Session Summary:

Wastewater treatment facilities are critical to the health and well-being of communities, ensuring the protection of public water sources. During a power outage or similar energy emergency, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of water treatment facility processes is essential to preventing environmental contamination, safeguarding public health, and maintaining essential services.

In collaboration with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (KY EEC), the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) has identified potential distributed energy resource (DER)-based resilience solutions for prioritized wastewater treatment facilities across the state to mitigate the impacts of unplanned outages. This session will explore the importance of energy resilience for wastewater treatment plants and other critical facilities, demonstrating how microgrids and other DER technologies, such as solar PV, battery storage, standby generation, and microgrids can ensure operational continuity.

State energy offices, such as KY EEC play a pivotal role in advancing statewide resilience initiatives by serving as convening entities and initiative leaders. In conversation with SEPA, representatives from KY EEC, Kentucky Utilities, Enchanted Rock, and a Kentucky wastewater treatment facility will discuss how state agencies can coordinate efforts, secure funding, and facilitate partnerships among local governments, electric and water utilities, and technology providers to identify and develop resilience projects at wastewater treatment plants and other critical facilities, highlighting a replicable model that other states may follow.

Session participants will learn about the specific challenges faced by wastewater treatment facilities during power interruptions and how tailored DER projects can mitigate risks and ensure continuity of operation. Case studies from real-world projects will illustrate successful implementations and the resulting benefits, including enhanced operational continuity, reduced reliance on grid power, and improved community resilience. Join us to explore the intersection of clean energy technologies and critical infrastructure resilience!

Chairperson:

• Rebekah Eggers, Global Director, Client Engagement and Innovation – IBM

Speakers

• Zach Allen, Planning Engineer – LG&E & KU

• Paulette Akers, Environmental Scientist – Kentucky Division of Water

• Jim Barbour, Regional Vice President – Utility Sales – Enchanted Rock

• Daymond Talley, Deputy Chief of Operations – Louisville MSD

Attendees: Allan Schurr, Jim Barbour, Crystal Meadows, Addison Jump