Significant potential exists for the public wastewater sector development to help achieve state and federal goals to meet electricity and low carbon fuel needs with renewable sources. Across the San Francisco Bay Area, agencies have implemented programs to capture methane gas through anaerobic digestion. However, the biosolids still retain energy content after digestion.  The goals of the Bay Area Biosolids to Energy project include:

• Create a long-term, reliable renewable energy project benefiting society and the environment
• Meet or exceed all environmental regulations and reduce Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in accordance with AB32
• Create new green jobs and support direct and indirect jobs from facility construction to operation
• Local, renewable energy close to energy demand with available sustainable supplies (biosolids, and potentially lawn clippings, leaves, and wood waste)
• Leverage State and Federal funds: a match of 50% of the capital funding is integral to helping the industry make the shift to become more energy self reliant.
• When completed, the B2E facility will be sustained with local funding
• Open to Public-Private Partnerships
• This comprehensive, regional approach to develop a biosolids to energy project is the first in the nation and will be a model for major metropolitan areas across the United States