VICTORVILLE — Renewable-energy enthusiasts from all reaches of the nation will visit Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority’s main treatment plant later this week to witness the first carbon-neutral facility of its kind in North America.

Teaming with Anaergia Inc. of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, VVWRA has retrofitted an out-of-commission anaerobic digester, giving it new life through recuperative thickening technology, nearly tripling capacity and resulting in a higher output of biogas.

The excess biogas is converted into electricity to power the plant. The Omnivore system will use existing organic waste streams to produce 100 percent renewable power. Until now, power has been generated from natural gas and utility-supplied electricity. Several high-strength waste streams such as fats, oils and grease — or FOG — restaurant waste and food-processing waste are being evaluated for potential introduction into the digester.

“The community has responded with overwhelming support, and VVWRA is being contacted regularly to accept new sources of organic waste from the community,” said Meganne M. Harvey, a project engineer with Anaergia.

The ribbon cutting will be held from 9 to 11 am. FridaySteve Hunt 9/19/14 Sept. 26 at the treatment facility, 20111 Shay Road in Victorville. The event will be open to the public, local vendors and industry partners.

via VVWRA to unveil biogas facility – News – HesperiaStar.com – Hesperia, CA.