Completion of the new facilities at the Water Pollution Control Plant in Millbrae — which will turn kitchen grease into usable energy — was celebrated Thursday. This will mean lower energy and operating costs, greater power reliability, a free biofuel source and a new revenue source for Millbrae.

Millbrae teamed up with Chevron Energy Solutions to upgrade the facilities last year. The $5.5 million project is part of the larger $30 million project to entirely revamp the plant and the sewer system — which should go out to bid next summer, said City Manager Ralph Jaeck.

“It’s very exciting. It’s going to help three fold. It’s cleaner for the environment, cleaner for the air and creates a cleaner environment for the city. It’s an improvement that doesn’t cost the residents money,” said Councilwoman Gina Papan.

There is a three-step process involved. First, grease is collected each night from restaurants then brought to the plant in trucks. The new facilities will allow grease to be dropped off 24 hours a day.

Then the grease will be stored in a new 12,000 gallon tank where it is mixed to produce methane. Finally, the methane is used to fuel the new 250 kilowatt microturbine cogeneration system, which produces power for operating the plant.

“This project clearly demonstrates that cities can develop renewable energy economically, with multiple benefits to urban communities,” said Jim Davis, president of Chevron Energy Solutions.

This process of using otherwise wasted energy while generating electricity is known as cogeneration.

“This is a win, win situation. ... We’re able to take kitchen grease, turn it into methane gas and produce electricity to run the waste water plant. Businesses will pay us to unload the grease. [The city] will save [$366,000] annually in power,” said Mayor Robert Gottschalk.

The plant will create 80 percent of the energy needed to run itself, said plant superintendent Dick York. If the process is a success, the plant can be expanded to create an excess of needed electricity that can be sold for profit, he said. A holding container for the gas was created, in case things don’t go well. The city would use the gas to fuel city vehicles, said York.

The plant is anticipated to open in a month.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.