The Gainesville Department of Water Resources is getting up to $25,000 from the state to help pay for a biogas feasibility study at its Flat Creek Water Reclamation facility.

Funding for the Gainesville initiative is made possible through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority and the Biogas Technical Assistance Program, which support communities working to conserve and improve Georgia’s natural resources.

Linda MacGregor, the Water Resources director for the city, said the assessment will allow Gainesville to study the potential of biogas at its wastewater treatment facilities.

“As part of the wastewater treatment processes, biogas can be a product,” MacGregor told The Times. “Some biogas can be recovered for a beneficial use.”

According to GEFA, the grant offered through the biogas program helps local governments and authorities that own and operate landfills or wastewater treatment plants to realize its landfill gas or biogas potential.

The American Biogas Council estimates there are more than 2,200 sites producing biogas in all 50 states, and more than 13,500 new sites ripe for development with the potential to produce enough energy to power 7.5 million homes, and reduce emissions equivalent to removing up to 15.4 million passenger vehicles off the road.

The state program will reimburse Gainesville 75 percent of the cost of the feasibility study, up to a maximum grant amount of $25,000.