The City of Pendleton, Oregon, just cut the ribbon on a new solar canopy at its wastewater treatment plant – the first project of its kind in the region.
City officials and Ameresco, a Framingham, Massachusetts-based energy solutions provider, launched a 240-kilowatt (kW) solar PV canopy at the Pendleton Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Facility that’s expected to generate around 325,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. That’ll offset around 30% of the facility’s energy use.
Kyle Willman, the facility’s superintendent, said, “The solar canopy not only helps reduce our energy costs and environmental footprint, but it also enhances the performance of our wastewater treatment facility in ways that benefit the entire community.”
The new canopy does more than generate clean power. It shades the facility’s chlorine contact chamber, which helps cool down the water, improve effluent quality, and support a healthier aquatic ecosystem. It’s a smart pairing of infrastructure and sustainability.
The project is part of a larger plan to modernize the city’s utility operations, and it was delivered through an Energy Savings Performance Contract with Ameresco. That means Ameresco guaranteed pricing and performance while prioritizing participation from local and disadvantaged businesses.
Funding for the solar canopy came from state grants, including the Oregon Department of Energy’s C-REP grant, utility incentives, and city resources. Pendleton already has plans for a future battery energy storage system that will be connected to the solar canopy to further cut operating costs and boost the plant’s resilience.
“This solar canopy project is a great example of how innovative energy solutions can deliver meaningful economic benefits and support essential city infrastructure,” said Lou Maltezos, Ameresco’s president of Central & Western USA and Canada. “We’re not only improving operational efficiency but also contributing to the health of the local ecosystem and empowering the community with long-term energy savings.”
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