With funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the City of Pittsfield installed a photovoltaic (PV) array on its Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) site that will significantly reduce electricity costs. As an energy source, PVs offer several advantages, including reducing greenhouse gasses, predictable future utility expenses, minimal maintenance, and a 20- to 25-year design life.

Coordination with Multiple adjaCent projeCtsThe project involved the installation of approximately seven acres of ground-mounted panels on the City’s WWTP site. Several ARRA construction projects with different contractors, budgets, and schedules occurred simultaneously within the WWTP footprint. Detailed coordination, planning, and oversight were critical to realizing efficiencies and avoiding conflicts with adjacent projects. The City also needed to complete a detailed interconnection process with existing, on-site infrastructure, as well as with an existing power grid.

Managing teChniCal and regulatory CoMplexitiesFrom concept through design and construction, Kleinfelder partnered with the City to navigate this design-build project’s technical and regulatory complexities. Kleinfelder carefully tracked the design-build schedule and expenditures to ensure the project progressed and remained viable for the City. Kleinfelder coordinated ARRA funding requirements; handled design, project, and review team coordination; and assisted in developing, reviewing, and evaluating the design-build Request for Proposal.

location:Pittsfield, Massachusetts project Cost:N/A

owner:City of Pittsfield

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pittsfield wwtp photovoltaic system

Seven-acre photovoltaic array PV array reduces WWTP electricity costs

projeCt results

Successfully installed, the

new PV array represents 1.5

MW and will produce an

average of roughly 30% of

the WWTP’s total electrical

demand. It is the largest PV

installation of the 11 sites

in Massachusetts funded

by ARRA in its attempt to

mitigate electricity costs

for these plants, which are

typically a municipality’s

largest electricity user.