Resource Recycling Systems has had the distinct pleasure to work with the City of Flint on their sustainable and green energy coalition measures.   RRS principal and senior consultant, Marty Seaman joined the City’s Mayor and other business and civic leaders to Sweden for the 5th Global YES Summit. The article below is by Melissa Burden, Flint Journal (printed 5/27/10).

Flint, MI — A group of about 15 city, state business and civic leaders involved with a new Flint green energy coalition are headed to Sweden for an international summit.

They’re on a mission to create some green — alternative energy and paying jobs.

The group traveling to Linkoping, Sweden, includes leaders such as Flint Mayor Dayne Walling and representatives from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Career Alliance Inc., Mass Transportation Authority and Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce.

There, they’ll meet with Swedish Biogas International Inc. representatives and tour several alternative energy plants and see how a “green economy” is creating jobs, said Tom Guise, chief executive officer of SBI in Flint.

The biogas plant is a partnership among the city, state, Kettering University and SBI, is one example in Flint of an alternative energy project that could lead to job growth. Granholm and Gustaf visited in September 2008 for a ceremonial ground breaking of the facility.

A $75,000 Mott Foundation grant, gifted to the GRCC’s nonprofit fundraising arm, is helping in part to fund expenses for members of the coalition who are traveling, said Carol D. Rugg, vice president of communication for the Mott Foundation.

The foundation is a sponsor of the 5th Global YES Summit, “Rework the World,” in Leksand, Sweden, where Walling is slated to give a presentation titled “Zero-Waste as an Engine for Development.”

“The conference is a great opportunity to put Flint on the world stage,” Walling said. “It’s vital that this city rebuilds relationships with companies and innovators all across the globe. It’s a very unique opportunity to go to the home of Swedish Biogas International and see what that community has done with alternative energy for decades.”

The June 2-5 conference focuses on jobs for youth and concentrates on energy, water, land, cities and people. It’s expected to draw some 2,000 people including local and global leaders in politics and business.

Walling, who said he expects to return with new ideas on how to save money and create jobs, said no taxpayer dollars will be used to fund the trip for him, City Council President Delrico Loyd and Steve Montle, the city’s green initiatives coordinator.

“This is being funded by C.S. Mott Foundation and other contributors,” Walling said.

Walling is expected to talk about the city’s loss of General Motors jobs and population over the years and its efforts to reinvent the economy through projects such as the biogas plant and redeveloping brownfield sites.

The zero-waste vision involves job creation through recycling, education and improving the environment, according to online conference materials.

“The more we recycle and use what we already have, the more we can reduce our costs and create new industries,” Walling said. “(The) Swedish Biogas International local project will transform our sewer waste into electricity and fuel and we need to find ways to turn our garbage into energy and to reduce our use of electricity and petroleum-based fuels.”

Construction on the first phase of the $4 million to $5 million biogas plant includes building a tank and pipes outside the city’s wastewater treatment plant in Flint Township.

The hope is to have that up and operational in early 2011, Guise said.

“Everything’s going according to plan,” he said. “Some things take a little longer. You have to get all the permits.”

Guise said the second phase, where the biogas produced will be upgraded to biomethane that can fuel vehicles, will be done concurrently with the first phase. He said SBI is looking to order equipment to build the gas upgrade unit for the second phase, which is expected to cost $2 million to $3 million.

“We haven’t decided yet whose going to use the gas,” he said, adding they have been in discussions with the MTA. “We’re working on sourcing that right now.”

In Linkoping, leaders from the coalition also will discuss with SBI officials about who will use the biomethane, Guise said.

“I think we’re just looking for the best advantage out of the product,” said Guise, who also is going on the trip.

Flint’s green energy coalition got its start in the fall when the Flint Area Reinvestment Office asked Ann Arbor-based Resource Recycling Systems for help in applying for an energy improvement grant, said Martin Seaman, principal and senior consultant for the environmental and engineering firm.

The group, which includes as many as 70 people and has included representatives from universities, hospitals and MTA has continued to meet in some form, even though it didn’t get the grant, Seaman of Grand Blanc Township said.

Collectively the group hopes to help the city capitalize on alternative energy opportunities, he said.

“Ultimately the hope is there is the ability to drive economic development,” said Seaman, who also is going on the trip next week and whose company is paying his way.

Tags: City of Flint, Marty Seaman

Categories: Conferences Tags: City of Flint, Marty Seaman