Flex Your Power Case Study: Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Control District

Over the past several years, Vallejo has worked with internal staff, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop energy reducing projects and take advantage of energy rebates programs. The impetus for such programs has been to seek the most cost effective treatment of wastewater and financial rebates and grants to fund such projects. The district embarked on five projects in 2001, all of which are expected to result in a projected energy cost savings of $189,000 and rebates of $737,000. The programs included motor replacements, lighting retrofits, installation of motion sensors, installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs) and the CEC's generation replacement program. The standby generator replacement project alone will save the district $168,000 annually.

Vallejo Sanitation's goals in 2001 were to seek the most cost effective treatment of wastewater and to find financial rebates/grants where possible to implement cost saving measures. In order to qualify for generator replacement rebates, the agency needed to design and complete the project in a short time.

Vallejo Sanitation's 2001/02 programs are expected to deliver impressive overall results: 2,354,000 kWh in annual energy savings, $332,000 in annual financial savings and $737,000 in rebates.

The estimated energy and financial savings for each program were as follows:
- Motion sensors: 125,000 kWh and $15,000/year.
- Lighting retrofits: 166,000 kWh and $20,000/year.
- VFD installation: 625,000 kWh and $75,000/year.
- Motor replacement: 450,000 kWh and $54,000/year.
- Generator program: 988,235 kWh and $168,000/year.

Vallejo Sanitation received the following rebates:
- $2,500 from PG&E for motion sensors.
- $26,000 from PG&E for VFD replacement.
- $12,000 from PG&E motor replacement.
- $720,000 from the CEC for generator replacement.