In October 2015, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the Energy to Lead Competition. This competition challenged NY colleges and universities to develop innovative plans for clean energy projects on their campuses and in their local communities. Other requirements for proposals included student involvement, a greenhouse gas emission study, and a comprehensive economic report.

The ESW Biofuels Bioenergy Implementation sub-team submitted a proposal titled Bioenergy Microgrids: Creating a Sustainable Network from Cornell University Waste Streams. The goal of the proposal was to convert the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility (IAWWTF) into a bioenergy microgrid by maximizing the input of organic materials to the facility in leveraging Cornell University waste streams.

To develop a strong proposal, our team worked extensively with Cornell faculty, engineers at IAWWTF, and other prominent members of the Ithaca community. We analyzed how Cornell University organic waste (such as waste cooking oil, manure, alkaline hydrolysate, and food scraps) could be effectively treated and transported to the IAWWTF, where it would be turned into biofuels using an anaerobic digester and a biodiesel reactor. Additionally, we analyzed the environmental benefits and the economic viability of the project. This plan consisted of three major capital investments: a biodiesel reactor, a manure-sand separator, and a waste decontamination unit.

The proposal received letters of support from prominent figures, including Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick and the Dean of the Veterinary College at Cornell University. Although the proposal was not chosen to receive funding by NYSERDA, the manure-sand separator will be constructed and implemented at Cornell's Teaching Dairy Barn in Fall 2017. They hope to divert their manure waste to the IAWWTF.