Municipalities support SAEWA

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

The Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association (SAEWA) received Wheatland County council approval for its $3,314 membership fee on Dec 6.
Wheatland County is one of over 60 municipal partners that believe SAEWA can provide a valuable energy resource from waste material clogging landfills. They are betting that investment in the organization is a good investment for generations to come.
“Municipalities in southern Alberta continue to face significant financial and logistical challenges when dealing with their municipal solid waste,” said Ben Armstrong, SAEWA chairman and Wheatland County deputy reeve. “It is clear that new landfill permits will become even more difficult to achieve, and the costs associated with transporting and tipping municipal solid waste will only continue to rise as those facilities reach their maximum capacity.”
Earlier the province turned down a grant for the organization, and they are waiting on federal government approval that will move the project ahead.
“As you know, we are dealing with a change in government. In some cases, we are starting over with them,” said Armstrong.
With coal plants in Alberta being shut down, Armstrong believes energy from waste can provide a bridge between renewable energy and real-time demand, while meeting Alberta’s climate change objectives.
“When the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining, this system can still create power,” said Armstrong.
“We recognize that we are not the only organization for air time with the government and have a full understanding of proper process timelines. SAEWA has had limited success in getting meetings with the new government and, as a result, have been unable to secure any provincial support, assistance or funding to move the project to the next level. “
The SAEWA annual report states a similar program in the United Kingdom reduced commercial and industrial waste by 40 per cent.
An operational plant can convert 300,000 tonnes of waste that would be kept out of landfills to serve a productive purpose.
SAEWA has partnered with the Pembina Institute to develop a transportation study and Armstrong is hoping this will sway the province to support the project.
The province refused a grant for the project, but the organization did receive a green municipal funding grant from the federal government that will be put toward a transportation evaluation.