raw material (known as “feedstock”) for conversion to gas. He said the study would determine if there is enough feedstock available in the area and whether there is enough of a market to purchase the gas. Nikoloff added that such a facility could be up and running in about two and a half years.
The issue was previously visited during a presentation at November’s regular council meeting, when a motion was made to move forward with the study. No vote was taken due to lack of a second. After the 2015 LASA agreement, options for reuse of the wastewater plant have been discussed by council.
Two residents raised questions and voiced concerns at Monday’s meeting about the feasibility of such an operation, citing safety and financial concerns.
Absent from the meeting were Mayor Leo Lutz, Borough Manger Greg Sahd, and Councillor Stephanie Weisser.
Columbia Spy 