Drain commissioner's stimulus plan could bring jobs

GENESEE COUNTY (WJRT) -- (05/04/09)--Millions of dollars in economic stimulus money is coming to Michigan.

Now the state is trying to figure out who gets it. One set of proposals would bring jobs to Genesee County.

Hundreds of new jobs would be coming to the Flint area, and perhaps thousands more across the state if a plan is approved by Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright.

The proposal involves Genesee County's three wastewater treatment plants. Two of the plants produce millions of cubic feet of methane gas every year.

Wright wants to tap that resource and make it usable then sell it. It's a plan that would save Genesee County taxpayers money in the long run and create jobs.

"(It would save) 250 jobs in Genesee County thousands across the state," Wright said.

Wright lobbied for the plan before a House subcommittee at Kettering University.

Wright wants to use economic stimulus money to build the infrastructure to start using the gas and putting it into the natural gas distribution system.

"(It would be) $1 million at one facility. At the District 3 facility, $4.5 million. And in Montrose, the largest facility, the approximate cost is $25 million," Wright said.

Wright expects to find out this summer whether the state will funnel the money into Genesee County.

On the subject of a new water pipeline, Wright expects to give his final report to Flint City Council, the County Board and others next week.

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local, joel feick

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