Oregon wastewater agency installs 39.4-kW solar array and backup battery designed to cover its office’s annual electricity use
File imageSomething changed recently at the Roseburg Urban Sanitary Authority’s main office — the kind of change most residents will never notice, even though this facility quietly processes what the community flushes and drains every day and reuses it through solar technology.
Panels now line the rooftop, angled toward the southern Oregon sun. A battery system sits in reserve, ready to keep the lights on when the grid can’t. For a local sanitation authority serving a mid-size Oregon city, it’s a small but deliberate step toward running on its own terms.
A small agency takes a big step
The Roseburg Urban Sanitary Authority isn’t a household name — and that’s by design. RUSA exists to handle what residents prefer not to think about: collecting, treating, and safely returning wastewater to the environment. For an agency like this, energy reliability isn’t a convenience. It’s the difference between functioning infrastructure and a public health crisis.
The grant didn’t just pay for panels and batteries — it demonstrated that state policy is actively working to help local utilities catch up.
On October 13, 2026, RUSA marked a turning point. Staff, leadership, representatives from the Oregon Department of Energy, Energy Trust of Oregon, and elected officials gathered to celebrate the agency’s first clean energy project. The mood reflected something more than a ribbon-cutting — it was the arrival of a plan years in the making.
The $1 million investment had finally become real hardware on a rooftop.
“Partnering with Ameresco allows us to modernize our facilities, safeguarding the long-term well-being of our community as a result,” said Jim Baird, RUSA’s General Manager. “Through smarter energy use and resilient infrastructure investments, we’re advancing reliable wastewater management while ensuring continued service for our customers in both everyday operations and critical situations.”
What 39.4 kilowatts actually means for an office building
The numbers are specific by design. The 39.4-kWDC solar photovoltaic system isn’t oversized or symbolic — it’s engineered to generate approximately 51,580 kWh annually, matching what RUSA’s Main Office actually consumes in a year. That precision matters. The goal isn’t to generate surplus power. It’s to cover one building’s real-world electricity use, dollar for dollar.
Paired with the solar array is a 184-kWh battery energy storage system. When the grid goes down — whether from a storm, equipment failure, or some other disruption — that battery keeps critical administrative and operational functions running. For a wastewater authority, a power loss isn’t just an inconvenience. It can interrupt monitoring systems, communications, and the coordination that keeps treatment operations on track.
The solar panels handle day-to-day generation. The storage handles the unexpected. Think of the battery as the system’s insurance policy — quiet, invisible, and essential.
How the project got funded — and why that matters
A $1 million upgrade is a significant commitment for a small regional utility. What made it possible was a well-structured funding stack, led by an $870,870 grant from the Oregon Department of Energy’s Community Renewable Energy Program, known as C-REP, with additional support from the Energy Trust of Oregon.
Without that public funding, this kind of infrastructure modernization would likely stay out of reach for many smaller agencies. The grant didn’t just pay for panels and batteries — it demonstrated that state policy is actively working to help local utilities catch up. When state programs prioritize critical public facilities like wastewater authorities, they’re acknowledging that sustainability isn’t reserved for large cities or private corporations. Small agencies serving mid-size communities deserve the same tools.
Beyond the office: A multi-phase vision for clean wastewater
The Main Office project is phase one. RUSA and Ameresco have already planned what comes next — and the scale grows considerably. Phase two brings a 900-kW ground-mounted solar PV system to RUSA’s wastewater treatment plant, while phase three adds a 400-kW floating solar system at the natural treatment site. Construction on both is anticipated to begin Fall 2026, making the expanded vision feel immediate rather than theoretical.
Louis Maltezos, Co-President of Ameresco, framed the stakes plainly: “Operating a wastewater treatment facility requires substantial energy consumption, which is why RUSA’s initiative and others like it are so important to build a more efficient energy future.” Treatment plants run around the clock and consume significant power. Reducing that dependency on the grid isn’t just environmentally responsible — it’s operationally smart.
Recognition, jobs, and a community that benefits quietly
The broader initiative has earned notable recognition. RUSA received two 2026 Best of the Best Awards from the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies and the 2026 Excellence in Resource Recovery & Sustainability Award from the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association — genuine peer recognition within the clean water sector, not ceremonial honors.
The project also carries an economic dimension, generating local employment and actively engaging businesses from underrepresented communities. That impact extends well beyond the facility fence line.
Most residents in Roseburg will never see the rooftop panels or know the battery exists. But they’ll benefit from an agency that stays operational during outages, manages costs more efficiently, and plans decades ahead. Essential infrastructure — long overlooked — is quietly becoming a model for responsible public stewardship, and as the next two project phases move toward construction, that transformation is only going to become more visible.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
