495-kW Solar Carport at Pinal Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility Sets a Clean Energy Example for Gila County; Expected to Offset 80 percent of Facility’s Electricity Needs
SolarCity®, a national leader in clean energy services, and the City of Globe announced the city's largest renewable energy project to date, a 495-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at the Pinal Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility. The project is expected to offset 80 percent of the facility’s electricity needs with clean power and bring the city immediate and long-term energy cost savings.
The City of Globe incurred no upfront costs and signed a 15-year Solar Services Agreement (SSA) with SolarCity that lets them access clean, solar power for less than they currently pay for their utility power. City officials celebrated the new 2,000-panel system with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the wastewater facility, one of Globe’s biggest energy users.
“The unprecedented magnitude of this solar project positions the City of Globe as a renewable energy leader in Gila County and sets a high bar for future municipal projects in our community,” said City of Globe Mayor Terence O. Wheeler. “We are proud to protect the environment for future generations while lightening the load on our city budget.”
The solar PV panels were installed atop two large carports which provide shade for the wastewater facility’s busy vehicles and are tall enough to accommodate the plant’s large service trucks. The solar installation also will eliminate more than 28 million pounds of annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which is the equivalent of taking roughly 2,489 cars off Arizona’s roads each year.
“The City of Globe’s commitment to renewable energy is helping the state of Arizona attain its goal of becoming the leader in solar power generation,” said SolarCity’s Regional Vice President for Arizona, Albert Laird. “We are proud to help move the region closer to a cleaner, sustainable future.”
SolarCity, which currently has five operations centers across Arizona, has contributed to the local workforce by hiring 201 employees in the state. SolarCity currently has 26 job openings in Arizona.