Colorado Springs Utilities is getting ready to turn ash into treasure through a program designed to reduce costs, bring in cash and go easier on the planet as well.The city-owned utility has struck a deal with Separation Technologies of Needham, Mass., to process 120,000 to 130,000 tons of fly ash produced per year by the city’s two coal-fired power plants, Drake downtown and Nixon south of Colorado Springs.Fly ash, a byproduct of coal-burning thought to be worthless, has been landfilled for years. But about a decade ago, the federal government determined it was safe to recycle it.Since then, utilities across the country have teamed with companies that filter out remaining carbon to make the ash usable as a substitute for cement in making concrete.The city recently contracted with the Massachusetts company, which has been processing ash for nine clients and will build a facility near Nixon in the next year. The company also is responsible for developing a market for the ash.”One of the things we like to do is take a conservative approach to this,” said Michele Fujimoto, Utilities’ fuel and materials manager. “We didn’t want to rush into doing something that didn’t have the benefit we were hoping to get.”The benefits are many, Utilities officials say.First, the city will avoid $620,000 in landfill costs, including daily operations, hauling and landfill space development. In addition, Utilities hopes to bring in up to $2 million annually in ash sales.”It’s our opportunity to take what’s been a waste stream and turn it from a liability into an asset,” said Drew Rankin, general manager for energy supply. “We’re converting it into a beneficial product.”Although $2.6 million isn’t much compared with the $168 million the city spends generating power, every bit helps, Rankin said.Other benefits include fewer acres used as landfill and less rock crushed and energy used by cement makers to make cement.”For every ton of this ash we can use beneficially, that takes a ton less of rock a cement company has to burn coal to treat, and that reduces the carbon footprint,” Rankin said. “It’s really an overall global benefit.”Likewise, the city wants to peddle another coal byproduct called bottom ash, which occurs in lower quantities than fly ash, to brick and cinder-block makers, a process that could lead to Utilities saving $27,250 in landfill and other costs and generate up to $10,000 in revenue annually.”It’s smart business,” Rankin said. “A lot of industries, not just ours, haven’t been as aggressive in minimizing our waste streams. It’s easy to put this in landfills. The market opportunities are allowing us to go from expense to revenue.”CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0238 or pam.zubeck@gazette.com

Drake Power Plant scientist Brian Leach with a brick made from fly ash. A Massachusetts firm will process fly ash produced by the Springs’ coal-fired power plants. Photo by (CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE)