“We’re starting to reap some of the benefits,” says Virgil Turner. He’s talking about the Montrose Wastewater Treatment Plant, which has seen a 17.5 percent reduction in the cost of energy since 2008 — saving the plant some $70,000 in a $1.3 million annual budget.“We’ve been doing quite a bit with our wastewater plant,” says Turner, director of innovation and citizen engagement for the City of Montrose, population 19,000, in the high desert of the Uncompahgre Valley of western Colorado.The cost-saving measures include water conservation, high-efficiency lighting, upgrades to large motors and an advanced solar photovoltaic system.Focus on utilitiesA regional
