Government and technical professionals from Germany tour Alexandria Renew; discuss generating energy from wastewater.
ALEXANDRIA, VA – April 30, 2012 – Lord Mayor of the City of Bottrop, Germany Bernd Tischler, and a select group of government and technical professionals today made a presentation on cutting-edge technologies to generate energy from wastewater. The event – co-sponsored by the German Embassy and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), located in Old Town Alexandria – was intended to explore and start a dialogue on the technical, economic and political feasibilities of such an approach.
City of Alexandria Mayor William Euille welcomed his fellow mayor, distinguished guests and representatives from the US Conference of Mayors, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the German Embassy, and Alexandria Renew Enterprises – formerly the Alexandria Sanitation Authority. Following the presentation, the attendees made a tour of Alexandria Renew Enterprises’ award winning water cleaning facility and learned about the latest expansion now underway to meet tough new environmental standards and its transformation into a resource reclamation center.
Alexandria Renew Enterprises Chief Executive Officer Karen Pallansch commented, “We congratulate our German colleagues on this exciting and forward-looking technology to reduce non-renewable energy consumption. While still in the early developmental stage, it has the potential for being yet another tool in the world’s resources sustainability toolbox. And we can’t have enough of them. We look forward to their progress. ”
She went on to observe that Alexandria Renew Enterprises is already using digester gases from the water cleaning process to heat its facilities, thereby reducing its need for natural gas. “As an industry leader, we are also broadening our horizons, while at the same time, sharpening our focus. We’re looking at the very real possibility of marketing to business and industry this inexpensive and renewable product as a great alternative to natural gas. Like our German colleagues, we are committed to greater sustainability in all of our operations,” Ms. Pallansch said.
The Alexandria Renew Enterprises CEO also stressed the importance of global collaboration, partnership and the exchange of ideas. “On behalf of Alexandria Renew Enterprises, let me first thank Mayor Euille for taking the time out of his schedule to tee up this important dialogue. He is a great champion of the environment and making Alexandria the EcoCity of the future. And for years, ASA and now, Alexandria Renew have opened our doors to national and international representatives to learn about our best practices in cleaning water. Today, we are just as excited to share our ideas and open a dialogue on innovations and best practices in sustainability. Today’s event clearly demonstrates that this is a global conversation that all of us must be a part of.”
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ALEXANDRIA, VA – APRIL 23, 2012 – Alexandria Renew Enterprises – formerly the Alexandria Sanitation Authority – announced today that beginning in October 2012, its customers will receive a separate bill for wastewater treatment services.
Currently, this service is included in their Virginia American Water bill. However, Virginia American Water informed Alexandria Renew Enterprises late in 2011 that it will no longer provide third-party billing services, which necessitated the change. Virginia America Water will still bill its customers quarterly for the cost of supplying clean water to residences and businesses. Alexandria Renew customers will receive future bills on a quarterly basis as well.
The new billing system will not go into effect until next October and requires no action on the part of ratepayers at this time.
Customers can stay up to date on all developments about the new billing system and what Alexandria Renew Enterprises is doing to protect the environment and preserve and renew our precious natural resources by visiting www.alexrenew.com, Facebook at Alexandria Renew Enterprises, and Twitter at AlexRenewCEO.
Alexandria Renew Enterprises is dedicated to providing information to ratepayers regarding the change in the billing system. Ratepayers will receive information through the mail and in local advertisements. Customers can also call 855-549-9889 to speak to a representative who can answer their questions.
Alexandria Renew Enterprises Chief Executive Officer Karen Pallansch observed: “The decision by Virginia America Water to discontinue third party billing is also a great opportunity for us to provide yet another avenue of great service to our customers. By giving our customers this early ‘heads-up,’ we want to ease any possible confusion and are working diligently to provide for a smooth and seamless transition to the new billing system. Although our name has changed, some things haven’t. And one of them is our time-honored tradition of being a good neighbor to the citizens and businesses of the City of Alexandria. “
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Members of the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee receive the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award.
ALEXANDRIA, VA –APRIL 21, 2012 – The 2012 Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award was presented to the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) by Alexandria Renew Enterprises (formerly Alexandria Sanitation Authority) and the City of Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission at today’s Alexandria Earth Day celebration.
BPAC was launched in February 2011 to support a force of active citizens who enjoy bicycling and walking in the City of Alexandria. This all-volunteer group has supported local bicycle and pedestrian initiatives that include the installation of bike racks on DASH buses and the inclusion of bicycle networks in small area plans. BPAC is currently encouraging city planners to use the latest “best practices” for bicycling and walking. In October 2011, BPAC launched a series of monthly community bike rides focused on “utility cycling,” or using Alexandria’s bike network for shopping, socializing and commuting in daily life. BPAC also encouraged the City to bring the already-popular Capital Bikeshare to Alexandria.
BPAC recently recruited and trained bicycle and rider volunteer “counters.” Their data suggests that the Mount Vernon Trail, which runs from Roosevelt Island to Mount Vernon, moves about one million people through Alexandria each year.
“Ellen Pickering advocated for the creation of the Mount Vernon Trail, and perhaps she knew that this beautiful trail would be enjoyed by a million people every year and would spawn more advocates, like the volunteers of the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee,” said Alexandria Renew Chief Executive Officer Karen L. Pallansch.
“We have no doubt she would be thrilled at BPAC’s work – as are we. We share many of the same values and philosophies, such as being a good neighbor, uniting community needs with community desires, and using best practices to promote a healthy environment and preserve our precious natural resources. BPAC’s efforts are yet another step forward to making Alexandria the Eco-City of the future. We are very proud to present BPAC with this award.”
Planning is underway to upgrade Alexandria Renew Enterprise’s facilities. Part of the upgrade involves giving back to the community by turning unused industrial space off Eisenhower Avenue into green space, a new athletic field, and a pedestrian/bike path linking a new green deck with the Alexandria African American Heritage Park.
The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award is named in honor of Frances Ellen Pickering’s lifelong dedication to preservation and conservation in the City of Alexandria. She was a member of the Alexandria Sanitation Authority Board of Directors, and also served on the City Council and numerous City boards and commissions.
Alexandria Renew Enterprise cleans more than 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater, and last year used 1.4 billion gallons of reclaimed water to help run its facility, saving ratepayers about $3 million. It provided 22,500 wet tons of nutrient-rich biosolids soil amendments to farmers in nine counties in Virginia, and on Earth Day, gives out samples to local gardeners. Last year, the facility also created more than 145 million cubic feet of digester gas and used over 118 million cubic feet of it to fuel its treatment process, which cost less than natural gas would have. Learn more at www.alexrenew.com.
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Alexandria Renew employees talk with Earth Day visitors.
ALEXANDRIA, VA – APRIL 19, 2012 – On Earth Day 2012, the Alexandria Sanitation Authority will formally become Alexandria Renew Enterprises – the transformation of what a water cleaning facility can be.
ASA cleans wastewater for nearly 350,000 people in the City of Alexandria and part of Fairfax County. It began operation in 1956, with an initial goal to “afford a nuisance-free effluent discharge” into Hunting Creek and the Potomac River. Since then, ASA’s mission and portfolio of activities have changed to reflect greater public concerns regarding the environment, energy use, the region’s eco-system, and natural resources – particularly clean water.
The new name better reflects the organization’s goals now and into the future. Alexandria Renew Enterprises’ core mission will continue to be cleaning water to the highest standards of the federal government and the Commonwealth of Virginia, but will also see a far greater potential to renew precious natural resources and make them available to a greater market. Alexandria Renew Enterprises will become the community’s water resource recovery center.
“Alexandria Renew Enterprises will take us down a new and exciting path to greater sustainability – real world, environmentally-friendly products available to business and the public that will help reduce the demand for the costly energy, fresh water, and the chemicals we use in our crop fields and gardens,” said Alexandria Renew Chief Executive Officer Karen L. Pallansch.
Many changes in the organization are driven by environmental laws that did not exist during the first Earth Day, which occurred in 1970. Starting in 2011, most water treatment facilities in the region, including ASA, were required to remove 62% more nitrogen from treated wastewater. Meeting those standards requires designing, building, and installing modern equipment that will allow Alexandria Renew to meet the new regulations.
Part of the upgrade involves giving back to the community by turning unused industrial space off Eisenhower Avenue into green space, a new athletic field, and a pedestrian/bike path. Planning is already underway and is scheduled for completion in 2016. “Each year, Alexandria Renew Enterprises restarts its commitment to protect the environment and our fragile ecosystems with the same passion it gave to honor the community and people served every day during the first Earth Day more than twenty years ago. That is what ASA is about today and what Alexandria Renew Enterprises will deliver in the future,” said Board Chair Thomas Van Wagner.
Alexandria Renew Enterprises employees and CEO Pallansch will be volunteering on Earth Day at its exhibit at Ben Brenman Park and invite visitors and the media to visit, learn more about how water is cleaned, and see the new logo.
Alexandria Renew Enterprise cleans more than 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater, and last year used 1.4 billion gallons of reclaimed water to help run its facility, saving ratepayers about $3 million. It provided 22,500 wet tons of nutrient-rich biosolids soil amendments to farmers in nine counties in Virginia, and on Earth Day, gives out samples to local gardeners. Last year, the facility also created more than 145 million cubic feet of digester gas and used over 118 million cubic feet of it to fuel its treatment process, which cost less than natural gas would have. Learn more at www.alexrenew.com.
WEF Executive Director Jeff Eger at AlexRenew
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – March 22, 2012 – Today the Alexandria Renew Enterprises welcomed the staff of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) headquarters, located in Alexandria, as part of their celebration for World Water Day and the launch of WEF’s WATER’S WORTH IT campaign.
AlexRenew employees gave the WEF staff a tour of the facility, which cleans about 13.5 billion gallons of dirty water each year.
WEF Executive Director Jeff Eger recognized AlexRenew as “a cutting edge” leader in the water industry, and noted that water treatment facilities are important public servants that deserve recognition.
“Henry Ford said, ‘You can tear down my building and take away my equipment, but give me my people and I can rebuild my business.’ The people in this room are the core to the water quality profession,” Mr. Eger said.
AlexRenew Chief Operator Rick Everette, who has been in the wastewater treatment industry
for 26 years, said that, since moving to the Washington, DC area 25 years ago,
the local water have greatly improved – so much so that last year he caught a
three-pound bass in the Potomac River, after years of traveling to the York
River for cleaner waters.
He gave credited to advanced technology and AlexRenew – which won its sixth Platinum Peak Performance Award last year for maintaining a 100 percent compliance level with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System – for continuing to improve the quality and safety of water in the region.
- World Water Day at AlexRenew
AlexRenew General Manager Karen Pallansch honored the AlexRenew staff, noting that, “The work that AlexRenew employees do, all day, every day, is important to the health and economy of our community. We feel honored that WEF would join us today to thank AlexRenew employees for their dedication to clean water, and to launch this exciting WATER’S WORTH IT campaign.
The WATER’S WORTH IT campaign highlights the importance of water to the world,
which is “indispensable to jobs, the economy, our health and our communities.”
Learn more about the campaign and find ways to support its efforts by visiting
http://www.watersworthit.org.
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ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – March 20, 2012 – Alexandria Renew
Enterprises welcomes new Board members William Dickinson and John Hill.
Both are long-time Alexandria residents.
Mr. Dickinson has been a member of the Arlington/Alexandria Task
Force on the Waste-to-Energy Plant and has served on the Alexandria Citizen
Corps Council and the City Manager’s Open Space Task Force. He’s also been a
member and Chairman of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.
He has particular interest in “green infrastructure” and
cost-effective approaches to address water issues.
Mr. Dickinson formed the Environmental Policy Network, which
provides consulting services, following his retirement from the U.S. Government.
Mr. Hill has been a member and Chairman of the City of Alexandria’s
Budget and Fiscal Affairs citizen committee.
He has worked since 2009 for the U.S. Department of Treasury. Prior
to that, he was an executive for Computech, an information technology services firm.
He is knowledgeable in the role of water and sewage treatment in
the development of the City of Alexandria, as well as an appreciation for
adequate infrastructure planning. He
served as an engineer for the Washington Suburban Sanitation Commissioner early
in his career.
“We welcome William Dickinson and John Hill. They are terrific
additions to the AlexRenew Board of Directors as we move forward in expanding and
transforming the City’s water treatment facility in the coming years,” said AlexRenew
General Manager Karen Pallansch.
Joshua Dickinson, who served on the Board, accepted a job in
California.
“We thank Joshua for his hard work and insight as a Board member,”
commented Ms. Pallansch. “He will be missed, and we wish him luck in his new
position.”
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ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – March 19, 2012 – This weekend, the Alexandria
City Council approved the Alexandria Renew Enterprises’s plans to upgrade
the Four Mile Run Pump Station on Commonwealth Avenue.
The new facility will include an artificial turf athletic field on
top of underground tanks. The pump station will be next to Cora Kelley School
for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
“We are excited that the Alexandria City Council supports
improvements to the Four Mile Run Pump Station. This facility will ultimately
replace a nearly 60 year-old pump station that has outlived its useful life.
Not only will the new facility help process wastewater for the region, it will
give the community a terrific new place to play sports. We’re very pleased at
the opportunity we have to serve the people of Alexandria with this facility,”
said AlexRenew General Manager Karen Pallansch.
In addition to the athletic-field topped tanks, the facility will
include a building that will house pumping equipment, public restrooms, and a
City parks administration office.
Construction is expected to begin in 2013, and the field should be
ready to play in spring 2015.
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ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – February 23, 2012 – The Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew) and the City of Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission seek nominees to the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award to recognize those who help keep the City green.
The award will be presented on Alexandria Earth Day, to be celebrated at Ben Brenman Park, on April 21, 2012. A tree will be planted in the honor of the recipient of the award.
The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award is named in honor of Mrs. Pickering, a former Board member of the Alexandria Renew Enterprises, who was dedicated to preservation and conservation in the City throughout her life. She helped create the Mount Vernon Trial between Alexandria and Washington. She was committed to preserving and enhancing the City’s waterfront. She urged the adoption of the City’s Open Space Plan, lobbied to preserve Founder’s Park and protect it from high-rise development. She implemented the planting of 1,ooo citizen-donated cherry trees during her tenure as Chair of the Alexandria Beautification Commission.
Mrs. Pickering served on a number of City boards and commissions, and was elected to City Council as an independent for one term between 1976 and 1979.
Qualifications: To qualify for the award, nominees – who can be citizens, groups, clubs, organizations or corporations – must be residents of the City of Alexandria. Groups, clubs, organizations and corporations must operate within the City of Alexandria. The actions of the nominees must have a direct impact on the environment and natural resources within the City of Alexandria.
Selection: Selection will be made by a special committee of the Alexandria Renew Enterprises, the Environmental Policy Commission, and members of Mrs. Pickering’s family.
Applicable Topics: Subject matter applicable to the award criteria include natural resource preservation, energy conservation, education outreach regarding environmental sustainability, water reservation, water conservation, waste reduction and/or materials reuse/recycling, and promotion of clean air.
Additionally, the City of Alexandria Adopted the Eco-City Charter in 2008 and Phase I of the Environmental Action Plan in 2009. Both documents define the guiding principles of environmental sustainability. See http://alexandriava.gov/test/eco-city/default.aspx.
Requirements:
Submissions must include:
- The nominee’s name, address, and telephone number, or the key individual to contact if a nominee is not an individual.
- The name, address, and telephone number of the person nominating the candidate must be included.
- A brief description (not to exceed one page) of the nominee’s accomplishments and qualifications for the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award.
- Nominations should be addressed and mailed or delivered to the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission at Alexandria City Hall, Office of Environmental Quality, 301 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
- Nominations must be received by March 15, 2012.
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- Installing solar panels at Alexandria Renew Enterprises. Credit: AlexRenew
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – January 30, 2012 – The Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew) continues its commitment to protect the environment and enhance sustainability in all of its operations by installing solar panels on the roof of its main pump station building.
The new panels will transform clean solar light into electricity. When the sun shines, energy travels from the panels through wires into an inverter, which converts the electricity produced by the panels into available power, which AlexRenew can readily use, as well as ease the demand on an already stressed power grid.
The forty panels that will be installed will produce about 12,500 kWh each year; more than enough to power an average-sized home. One panel will provide power for AlexRenew’s visitor center, which offers hands-on water treatment exhibits for students of any age. AlexRenew believes that every bit of energy conservation counts and every cost-saving is important to its ratepayers.
Using solar panels to provide electrical power is part of AlexRenew’s comprehensive approach to sustainability.
“Installing solar panels is part of the Alexandria Renew Enterprises’s overall strategy and business plan to reduce the use of precious and costly natural resources and focus on renewable energy sources as much as possible,” said AlexRenew General Manager Karen Pallansch.
“The solar panels are one part of a much larger picture of sustainability or portfolio of sustainable projects we’re creating at AlexRenew. We also use recycled water to help cool our equipment, digester gas to heat our buildings, and nutrient-rich soil amendments created using biosolids to keep our landscaping green. Sustainability at AlexRenew is not a catchword, but an efficient way of doing business that is also another way to be a good environmental steward and to give back to the City of Alexandria, its people and businesses we proudly serve every day and hour of the year,” added Ms. Pallansch.
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ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – January 30, 2012 – The Alexandria Renew Enterprises
(AlexRenew) welcomes Lester W. Robinson as its Chief Financial Officer.
Lester is a Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years’ experience in financial management. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Wayne County Airport Authority, where he managed the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the 13th largest passenger airport in North America.
In that position, he was responsible for an operations budget of $264.5 million and a capital improvement budget exceeding $3 billion. In addition to managing 710 employees, he developed and implemented new procurement and purchasing process, adopted new budget management systems, and established a new budget management system. He also gained experience in wastewater and storm water management.
Previous serving the airport, he served as the founder and managing member of Capital Financial Advisors International, located in Detroit, which provided financial advisory services to a broad range of public debt issuers. He was also Vice President for Public Finance for the First of Michigan Corporation and Chief Financial Officer of Wayne County, Michigan.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration, accounting and finance from Michigan State University.
“AlexRenew welcomes Lester Robinson as our new Chief Financial Officer. His extensive fiscal experience is an important and critical component to AlexRenew’s future. We are pleased that Mr. Robinson is joining our team as we move forward and continue to serve as a responsible economic steward for ratepayers,” said AlexRenew General Manager Karen Pallansch.
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