Ameresco and Mountain Regional Water Celebrate Completion of Utah's First Floating Solar Project at Signal Hill

Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE: AMRC), a leading cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, today celebrated the completion of Utah’s first floating solar array, developed in partnership with Mountain Regional Water Special Service District. The floating solar project, located on a holding pond at the Signal Hill Water Treatment Plant, was commemorated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by representatives from Ameresco, Mountain Regional Water, and Rocky Mountain Power.

 Ameresco partnered with the leading floating PV developer, D3Energy, to develop the innovative 587.5 KW floating solar array, supported by a $400,000 grant from Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky Award program, is designed to generate 871,086 kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually. The project is designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 609 metric tons each year, which is the equivalent to eliminating 68,474 gallons of gasoline consumption or preventing the burning of 670,649 pounds of coal. By providing electricity directly to the water treatment plant, the system will offset 92% of the plant’s grid energy consumption and reduce energy costs by 80%.

“This floating solar array demonstrates the benefit of thinking beyond conventional approaches,” said Lou Maltezos, Executive Vice President of Ameresco. “The notion that solar panels must be installed on land is an unnecessary limitation. By reconsidering their placement, we unlock new opportunities for sustainability. The District isn't just implementing solar energy for its own sake - they are deeply invested in the economic aspects of this project. This first-ever floating solar array in Utah is both innovative and economically feasible, making it a prime example of sustainable development.”

The floating solar array efficiently uses available water surfaces to generate renewable energy, providing an ideal solution for maximizing energy production without impacting land resources.

“Traditional ground or rooftop solar wasn’t an option for us at this facility, but this innovative floating solar installation makes use of an untapped resource,” said Chris Braun, Mountain Regional Chief Technology Officer. “This is one more piece of the puzzle for us to get to a ‘Net-Zero’ energy goal as we strive to be responsible stewards for the community and the environment.”

“For over 20 years, the Blue Sky program has offered Rocky Mountain Power customers a simple and powerful way to reduce their carbon footprint and support renewable energy while simply living their lives,” said Shawn Grant, Director of Customer Solutions at Rocky Mountain Power. “From installing new solar panels to helping community organizations reduce operating costs to launching innovative battery projects, we are committed to fostering sustainable, renewable energy for generations to come.”

The project was completed ahead of schedule, with construction finalized by September 10, 2024, and commissioning completed on September 20th. Full utility permission to operate is expected by October 23, 2024.

Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program awarded this project to the Mountain Regional Water Service District as one of a dozen community-based renewable energy projects awarded in 2023. Blue Sky is an opt-in program that gives Rocky Mountain Power customers the option to match all or part of their energy use with renewable energy, reducing their carbon footprints and driving demand for new renewable energy in the West. Since 2006, Blue Sky program participants have helped fund over 216 new, community-based renewable energy projects in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming communities. In 2023, more than 138,000 Blue Sky participants collectively supported 1,021,063 megawatt-hours of renewable energy, reducing their combined carbon footprints by 639,180 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.