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Committee pursues $15,000 feasibility grant to test wastewater-to-heat pilot at Boston Post Road East
Summary
The Climate Resilient Council agreed to have a feasibility application drafted for a MassDEP wastewater energy recovery grant to test a thermal-exchange pilot near Boston Post Road East/Countryside Village; Black Swan Labs will draft the application for DPW review and the city will decide after feasibility results.
The Climate Resilient Council moved to pursue a Phase 1 MassDEP technical-assistance feasibility grant to study whether wastewater heat at Boston Post Road East could be captured to heat and cool nearby affordable housing.
Black Swan Labs representatives told the committee the Phase 1 award is roughly $15,000 and focuses on basic town and sewer-system information; “Phase 1 is the feasibility study only, which is what you'd be starting with. It's a $15,000 grant,” a Black Swan presenter said. The firm offered to draft the narrative and technical description so the city’s DPW could supply system-specific fields before submission.
Committee members discussed the likely site and operational details. City staff and Black Swan described the 30-inch interceptor in the easement near Countryside/Country Village as a candidate tap point; staff said some taps can be placed off the street in an easement so major street excavation may not be necessary. Black Swan gave a rough sizing rule: “Every 1,000,000 gallons per day of wastewater, you can get basically enough heat and heating and cooling for a 100 homes,” noting feasibility depends on local flows and temperatures.
Several members cautioned the feasibility study is only a technical step and said the city should not commit to design or construction without reviewing the report. The mayor and council president emphasized that department heads should not be asked to lead a large effort until the feasibility stage defines technical needs and likely costs.
Black Swan and staff agreed to prepare a draft application and circulate it to committee members and the mayor for comment; the draft will include the limited local technical inputs DPW must provide and will be submitted by an authorized municipal applicant if members approve. The committee did not commit to any design or construction phases pending feasibility results.
The next procedural step is review of the Black Swan draft by the committee and DPW, after which the municipality would complete and submit the application to MassDEP. If the feasibility study finds the site feasible, the council may then consider a design application and funding paths.
