The Town of Eagle has completed a 745-kilowatt solar array project at its Wastewater Treatment and Lower Basin Water Treatment facilities. This project marks a significant step toward Eagle’s sustainability goals by reducing the town’s carbon footprint and supporting renewable energy.
Construction of the solar array began in August and is expected to offset 1,284,472 pounds of carbon emissions annually. This reduction is equivalent to removing 112 vehicles from the road or 56 homes from the power grid. The array is projected to generate approximately 1,115,380 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy annually.
The town’s treatment facilities consume the largest amount of energy among its municipal buildings and the solar array will meet or offset most of these facilities’ electric needs. While some energy from the grid and natural gas will still be required, the solar array establishes a long-term, zero-emissions power source for the facilities.
According to Kira Koppel, the town’s sustainability specialist, funding for the $3 million project includes a $750,000 grant from the Department of Local Affairs Energy Impact Assistance Fund. The project was supported by partners Yearout Energy and Sunsense Solar and was made possible with approval from Holy Cross Energy.
In 2021, the Eagle Town Council set goals to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2028 for the town’s operations and by 2030 for the broader community. The solar array is part of a broader plan to achieve these goals.
“The finalized array was a team effort that required support and involvement from multiple town departments,” Koppel said. “From finance to sustainability, planning, public works, water and wastewater, this project was a true team effort on our journey to achieve carbon-neutral emissions by 2028.”
Next, Koppel said the town is working on a building electrification project across multiple facilities. Planning efforts and building assessments could be underway before the end of the year.
For more information, contact Koppel at 970-328-9658 or email kira.koppel@townofeagle.org.