Tarps and scaffolding at Hamilton’s methane globe coming down today
Hamilton, ON – Earlier today, crews began removing the tarps and scaffolding that protected Hamilton’s iconic methane globe over the winter. The sphere is in the midst of receiving a major facelift, and the tarps will begin to reveal a temporary all-white paint job over the coming week.
Located at Hamilton’s Woodward Water Wastewater Treatment Plant, the globe was covered with tarps and scaffolding throughout the winter while sandblasters removed peeling paint and debris. Beginning in April, residents will notice large powered lifts moving artists around as they paint the renowned globe design back onto the sphere.
The cost of the project is estimated at $4.4 million – one of 16 projects funded jointly between the federal government, provincial government and the City of Hamilton under the Clean Water Wastewater Fund.
While it’s currently out of service, the sphere stores methane from the wastewater treatment process and generates electricity, renewable natural gas, and waste heat. The electricity and natural gas are sold back to the grid, and the recovered waste heat is used to heat some of the processes at the treatment plant.