STPUD to add one-megawatt solar facility to help with energy needs at plant

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) is adding a one-megawatt solar facility at its wastewater treatment plant in South Lake Tahoe.

During their October 20, 2022, meeting and public hearing, the STPUD Board of Directors unanimously voted to enter into a Power Purchase Agreement with Blue Dragon Holdings for the solar project. It will be built on the east side of the plant in late 2023 and will offset one-third of the energy demands at the plant beginning in 2024.

“I’m excited that with the installation of 1 MW of solar that STPUD will be able to mitigate the impacts of climate change through lowering our carbon footprint by generating renewable energy,” said Nick Exline, STPUD board director. “And the flexibility to have power from a renewable source to continue to pump water if our power is cut due to fire or any other emergency.”

This project stemmed from working with the SEED Fund to develop a list of potential solar projects in the Lake Tahoe region during the summer of 2020. It is the first of these projects to go to construction and will be the largest solar array in the Tahoe Basin.

A power purchase agreement means there are no upfront costs for the STPUD. The solar provider will fund, build, own, and maintain the solar array, and the STPUD will purchase the power produced at a lower price than Liberty currently charges. Over the next 28 years, this project is expected to save
STPUD ratepayers $1.2 to $2.4 million dollars.

“I see this as a win for our ratepayers in that we’re going to save money in electricity bills,” said Shane Romsos, STPUD board of director. Secondarily, we’re doing our part to reduce carbon emissions and doing our small part to mitigate impacts to climate change.”

The solar array includes 24,800 photovoltaic bifacial panels that spans 3.3 acres. The panels will be installed 4 feet above the ground to minimize snow impacts and oriented to maximize wintertime solar production. The expected annual energy output is 1,925,050 kwh. The project is designed to be battery ready if the District’s Board pursues this option in the future. The STPUD will retain the renewable energy credits, building its renewable energy portfolio.

“Moving water and wastewater is energy-intensive,” said John Thiel, STPUD General Manager. “As the largest energy user in Liberty’s territory, the District is committed to building a renewable portfolio to increase resiliency and control costs.”