The City of Becker’s wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) is now obtaining a good portion of its electrical needs from a 1900 panel solar array that has been established on a roughly three acre parcel on-site. On sunny days, the panels are able to supply approximately 40% of the plant’s electricity requirements thanks to a technology that rotates the panels east to west to track the sun’s movements across the sky.

In total, it produces 704 kilowatts and perhaps the best part is that the project came with zero-cost to taxpayers.

“One of the things that really attracted us to the project was that we didn’t have any cash outlay - we didn’t have to spend a dime to do this project,” says Phil Knutson, the City’s Public Services Director. “We sized the project to get the maximum return, but at the same time we saved enough space for any possible future expansions needed at the plant.”

To complete the project, the city forged a relationship with Minnesota-based Cedar Creek Energy, a company that has been in business since 2007. The solar array actually came online in November of 2021 and is owned by investors, and the city will have the option to purchase the array in the future if the economics dictate a benefit.

“On a conservative basis, the City will save close to $400,000 over the 25 years of the array and the degradation factor of the array will still be 85 percent productive for the energy output at the 25 year mark,” says Becker Mayor Tracy Bertram. “The City will look to purchase the array at the end of 25 years, earlier if possible, and experience even greater savings for the taxpayers.”

According to Cedar Creek CEO, Rob Appelhof, Becker was an exceptional partner on the project.

“The City approached us in early 2021 and they have proven to be very easy to work with,” says Appelhof. “When we enter into these agreements, we truly feel it is a partnership and the City was one of the easier municipalities to work with as we had really good communication with them.”

According to Cedar Creek estimates, the array utilization will result in a  1,600,000 pound reduction in the City’s carbon emissions per year.

The electrical needs of the WWTF made it the best city-owned parcel to consider for the project.

“The nature of the WWTF is it is a high energy user and we were looking for ways to offset the energy cost,” Bertram says.  “We looked at the BCC, City Hall and the Fire Department as potential sites, hosting panels on the roofs. The payback was not favorable as the energy use at each facility versus the size of the array just wouldn’t get us in a position to make it work.”

She explains that the project wasn’t done for the purpose of “going green,” but instead because of the cost savings to the City.  She called the eco-friendly benefits of the project a “bonus”.

The cost savings of the electricity is not the only benefit to the City, as Knutson says they were able to lock in some future electrical costs at a rate much lower than inflation.

“We also do not have to maintain the site because they provide all the maintenance and upkeep,” Knutson adds.

As the City continues to look for ways to reduce costs and the burden on taxpayers, Bertram says they will continue to look for savings.

“If we find another area that replicates this model, we would look to jump on it, but nothing is currently in the works,” Bertam says