The Apache Junction Sewer District Board recently voted to purchase and install solar panels and equipment to generate its own power and offset approximately 35% to 40% of energy consumption at the water treatment facility.
The full cost is more than $1.4 million with a 30% federal rebate leaving an $800,000 cost for the district.
A total of $79,400 is to be saved annually with the solar-power system with the district paying off the cost at the end of the 10th year.
“The average annual savings ... is over $79,000 — that will be off of our SRP bill. So in year 11 we will have paid off — or paid back — the initial investment,” District Manager Darron Anglin said at the board’s Aug. 26 meeting.
Assuming a 2% SRP annual rate increase and maintenance costs on the equipment, in the 30-year lifespan of the solar-power system, the district is to save more than $2 million, he said.
The solar panels and equipment will be on sewer district property at 5661 S. Ironwood Drive.
Two responsive bidders provided quotes following a July 14 request for proposals. They were:
Holt Renewables LLC, $998,542.61;
Solon Corp., $1,448,471.
Solon is the preferred bidder, Anglin said.
“They’re more costly... They’re local. They’ve done jobs for Mesa and other municipalities,” he said.
The board voted 3-1 Aug. 26 to approve a construction contract with Solon Corp. for a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system to be paid from the capital and replacement fund. Board Secretary Jesse Gage dissented. Chairperson Kathleen Waldron abstained.
The wastewater district is not in the electric utility business, Gage said prior to the vote.
“I’m against it for three reasons. One, we’re in the middle of a big project. This is just going to ... pull your attention away from the expansion you’ve got going on. A 10-year payback is not a good metric,” he said. “We are a utility ... to treat wastewater, not generate electricity.”
“It is the wave of the future,” Board Treasurer Phil Tremonti said of using solar power.
The district plans to use federal rebates to help pay for the solar-power system. Vice Chairperson Jim Reynolds said.
“We get a 30% rebate or more, slam dunk for 30 years.... We need to proceed,” he said.
Waldron asked if the district had room to expand the system in the future.
District Manager Anglin said there is space.
“How does SRP know when we’re using our electricity and not theirs?” Waldron asked.
“Their meter will tell,” Anglin said.
The sewer district is an independent, public, nonprofit entity developed solely for the benefit of its customers and the Apache Junction community to operate and maintain a regional system for the collection, transport and treatment of sewage from the properties existing within its boundaries.
Board members to the sewer district are appointed by the Apache Junction City Council.
Members of the district board serve as volunteers who are responsible for setting policy and rates, adopting a budget and other high-level decision making regarding all aspects of the district’s operation and on-going business affairs.
By state law, board members cannot own 40 acres in the district, cannot be an employee or agent of a landowner who owns 40 acres or more in the district, cannot be an employee of the city or the county and cannot be an elected official of the city or county.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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