Apache Junction sewer board to discuss power-generating ideas in May

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

With one power-generating idea dashed, the Apache Junction Sewer District is slated to discuss in May two others that would provide some electricity or keep the district entirely off the grid.

The board in March directed sewer district staff to contact a firm that specialized in designing and installing energy-generating equipment for water and wastewater pipes. But the business informed the district the in-pipe equipment can’t be used with raw sewage and screened sewage would require a steep drop in height.

“We reached out to a firm that specializes in this. We had a meeting with them, reviewed our system,” Darron Anglin, sewer district manager, told the board during an April 29 meeting. “Unfortunately they said they do not do any raw sewage in their systems.”

They looked at the screened-wastewater side but the flows would need to be much higher or a large drop in elevation, he said.

“Unfortunately he said that the flows you’re going to need, you either need a lot more flow or you need about a 70-foot drop in elevation to get the (power) generation needed off that system,” Anglin said.

Minutes for the March meeting state Anglin presented a summary of solar energy and alternative options that staff have researched and learned from seminars and training sessions; and that staff received information from a solar company that outlined the costs, savings and benefits of solar energy for the district. He also said solar energy should be considered as an option for the plant in the future.

In a section of the April 29 meeting set aside for direction from the board of directors to staff regarding items to be placed on the next regular meeting agenda, Treasurer Phil Tremonti asked that adding a solar-energy system be included and Board member Roy Starr proposed a power plant be constructed.

“I’ve got one — basically I want to look at accelerating our solar system so that we can make sure to get the 30% reduction that is currently in the law,” Tremonti said.

Solar systems placed in service in 2022 or later and that begin construction before 2034 are eligible for a 30% investment tax credit, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s website.

“I’d like to talk about the future of creating our own power plant right here,” Starr said, passing flyers to board members. “We could put out our own 5 (megawatt) plant to generate enough power for the future. Be totally off the grid.”

The next meeting of the sewer board begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, in the District Board Room, 5661 S. Ironwood Drive in Apache Junction.

The agenda for the meeting will be posted at https://ajsewer.org/boardmeetings.

The sewer district is an independent, public, nonprofit entity developed solely for the benefit of its customers and the Apache Junction community to operate and maintain a regional system for the collection, transport and treatment of sewage from the properties existing within its boundaries.

Board members to the sewer district are appointed by the Apache Junction City Council.

Members of the district board serve as volunteers who are responsible for setting policy and rates, adopting a budget and other high-level decision making regarding all aspects of the district’s operation and on-going business affairs.

By state law, board members cannot own 40 acres in the district, cannot be an employee or agent of a landowner who owns 40 acres or more in the district, cannot be an employee of the city or the county and cannot be an elected official of the city or county.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.