.jpg.aspx?lang=en-US&width=350&height=247 "The Blue Lake Water Resources Recovery Facility in Shakopee treats about 27 million gallons of wastewater daily.")
The Metropolitan Council earned a rebate of nearly $153,000 in April from CenterPoint Energy for natural gas savings. The savings resulted from an energy recovery project at the Blue Lake Water Resource Recovery Facility in Shakopee.
The recently completed project helps convert a byproduct of wastewater processing, renewable biogas, into energy to operate the facility.
"Millions of gallons of wastewater flow to our facilities daily, carrying an enormous, untapped energy resource — and we're unlocking it," said Leisa Thompson, general manager of Met Council Environmental Services.
"From raw wastewater heat to the stored energy in biosolids, this project transforms how we think about wastewater treatment,” Thompson said. “We aren't just cleaning water; we're turning treatment facilities into energy generators — reducing our operational costs and the region's reliance on natural gas and building a more sustainable future."
The project supports the Met Council’s broader climate goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing use of renewable energy, and improving energy efficiency across our operations. It is a strong example of how customized energy efficiency projects can deliver results.
Blue Lake is one of the largest wastewater treatment facilities in Minnesota, treating roughly 27 million gallons of wastewater every day. In addition to environmental benefits, this project also delivers real value to Minnesotans by reducing emissions associated with customer use of energy. It is expected to save the Met Council approximately $160,000 annually in energy costs, reduce long-term operational expenses, and maximize the value of resources already being produced at the Blue Lake facility.