Ameresco has completed a solar-plus-storage project at the main office of the Roseburg Urban Sanitary Authority (RUSA) in Oregon. The $1 million project is the beginning of a multi-phase transformative energy program aimed at enhancing the resilience, sustainability and cost-effectiveness of RUSA’s key facilities, which include its main office, wastewater treatment plant and natural treatment system.

The project includes a 39.4-kW solar system designed to generate approximately 51,580 kWh annually and offset 100% of the electricity used at RUSA’s main office. The solar array is paired with an 184-kWh battery energy storage system that helps ensure critical administrative and operational functions remain available during power disruptions.

The project was made possible through a combination of funding sources, including an $870,870 grant from the Oregon Department of Energy’s Community Renewable Energy Program (C-REP), as well as support from the Energy Trust of Oregon.

“Partnering with Ameresco allows us to modernize our facilities, safeguarding the long-term well-being of our community as a result,” said Jim Baird, General Manager of RUSA. “Through smarter energy use and resilient infrastructure investments, we’re advancing reliable wastewater management while ensuring continued service for our customers in both everyday operations and critical situations.”

The second and third projects will see the installation of a 900-kW ground-mounted solar PV system at the wastewater treatment plant and a 400-kW floating solar PV system at the natural treatment system. Construction on these projects is anticipated to begin before the end of the year.

“Operating a wastewater treatment facility requires substantial energy consumption, which is why RUSA’s initiative and others like it are so important to build a more efficient energy future,” said Louis Maltezos, Co-President of Ameresco.

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