Summary
Looking to enhance the sustainability of its infrastructure and advance net zero goals, the City of Pendleton partnered with Ameresco on a multiphase infrastructure and renewable energy project. In phase one, Ameresco replaced 1,005 existing streetlights with light-emitting diode (LED) technology to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. In a second phase of work, Ameresco is installing a solar PV canopy system for the City’s Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Facility to enhance the efficiency of its wastewater treatment process.
“Our citizens are very happy with the new streetlights. The new LEDs have a slightly different color appearing more white than yellow, and direct light differently, enhancing visibility for drivers. The projected energy and maintenance savings will fully fund the project resulting in no cost to taxpayers and no up-front capital.”
– Bob Patterson
Public Works Director, City of Pendleton, OR
~460 Metric Tons
Annual Carbon Emissions Reduction
1,005
LED Streetlights Replaced
~325,000 kWh
Annual Solar Energy Generation
$2,300,000+
Project Size
Solution – Phase One: LED Streetlight Replacement
The City of Pendleton and Ameresco worked with the City’s utility, Pacific Power & Light, to develop a new standard for warm-white color temperature LED fixtures as part of this project. The LED lights may appear brighter and more white or blue in color compared to the existing yellow, high pressure sodium lights, while producing less than half the lumens. The project included:
- 1,005 LED lighting fixtures
- Fixtures rated 3,000 Kelvin correlated color temperature (CCT)
- Energy as a Service (EaaS) financing structure, where Ameresco owns and maintains the lighting fixtures
Customer Benefits
This LED replacement project advances the City’s goal of reducing Pendleton’s energy costs, maintenance, and carbon emissions while seeking out more sustainable infrastructure funding for buildings, roads, and utilities. Additional benefits of the project include:
- Reduced streetlight infrastructure energy consumption by more than 50%
- Annual total energy savings of nearly 500,000 kWh
- Carbon emissions reduced by 310 metric tons per year
- Lower maintenance costs as LED fixtures do not have disposable components requiring regular replacement
- Improved illumination and enhanced peripheral vision for drivers to improve detection of obstacles in the road
- Budget-neutral financing requiring no upfront capital by the City
Solution – Phase Two: Solar Canopy Installation
To extend its journey toward sustainability and energy resilience, the City of Pendleton collaborated with Ameresco in a second phase of work to install an innovative 240 kW solar (PV) canopy system at its Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Facility (WWTRRF). Through an ESPC, the project is funded by a combination of state grants, Federal and utility incentives, and city resources. The state-of-the-art canopy system the first of its kind in the region, is designed to generate 325,000 kWh of electricity annually while reducing the facility’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources. The project is part of a broader initiative at the Pendleton WWTRRF, aimed at implementing renewable energy and efficiency upgrades to lower the facility’s carbon footprint and operational costs. In addition to the solar canopy, future plans include integrating a battery energy storage system (BESS) to further enhance the facility’s energy management capabilities.
Customer Benefits
The solar canopy demonstrates a novel application of solar technology – the integration of renewable energy with a wastewater treatment process – and demonstrates the City of Pendleton’s commitment to innovative environmental solutions. The project is also designed to deliver the following benefits:
- Environmental:
- Provides 325,000 kWh of onsite renewable energy generation
- Shades the Chlorine Contact Chamber to enhance the water treatment processes and protect local water quality
- Reduces effluent temperature to the receiving stream, benefiting aquatic life by maintaining a more stable ecosystem
- Decreases contaminants, contributing to overall environmental health
- Sustainability:
- Offsets energy consumption by approximately 30% annually
- Advances net zero goals
- Financial:
- Designed to reduce utility costs by over 50%
- Long-term ROI of less than 15 years
- ESPC guarantees price and performance of the project
- Leadership in the Community:
- Demonstrates leadership in sustainable practices
- Showcases commitment to supplier diversity
