Projects

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's 2024 Energy Plan

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's 2024 Energy Plan

Milwaukee, WI
United States
milwaukee skyline

TYLin was engaged to update The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's (MMSD) 2015 Energy Plan.

The MMSD embarked on a groundbreaking energy master planning project to support its 2035 Vision, focused on Integrated Watershed Management and Climate Change Mitigation, with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Serving over 1.1 million people across 28 municipalities in the Milwaukee area, MMSD’s strategic objectives include meeting 100% of its energy needs through renewable sources, with 80% coming from internal renewable sources, and reducing its carbon footprint by 90% from its 2005 baseline levels.

This effort included integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into the plan and aligning it with MMSD’s 2050 Facilities Plan and Biosolids Advanced Facility Plan. The project involved extensive collaboration with MMSD’s team to ensure the $728 million capital improvements plan was technically sound, feasible, and aligned with the organization's sustainability mission.

The project consisted of evaluating current renewable energy practices, such as the generation of electricity and heat using landfill gas, digester gas, and solar power. Additional renewable technologies, like waste heat recovery and wind generation, were also assessed for potential incorporation. To support energy reduction, innovative wastewater treatment process upgrades and energy-saving technologies were considered, such as improving aeration and solids processing to lower energy demand while boosting renewable energy generation.

Power utilization and generation analyses were conducted at various MMSD facilities, including the Jones Island and South Shore Water Reclamation Facilities. These analyses identified opportunities to further increase energy efficiency and renewable energy use. The project also focused on enhancing MMSD’s energy monitoring capabilities by improving data collection and analysis, ensuring that energy savings and production goals were met.

This energy master planning effort, recognized as trailblazing in the industry, provided MMSD with a detailed timeline and cost plan to achieve its sustainability targets by 2035. The success of this project has positioned MMSD as a leader in climate change adaptation.