Little Rock completes major solar project
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The City of Little Rock celebrated the completion of a major solar energy project Friday that is expected to save approximately $1 million annually in electricity costs while advancing the City's goal of powering municipal operations entirely with clean energy by 2030.
Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. joined City officials and representatives of Scenic Hill Solar for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Port of Little Rock, where the new 6.3-megawatt (DC) / 4.9-megawatt (AC) solar array is located.
The installation is expected to generate enough electricity to offset approximately 70 percent of the City's annual electricity consumption. The project was completed more than $870,000 under its $12 million approved budget.
“Our guiding principle has always been that sustainability should benefit both our environment and our taxpayers,” Mayor Scott said. “This project delivers on both fronts. We're reducing long-term operating costs, making responsible use of public dollars and moving closer to our goal of powering City operations entirely with clean energy by 2030. That's how we create a more sustainable Little Rock.” The project marks a major milestone in the clean-energy initiative Mayor Scott announced during his 2022 State of the City Address. Developed by Little Rock-based Scenic Hill Solar, the solar array will generate electricity that is delivered to the power grid, with credits applied to the City's utility bills through a process known as net metering.
The City secured interconnection agreements with Entergy in September 2024, meeting a critical deadline that allows Little Rock to take advantage of net-metering provisions that help reduce the City's electricity costs.
The array is projected to generate nearly 11 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, offsetting a substantial portion of the City's electricity needs. The resulting savings are expected to reduce municipal operating expenses over the life of the project.
“We're proud to have partnered with the City of Little Rock to deliver a project that will generate clean, renewable energy for decades while providing substantial savings for taxpayers. We are especially proud to have delivered this project $870,000 below what the City had budgeted for it,” said Bill Halter, CEO of Scenic Hill Solar. "The City has demonstrated what is possible when forward-thinking leadership and innovative energy solutions come together. This investment will pay dividends for Little Rock well into the future.” The Little Rock Board of Directors approved $12 million in funding for the project in April 2024, following its authorization earlier that year for the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Sun Hog Solar, an affiliate of Scenic Hill Solar.