Climate Resiliency Committee to seek funding options for wastewater-energy feasibility study

The Climate Resiliency Committee voted to explore funding sources for a feasibility study focused on wastewater-energy recovery, a step members said will clarify whether Marlborough can tap sewer and wastewater facilities to supply neighborhood thermal networks.

Chair opened the item and Committee member Mark moved, “I make a motion to explore the feasibility, to explore funding sources for a feasibility study.” The chair seconded the motion; after a brief clarification that the vote would not itself commit municipal funds, members approved the motion unanimously (no roll-call tally was recorded).

The motion narrows the committee’s near-term focus to wastewater-energy recovery because Black Swan Lab and others told the committee that MassDEP currently has a competitive grant for wastewater energy recovery that can support feasibility, design and installation work. Audrey Shulman, executive director of Black Swan Lab, told the committee the DEP grant is limited and a timely application could leverage state funding: “There’s a Department of Environmental Protection grant to do both the feasibility study, the design, and the installation of that wastewater energy recovery system,” she said.

Members asked staff to return to the next meeting with technical information and permitting considerations; the chair said he would try to get Priscilla Ryder and Ted from DPW to attend. Committee members also emphasized they wanted the city to first identify available grant dollars before committing to a broader feasibility study.

The committee set a follow-up meeting for roughly two weeks, at which members expect city staff and technical advisers to outline next steps and application timelines for MassDEP and other potential funding sources.