LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock city officials said a planned solar power project for Little Rock should save $1 million annually once it is in place.
City officials said they had completed the required interconnection agreements for the 4.9-megawatt AC solar project, marking a transition to the project’s construction phase.
Officials said the interconnection agreement was completed before its Sept. 30 deadline, meaning the city can take advantage of favorable net-metering rules that credit the city for the amount of electricity produced at the same rate as the electricity consumed.
The $12 million project will be constructed on city property at the Port of Little Rock. Officials said that when the project becomes operational, it will generate about 70% of the electricity used in city operations.
Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said the project is in keeping with the city’s sustainability goals.
“We prioritize both financial and environmental stewardship as we work to create a more sustainable Little Rock,” Scott said. “Our ambitious and achievable sustainability goals include powering city operations with 100% clean energy by 2030.”
The city is using short-term financing to pay for the project, alongside a 40% rebate to offset project costs after its first year of operation, a component of the federal Inflation Reduction Act.
Officials said additional city environmental goals include having electric vehicles as 50% of the city’s fleet by 2030.