In 2018, Fayetteville City Council had decided to make the city harvest
and thrive on clean energy. The Council voted unanimously in favor of an
agreement that included the City of Fayetteville, Today’s Power Inc., and Ozarks Electric
Cooperative.
This city in Arkansas planned to have a solar power system that is not
only the largest but is also built on municipal grounds. The City of
Fayetteville, per estimations, should earn back its investment in 3.1 years. Also,
the City should garner savings of about 6 million dollars during the 20-year
lifespan of the project.
With the installation of this plan, the city’s consumption of clean
energy was expected to rise drastically. Today’s Power Inc. was to be
responsible for all construction and infrastructure development as well as its
maintenance. The project was planned on two sides of Fayetteville City- east
and west. On the east, it is to be set on Paul R. Noland Wastewater Treatment Facility
and on the west it will be on Westside Water Treatment Facility.
The entire system’s capacity at both sites was expected to be on a total
area of 87 acres. Now this powers both the Facilities which add up to 66% of
the city’s energy consumption. The solar panels are attached to batteries for excess storage. To
maximize their output, they would be used with a solar tracking system to
follow the movements of the sun. Ozarks Electrics was enlisted to maintain the
electric connections while the city continued with its other green endeavors at
the Noland Facility.
Fayetteville has been dreaming of global green energy since 2016 since
the city bought 100 shares in Ozarks Natural Energy for its solar energy
project. With approximately $182,021 savings per annum, the Fayetteville City
will come above the investments in no time.
When this project was publicly
announced 3 years back, Mayor Lioneld Jordan appreciated how the City Council had
shown great leadership for the residents by approving the Energy Action Plan in
January 2018. He was happy that via the collaboration, the city was moving
closer to their green goals. He mentioned how this solar energy generation project
could create renewable energy that their community desires, using the existing assets
of the City. The project also ought to add jobs as well as promote economic
development.
More than the form, it is the
intention that matters. Fayetteville City answered the call of the environment.
It is a city that has vowed to make this planet a little better place for
future generations. And their plan already seems to be working! Modern mechanisms
and infrastructures should not be the only concern of a 21st Century
city. Saving the planet it is a part of is also important.
