This fall, Energy Trust of Oregon was honored with a 2014 State Leadership in Clean Energy Award from the Clean Energy States Alliance, a national nonprofit coalition of public agencies and organizations working together to advance the adoption of clean energy technologies.

The award recognizes Energy Trust for technical assistance, project development support and more than $1 million in cash incentives provided to the City of Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant for renewable energy production and energy-efficiency investments. In addition, the Oregon Department of Energy contributed funding and an initial feasibility study for the City of Gresham. The long-term assistance will help the plant become the first wastewater treatment plant in the Pacific Northwest to achieve net-zero energy consumption.

By early 2015, the Gresham wastewater treatment plant will generate all the electricity it needs each year from onsite renewable energy resources. The plant is achieving this goal through the use of two, 395-kilowatt co-generation engines fueled by biogas produced from the anaerobic digestion of wastewater solids, a 420-kilowatt ground mount solar electric system, and increased production of biogas from the co-digestion of fats, oils and grease received from area restaurants and food processers. The facility rounded out its net-zero efforts with multiple energy-efficiency investments.

“We are proud of our success at Gresham’s wastewater treatment plant,” said Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis. “Through continual improvements to the system over the past 10 years, we have simultaneously saved our ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually and made our operations more environmentally friendly. The contributions of partners like Energy Trust helped make Gresham’s success a reality and we congratulate them on this award.”