Lowell solar park cuts utility costs

A new solar installation in Lowell is projected to generate lifetime savings of $7 million to $11 million for Beaver Water District. The district serves more than 425,000 customers across Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville in Northwest Arkansas. The facility is designed to offset approximately 8,264 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

Madison Energy Infrastructure, based in New York City, originated and financed the project. Verogy, a West Hartford, Conn.-based construction firm, built the array. The completed Beaver Water District Solar Park sits on about 32 acres adjacent to the district’s administrative center at 301 N. Primrose Road. The total investment for the project was approximately $10 million.

The system uses a single-axis tracker design with more than 15,000 solar panels. It produces 7.22 megawatts of DC power, or 5 megawatts of AC power. This output is sufficient to power nearly 1,140 homes each year. The array is expected to meet 15% to 20% of the district's electricity requirements.

M. Lane Crider, CEO of Beaver Water District, stated that the installation strengthens the district's ability to deliver safe and reliable water. She noted that the project lowers long-term operating costs and supports regional growth. Crider said customers would benefit from this investment for decades to come.

Ryan Coakley, chief development officer at Madison Energy Infrastructure, emphasized the partnership between the firms. He described the project as community infrastructure that provides resilience and savings. Coakley pointed out that the array is located directly across the street from the district's water treatment plant.

The solar park is now operational. It will generate about 12,300 megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually. The carbon offset is equivalent to removing nearly 2,000 passenger vehicles from the road each year.