The Nederland Waste Water Treatment Facility

The Nederland Waste Water Treatment Facility
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

We have finally cut the ribbon on the Nederland Waste Water Treatment Facility – the most energy efficient of its kind on the Front Range. It has received recognition regionally, nationally, and attention from climate change conspiracy theorists.

Today, I will be presenting a webinar about our experience building this facility at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in Golden. [The NREL facility itself, is an example of one of the most energy efficient office buildings in the U.S.] In the webinar I describe how this sustainable waste water treatment plant was built under budget and reduced 90% of the projected energy costs, saving our community $9.8 million. More than double the cost of building it.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony last week, I mentioned that the first statement of Envision Nederland 2020 affirms that, "Nederland is a town recognized for its unwavering commitment to the environment." Unwavering indeed – There were many times since 2008, that we could have taken an easier approach, which would have ultimately been less energy efficient, and a burden on future rate payers in our community.

Receiving Recognition for our Commitment to the Environment:

Here is how our local weekly newspaper, The Mountain-Ear, reported the ribbon cutting: Waste Water Plant is Now Official.

The Boulder Daily Camera covered the story as well: Nederland Celebrates State-of-the-Art Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The project was also featured in this construction trade journal, CONEXPO-CON/AGG: Modern Construction Methods Offer Nederland Residents Improved Water Quality and Scenic Views of Barker Reservoir. Local contractor, Len's Excavating will be recognized in Las Vegas for their involvement in the project, at North America’s largest construction equipment trade show next year.

The Frachetti commemorative pure silver coin

Then, along with positive recognition, an Agenda 21 conspiracy theorist released this six-and-a-half minute secret recording of 'Mayor Gierlach describing the Town of Nederland's energy efficient Waste Water Facility' to the Metro Mayor's Caucus at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce:

To top it all off, our engineers, Frachetti Engineering, minted pure silver coins to commemorate the Nederland Waste Water Treatment Facility. Key players, that participated in the success of the project, will receive one of these limited edition coins. I was completely surprised by this, but it illustrates just how proud everyone connected to the project has become. I am grateful that the construction team shared our commitment.

As this chapter closes, and we move on to focus on another aspect of our community, people will likely forget about this project specifically, but by just walking around town, they'll recognize our 'unwavering commitment to the environment' in very subtle ways – clear water, clean air, healthy wildlife and forest ecosystems, noticeably leaving an overall impression that is quite distinctive of Nederland.

[Here is a Video Valediction] This is Groove Armada, performing "At the River" at the popular O2 Academy, south of London in Brixton (2004). [What is a Video Valediction?]