In the past week, the Aries Clean Energy downdraft gasification plant in Lebanon, Tennessee, has been the catalyst in two outstanding award programs. The Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC) presented the 2017 Local Government Award for Public Works & Utility Infrastructure to the City of Lebanon on Sept. 27. The GNRC recognized Lebanon for Solid Waste Management and Environmental Stewardship through the city’s gasification initiative, its use of public/private partnerships, and the city’s other energy-saving and recycling programs.
The Local Government Award honors local governments and public/private partnerships in the greater Nashville region which have exhibited outstanding accomplishment and achievement or innovation in several areas of public works and utility infrastructure.
“Because of our sustainable waste disposal system, we help our clients produce green power, reduce landfill use, and lower greenhouse gases,” said Aries CEO Greg Bafalis. “We believe the best solution for the increasing volume of waste on our planet is to convert it to clean energy. This type of peer recognition tells us we are headed in the right direction.”
Industrial Water & Wastes Digest (iWWD) has also included the waste-to-energy plant in its list of top projects for 2017. The award was announced last night as part of the activities surrounding the Water Environment Federation technical conference (WEFTEC) in Chicago.
“The Lebanon, Tenn. Waste-to-Energy plant highlights a growing trend for wastewater sites in that it aims for sustainable initiatives and meets them. Not only did the project provide clean power for its wastewater treatment plant, it also reduced tipping fees, found a way to convert old rubber tires to energy, and cut down on adding materials to local landfills,” said Bob Crossen, managing editor for Industrial Water & Wastes Digest. “This public-private partnership is a great example of cooperation between multiple entities. It is a deserving winner of iWWD Top Projects 2017.”
Earlier this year, Aries Clean Energy’s biomass gasification plant was recognized as the driving force behind the City of Lebanon’s receipt of a 2017 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award, the most prestigious conservation award in Tennessee, and a top project award from Environmental Leader.
Aries Clean Energy deployed its patented gasification technology in design and construction of the plant that was commissioned in late 2016. It is the world’s largest downdraft gasification facility, and it utilizes a blend of wood waste from local industries, scrap tires from Wilson County, and biosolids from the city’s wastewater treatment plant to produce green electricity.
For more information, visit www.ariescleanenergy.com.