City of Somerton Solar Panel Project
The City of Somerton through the use of CDBG funds and in partnership with other funders (WIFA and APS), purchased and installed 68 solar panels to power the city’s water treatment plant and reduce operating costs. Each night the panels go into sleep mode which causes them to turn upside down, allowing for any dust or dirt to drop off. This reduces how often the panels must be cleaned and increases the amount of electricity that can be generated each day.
“The City of Somerton, Arizona is a small rural community with 61.5 percent of this population being made up of low to moderate income residents. The concentrated photovoltaic system which was installed produced a savings of $60,000 dollars in energy costs in its first year. Without the assistance of the solar project the city would have been in the process of conducting public hearings on raising water rates for everyone in the community. Now with the benefits of having solar the city expects that it will not have to look at raising rates for another three years. Citizens of Somerton now take great pride in the fact their city takes advantage of renewable energy.”
Bill Lee, Somerton Town Manager
68 newly installed solar panels at the City of Somerton’s Water Treatment Facility.