Rochelle Municipal Utilities is pleased to announce the completion of the 312kW Photovoltaic Solar Plant, located at the Water Treatment Facility in Rochelle.
In the Spring of 2014, RMU was awarded a $500,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to fund construction of the Solar Plant. ICECF provides grants for up to $2/watt or 60% of the system and its installation costs, whichever is less. As a result of the competitive bidding process, Eagle Point Solar was awarded the project that cost $850,000.
"Rochelle's 312 kW Solar Photovoltaic plant is one of the larger Public Power Utility owned plants in Illinois. This plant will provide renewable energy to the water treatment plant” stated Business & Financial Analyst Dan Westin. “Treatment plants require a lot of energy to make clean water. Rochelle will continue to explore financially sound projects in the area of renewable energy.”
The solar plant is expected to pay for itself in just over 4 years.
As a result of this project, Rochelle Municipal Utilities has been selected as a recipient of this year's Northern Illinois Renewable Energy Summit & Expo's "Leadership by Example" award. This recognition is meant to highlight area individuals, businesses, organizations, and Municipalities that have implemented renewable energy projects and practices in Transportation, Utility Scale Generation, Building Integration and Controls Technologies, Green Roofs, Large and Small Scale Solar, PV and Solar Heating/Cooling, Wind, Manufacturing, Waste to Energy and Recycling or Repurposing and more.
City officials are also considering a larger solar plant at the landfill.
RMU also donated a solar technology demonstration unit for students at Rochelle Township High School. Science Department Chairman David Oldenberg attended the ceremony for RTHS.
Educational tours of the plant are available by calling RMU at 562-4155.
Dan Westin from RMU and David Oldenberg from RTHS
