[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6705]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF HAYWARD'S WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITY ON 
                           ITS RECENT AWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ERIC SWALWELL

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 2016

  Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the City 
of Hayward's Water Pollution Control Facility (``Facility'') on its 
pioneering accomplishments in green energy and waste management.
  In 2010, the Facility was costing Hayward approximately $578,000, 
which was about 20 percent of its total energy cost and 10 percent of 
the Facility's budget. It also produced approximately 20 percent of 
Hayward's greenhouse gas emissions.
  The year before, the City had adopted its Climate Action Plan with a 
goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020. 
Part of this effort was to improve the Facility, allowing it to 
generate all of its own power with clean or renewable energy sources, 
but without tapping into Hayward's general fund.
  Using outside funding, including multiple incentive programs from the 
California Public Utilities Commission, the Facility was able to 
utilize four new technologies to move from energy consumption to 
production. The Facility is now able to export the excess energy it 
creates and saves Hayward an estimated $400,000 each year.
  Some of these technologies also help reduce the environmental impact 
to the community. The Facility's new digesters, which convert bio-waste 
to energy, accept waste fats, oils, and greases from the area to help 
fuel them, keeping those wastes out of landfills. The Facility also 
sends treated, non-potable water to a nearby power plant, reducing the 
cost of pumping the water into the San Francisco Bay, and better 
harnessing water resources in this time of severe drought.
  The Facility's revolutionary measures have recently been recognized 
by organizations across the country. In October 2015, the EPA selected 
it for the Green Power Leadership Award. On May 26, the Facility will 
receive the Bay Area's oldest environmental award, the Acterra Business 
Environmental Award.
  The Facility's commitment to the Hayward community and environment is 
truly extraordinary. I want to acknowledge it and the City of Hayward 
for their dedication to a sustainable future.

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