Energy Savings to Flow at Clark County Water Reclamation District

The Governor’s Office of Energy (GOE) recently awarded $178,081 to help the Clark County Water Reclamation District reduce its energy footprint and increase worker safety.

The funding comes from GOE’s Performance Contract Audit Assistance Program (PCAAP). This successful program initiates a performance contract, which provides a way for entities like the Clark County Water Reclamation District to upgrade facilities with no up-front capital and pay for them through guaranteed energy savings.

“The audit provides a roadmap for reducing an entity’s energy footprint by determining where those savings can occur,” explained Paul Thomsen, GOE Director. “By funding this initial step, GOE is helping Clark County Water Reclamation District modernize critically important infrastructure like plant buildings and water treatment processes.”

The competitively selected energy service company, Ameresco, developed a $9.5 million project scope that will deliver more than $829,000 in accumulated electricity and natural gas savings through the next 15 years. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this reduction of emissions is equivalent to annually removing 140 cars from the road.

“The GOE grant was an attractive part of moving forward with the project,” said Larry Brown, Clark County Water Reclamation District Board Chair. “PCAAP saved our ratepayers the expense of conducting a financial-grade operational audit that is essential to evaluate energy saving opportunities.”

“This is an interesting and challenging project,” added Paul Ira, Ameresco Senior Account Executive. “Cutting-edge, high tech products will be applied in the laboratory to cut energy usage by 45%. Clark County Water Reclamation District boilers, chillers, and lighting will be upgraded in a building where people were freezing in the winter and baking in the summer.”

The decision to fund the audit highlights GOE’s ability to facilitate cooperation among stakeholders, seek creative ways to conserve energy, and attract energy related business ventures.

Government entities that are pursuing a performance contract and want to know if PCAAP will fund their audit can learn more at GOE’s PCAAP webpage. GOE is accepting applications until December 31, 2015.

About the Governor's Office of Energy

The Governor’s Office of Energy oversees energy programs required through statute and those that help to meet the mission of the office, which is to ensure the wise development of Nevada’s energy resources in harmony with local community economic needs and Nevada natural resources. For more information about GOE, please visit energy.nv.gov.

About Clark County Water Reclamation District

The Clark County Water Reclamation District (District) was created in 1954. It services the unincorporated portions of Clark County within the Las Vegas Valley, as well as the communities of Blue Diamond, Indian Springs, Laughlin, Moapa Valley and Searchlight. The District collects and treats more than 100 million gallons of wastewater each day utilizing more than 2,000 miles of pipeline and seven treatment facilities, including Nevada’s largest reclamation facility, the Flamingo Water Resource Center. For additional information, please visit www.cleanwaterteam.com.