City breaks ground for solar array at wastewater treatment facility

PENDLETON – The city of Pendleton and Ameresco, Inc. broke ground for the new solar array at the wastewater treatment resource recovery facility at 4300 S.W. Houtama Road yesterday.

The $1.8 million project will deliver a number of renewable energy benefits for the city.

“It’s going to generate electricity to help run the wastewater treatment plant,” Mayor John Turner said. “It covers one of the clarifiers which helps cool the water down. That means cooler water going back into the river, which is a major goal.”

Turner added that because of the solar array, direct sunlight will no longer hit the clarifier, which will make the chlorine perform more efficiently, thus reducing the cost of chemicals.

Ameresco is headquartered in Framingham, Mass. It has many offices throughout the country, including one in Portland, as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom. It issued a news release about the groundbreaking:

Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE: AMRC), a leading cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and the City of Pendleton in Oregon today proudly commemorated a significant milestone in the city’s journey toward sustainability and energy resilience. The event, held at the Pendleton Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Facility (WWTRRF), celebrated the groundbreaking of a state-of-the-art 240 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) canopy system, marking another step toward achieving the city’s ambitious goal of bringing the facility closer to net-zero.

The ESPC solar PV canopy project, funded by a combination of state grants, federal incentives, utility incentives, and city resources, is designed to generate approximately 325,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. This innovative installation not only reduces the facility’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources but also enhances the efficiency of the wastewater treatment process by providing shade to the chlorine contact chamber, leading to lower operational costs and improved water quality.

“This has been an idea for about 10 years, so it feels awesome to be here,” said Kyle Willman, Technician and Lead Plant Operator, at Wastewater Treatment Resource Recovery Facility (WWTRRF).  “We really try to focus on recovering as many resources as we can, and this project will cut about 30 percent off our power bill annually. I can’t wait to move forward.”

The event saw the participation of key stakeholders, including Kyle Willman, Lead Plant Operator at Pendleton WWTRRF, Robb Corbett, City Manager of Pendleton, Mayor John H. Turner, and Lori Wyman, Regional Business Manager at Pacific Power, alongside Ameresco executives. The project has also garnered essential support from the Oregon Department of Energy’s Community Renewable Energy Grant Program (CREP), further highlighting the collaborative effort to enhance local infrastructure and sustainability. In alignment with the goals of the CREP, the project will also integrate workforce training, supplier diversity, and student outreach focused on rural and underserved populations.

“Pendleton’s ongoing efforts to build a more sustainable and resilient future showcase what can be achieved when communities, utilities, and energy partners work together toward common environmental goals,” said Lou Maltezos, Executive Vice President, at Ameresco. “We’re thrilled to be working on this project and setting a strong benchmark for similar facilities across the region.”

This project is part of a broader initiative at the Pendleton WWTRRF, which includes a suite of renewable energy and efficiency upgrades designed to reduce the facility’s carbon footprint and operational costs. In addition to the solar PV canopy, future plans include the integration of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that will further enhance the facility’s energy management capabilities. For more information about Ameresco and its sustainability initiatives, visit www.ameresco.com.

Ameresco photo from BizWire

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Elkhorn Media Group

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