Bartlett officials are looking into a way to convert one of the city’s wastewater treatment plants into a renewable natural gas facility.

The suburb’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen held a special work session Tuesday, June 25, to discuss the project, followed by a regular meeting where they unanimously voted to start studying the development.

Bartlett’s project, involving its wastewater treatment plant at 5258 Shelter Run Lane, would be one of only about 30 similar municipal projects across the U.S. and Canada where the process converts solid waste into renewable natural gas.

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“We’re constantly looking for ways in which we can help the city grow. We’re exploring all options,” said Steve Sones, Bartlett’s chief administrative officer.

PATH Company LLC approached Bartlett officials with the idea for the project a couple of months ago. The city and PATH partnered over the past couple of years to complete an LED streetlight conversion expected to save Bartlett substantial sums in the coming years on electricity and maintenance.

“The idea, of course, is to try to turn what is right now an asset for the city that has some liabilities tied to it — liabilities being the costs associated with running it — and turn those liabilities into additional assets,” said William Franklin, PATH vice president of business development.

Current wastewater treatment in Bartlett results in water discharged back into the Loosahatchie River once it meets environmental standards. Solids are sold to farmers for agricultural purposes. The methane gas produced, which ultimately has substantial value when converted to renewable natural gas, is currently lost into the air.

Getting the project moving quickly is critical due to an investment tax credit that accompanied the Inflation Reduction Act. That could result in a savings for the city of 25% to 40% of the estimated $15.7 million project costs.

In order to qualify, 5% of the project costs must spent by the end of this year.

“That’s why we’re here today to try to move this quickly,” Franklin said. “I do believe there’s a great project here.”

By very conservative projections, the city would see a $23.8 million positive net budget impact over the next 30 years.

Next steps will include an assessment of whether enough gas is produced to move forward.

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“I’m optimistic this could be an opportunity that could generate some revenue resources for us as well as help reduce the amount of some of the disposal in the future,” Mayor David Parsons said after the meeting.

Initial sample results are expected by mid-July, and if favorable, Parsons, Sones and members of the city’s public works department will travel to either Sioux City, Iowa, or Montreal to tour a renewable natural gas facility and meet with city officials to study the concept.

Both of those plants have produced revenue for at least three years.

Parsons says Bartlett could even end up taking in solid waste from surrounding municipalities looking for somewhere to dispose.

“There are a lot of questions and moving parts to this,” he said. “But enough things about it have gotten my attention to see if we can generate a revenue stream for future generations.”