19 Jan OWASA Celebrating Cane Creek Reservoir Solar Array Producing Clean Energy
The fourth and largest of OWASA’s solar arrays is officially online and producing clean energy at Cane Creek Reservoir. To celebrate the occasion, OWASA and other local officials will be hosting an event at Cane Creek Reservoir featuring past and present members of the OWASA Board of Directors, Orange County Commissioners, and representatives from our private-sector partners Eagle Solar and Light, SunWealth, and Duke Energy.
The Cane Creek Reservoir solar array project was the recipient of a $75,000 grant from the Orange County Climate Action Grant Program. This 350 kW solar array on over 1 acre of land will reduce electricity purchased, along with the associated greenhouse gas emissions, to run pumps that send raw water from the reservoir to the Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant.
“This solar project is just one of the many ways that OWASA is committing to reduced energy use and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Executive Director Todd Taylor. “I am particularly proud that due to the creative public-private partnership used to develop our solar projects, they will financially breakeven in year one of their operation. They are a win-win for the environment and our customers.”
Other solar arrays on OWASA property include panels that help power our biosolids mixing tanks as well as roof-top arrays on two facilities at OWASA’s main campus at 400 Jones Ferry Road in Carrboro.
Where: Cane Creek Reservoir, 6205 NC 54 West, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
When: 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, 2023 (This event is weather dependent with a rain date of Thursday, January 26. Updates will be posted to this webpage if the rain date is being used.)