Cogeneration is one of those technologies that’s old enough to be new again. As costs skyrocket and concerns about air quality spread, interest grows in cleaner, more efficient energy production. Cogeneration may fit the bill — it doubles the efficiency of burning coal by capturing and reusing the hot air or steam that conventional power companies view as ‘waste’ (roughly 60 to 70% of the total energy is lost as waste heat).

Cleveland Thermal Chilled Water Distribution, LLC — which already pipes steam and chilled water services to downtown office buildings (but not electric power) — is proposing to build a cogeneration plant at E. 26th Street just north of Lakeside Avenue. This would be the first commercial cogeneration facility in Cleveland.

The city of Cleveland might sign on as a partner in the venture. First, EcoCity Cleveland has agreed to hire a consulting engineer to review Cleveland Thermal's proposal for its environmental best practices and economic feasibility. The consultant's report will be submitted to the city of Cleveland before it makes a recommendation to city-owned Cleveland Public Power, a potential customer for the electricity portion of the plant.

How does cogeneration fit into the regional agenda for an advanced energy future? For example, has electric utility deregulation made the business environment more or less favorable to "new" technologies and regional distribution networks?