Viewing Grant Proposal: Genesee County Drain Commissioner_Waste Water Plant Anaerobic Methane Gas Blowers

I am writing in support of the grant application to support Genesee County's efforts in creating a renewable energy source at our local wastewater plant. Our collective goal is to seek ways to improve operations while saving money for our area residents and communities. Our Drain Commission has done an outstanding job of allocating ARPA dollars thus far and we are confident that they will be good stewards of this grant as well. Thank you for your consideration.

I strongly oppose this proposal and urge the MPSC not to award it a RE-EIED grant. Now is not the time to be investing in more biomethane or so-called “renewable natural gas.” A study recently found that methane emissions from gas operation venting and leaks are three times higher on average than the level previously predicted by the federal government. In light of this troubling development, we should reject gas-related proposals and instead be 100% focused on renewable energy, efficiency, battery storage, and electrification. Projects like this should not be a priority over true renewable energy and electrification projects. If you want to reduce methane emissions, efforts like composting and reducing meat consumption would be much more effective and direct than projects like this.

I support the Genesee County Drain Commissioner’s (GCDC) request for a Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) Renewable Energy EIED Grant. The grant funds will assist the GCDC in purchasing and installing gas blowers that utilize methane gas via anaerobic digestion at the Linden wastewater treatment facility. When I served as a Genesee County Commissioner, I was a strong advocate for improving reliability and sustainability in our wastewater treatment system. If the GCDC receives a MPSC Renewable Energy EIED Grant, this directly will help my communities of Burton, Davison, and Grand Blanc by improving wastewater system reliability and efficiency, which will improve the health and safety of our residents for decades to come. I ask that the Genesee County Drain Commission’s request for a Michigan Public Service Commission Renewable Energy EIED Grant be approved. Sincerely, David W. Martin State Representative District 68

I support the Genesee County Drain Commissioner’s grant request. This project will directly help the residents of my community and improve the health and safety of our children and grandchildren for decades to come.

These funds should be awarded to projects that are seeking to make significant decreases in GHG emissions through renewable energy, efficiency, battery storage, and electric technologies.

Creating renewable energy while holding sewer rates in check should be a vital priority for the use of this budget/grant funding. This proposal accomplishes both, and GCDC will be great stewards of these tax dollars.

I support GCDC in pursuing this grant. We need to invest in projects that create renewable energy and support our public utilities. Saving money for our residents and communities with this proactive approach is good for everyone involved. GCDC is very responsible in searching for ways to help our communities keep our expenses down while providing the best water and waste services. Sincerely, Barbara BakerOmerod, President, Village of Lennon.

“Creating renewable energy while holding sewer rates in check should be a vital priority for the use of this budget/grant funding. This proposal accomplishes both, and GCDC will be great stewards of these taxdollars.”

Oxfam is a global organization that fights poverty and inequality. On behalf of our over 18,000 in Michigan, we strongly oppose this proposal and urge the MPSC not to award it a RE-EIED grant. This project fails to address the negative environmental and public health impacts on fence-line communities and the broader threat of water pollution from increasing production/demand for RNG-generating waste streams. When combined with leakage rates and factoring in other externalized environmental and public health impacts, digesters' overall benefits are negligible when compared to effective renewable energy and electrification projects.