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Oro Valley Solar Project Receives National Recognition
The town of Oro Valley has received an Outstanding Achievement in Local Government Innovation Award. This recognition is from the Alliance for Innovation and
it recognizes the Energy Efficiency and Solar Project.
The award was announced and presented this week at the 2011 Transforming Local Government Conference in Clearwater, Florida. Innovation Award winners were
chosen from over 40 applications received from across the United States and Canada. Applications were reviewed by a multi-member Selection Committee consisting
of City and County Managers, Arizona State University Faculty and Alliance staff. The Selection Committee looks for those local governments that have shown
their dedication to stretching and improving the boundaries of day-to-day government operations and practices, implementing creative business processes, and
improving the civic health of the community.
Project Background
The Energy-Conservation Project total cost of $4.2 million includes $1.8 million for the energy efficiency phase covering lighting, heating and air conditioning
and solar water heating, and $2.4 million for solar photovoltaic equipment and installation. The $4.2 million project is financed through multiple sources
including TEP rebates, a federal stimulus grant, clean renewable energy bonds, general funds, and guaranteed energy savings. The project will cut costs for the
Town of Oro Valley by up to $250,000 a year.
The town has innovatively financed the project by putting guaranteed energy savings to work. In fact, guaranteed energy savings will create a return that
overshadows annual debt service payments. This project is a fiscally responsible approach to move forward on sustainability initiatives.
Improvements include extensive solar-covered parking, the replacement of every light bulb on the town campus with more efficient lighting, retrofits on numerous
pumps, and a solar-powered water heater for the town's Olympic size swimming pool. |
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League of Arizona Cities and Towns
1820 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-258-5786
Fax: 602-253-3874
http://www.azleague.org
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