Missoulian – New Solar Array Energizes Missoula
The sun poked out of the clouds Thursday afternoon as Mayor Jordan Hess flipped the switch on the city’s massive new solar array.
Hess — who briefly shocked the crowd at the event when he pretended to be electrocuted — was joined by city councilors, private-sector partners and Missoula City staff for the ceremony.
“This is what we do at the city of Missoula,” Hess said. “We innovate.”
The new solar array includes 950 solar panels, making it one of the largest sun-powered generators in western Montana. It’s used to power the city’s nearby wastewater treatment plant, which diverts harmful substances from flowing into the Clark Fork River. Solar power now accounts for about 20% of the plant’s energy demands.
“We’re super-excited about it,” said Missoula Engineering Manager Ross Mollenhauer.
Mollenhauer was also excited about the cost savings associated with installing the large array. The city utilized a power purchase agreement with energy company Ameresco, allowing the government to avoid paying for the new clean energy source. The solar array project represented the second power purchase agreement in the state.
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