AMES, Iowa – The City of Ames and ForeFront Power, a provider of renewable energy solutions, has announced that the SunSmart Ames community solar project received a Top Project of the Year Award in the elite Environment + Energy Leader Awards program. The win is an indication that the program’s expert judges consider SunSmart Ames a top example of the exemplary work being done today in the fields of energy and environmental management.
The City of Ames set out to develop SunSmart Ames, the City’s first community solar farm, to drive renewable energy adoption and demonstrate its commitment to sustainability within the Ames community. The community solar project allows any municipal electric customer to opt for locally generated solar energy by purchasing shares of the facility’s production called “Power Packs.”
Ames City Council selected ForeFront Power to develop SunSmart Ames, representing over 2 MW of solar energy dedicated to the local Ames community. Each Power Pack represents 175 W of generating capacity and entitles customers to a monthly bill credit for 20 years, through a one-time investment of $300. The Power Packs have established solar energy as a new type of community currency, purchased and donated among a diverse mix of local community members. Over the next 20 years, the SunSmart community solar program is expected to produce enough electricity to power 440 Ames homes each year, offset 113 million car miles, and reduce the city’s CO2 emissions by about 57,000 tons.
One judge said of SunSmart: “This is a very useful project and helps promote green projects by those who may not otherwise be able to support their own independent projects.”
Another added, “Great community driven project that has resulted in so much diverse support. The Power Packs structure is unique, creative, and benefits are simple to understand.”
The Environment + Energy Leader Awards is a program recognizing excellence in products and services that provide companies with energy and environmental benefits, and in projects implemented by companies that improved environmental or energy management and increased the bottom line.
“With a very experienced and critical judging panel and a strict set of judging criteria, entrants faced an extremely high bar to qualify for an award in 2021” says Sarah Roberts, Environment + Energy Leader publisher.
