e-Newsletter | 08/15/2012

You either believe it or you don't.

Climate change is a touchy subject.

After living through the floods of 2010 and now the drought of 2012, I believe that we need to move beyond this touchy debate and instead focus on actions that will sustain our climate. If, as they say, it is too late to reverse the situation, then the natural next step is to say we need to adapt to the changing climate. Haven't we been doing this throughout our existence?

Droughts, floods, and extreme and bitterly cold temperatures are all changes we have faced. What we should look at now is the scientific predictions for our local climates, much like we use the stock market for our financial predictions, and take actions to prepare for either a changing or stable climate. Whatever actions we take, we need to make sure that we focus on the benefits and the costs.

MMSD is doing just that with several of our signature sustainable projects.

In 2008, MMSD launched the Landfill Gas Project. When complete in early 2013, this project will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions at the Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility by 95%. We can do this while still saving our ratepayers money, because we are substantially replacing our natural gas needs with landfill gas, which we are purchasing for 48% of the cost of natural gas.

MMSD is also enhancing our digester infrastructure (energy production from methane gas) at the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility. Since the 1960's, MMSD has been using the biogas that comes from the wastewater treatment process to power a portion of the facility. We are currently in the process of updating this equipment, so we can capture even more of this gas and reduce our fossil fuel consumption even further, while saving the ratepayers money.

We're also performing a comprehensive review of all our energy needs to determine how to reduce this usage and convert our supply to renewable sources while continuing to save ratepayer dollars.

Regardless of what side you're on, the climate change debate is healthy; however, maybe instead of all this talk, we should concentrate on real actions that are sustainable, sensible, and cost effective. Planning and acting now could save us money and some pain from the next big storm. Believe me; it's coming.

Oh, and by the way, I believe in climate change!

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

260 W. Seeboth Street | Milwaukee, WI 53204