Editor's note: Wow, what a great PR statement, referring to the application of toxic sludge on 200 acres of land as a "recycling project"! Yes, our waste needs to go somewhere, and preferably not on food crops, but as long as these untested biosolids are applied to fields, toxic byproducts will seep into the ground water and affect local ecosystems in various undesirable ways.
SALT LAKE CITY - The 200-acre chunk of land southwest of the airport is barren save for wisps of grass and dried-out thistle. And due to recent snow, it's boggy, too.
But give it some attention, and around July it will burst with bright oranges, yellows and reds as soon-to-be-planted safflower blooms. Soon after, the plants' seeds will become fuel to power local government fleets hungry for homegrown biodiesel.
Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City Public Utilities, the South Davis Sewer District, Utah State University and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all are lending a hand for a pilot project to showcase the use of this publicly owned land to grow the feedstock for biodiesel fuel.
And it's a recycling project, as well. Biosolids generated by the wastewater treatment process will be spread over the land to fertilize the drought-tolerant safflower.
On this dry farm, future fuels start with seeds and biosolids, followed by benign neglect until the safflower has grown, said Dallas Hanks, USU researcher and director of the FreeWays to Fuel National Alliance, during a news conference Monday to introduce the project.
he plan is to start small, on just 20 of the 200 acres, and with success, expand. Each acre is expected to yield about 50 gallons of biodiesel. Poured in the city's and county's vehicles, it should reduce how much is spent on imported diesel fuel and improve the sustainability and carbon footprint of the area, the officials said. And all that biosolid waste won't end up in landfills, either.
Salt Lake City owns the land, while USU brings expertise to the undertaking. The processed biosolids are from Salt Lake's public wastewater treatment facility. South Davis Sewer District is lending its "slinger" to distribute the biosolid waste. The vehicle's title aptly describes how it works, lumbering like a giant mower that slings waste from its side.
The LDS Church will provide equipment and labor for both the planting and harvesting of the safflower.
Unsustainable Biofuel Project Backed by Mormon Church
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Mormon church partners with local agencies on biofuel project
By Lois M. Collins
Desert News, March 15, 2010
Straight to the Source
