WASHINGTON — On Wednesday Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) announced that the water reclamation plant in the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District will receive a grant of just more than $1 million and a loan of approximately $600,000 allocated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture”s (USDA) Rural Development program.
This funding will be used to construct a solar array system to allow for a more efficient use of energy for the plant.
“This solar array system will meet all the energy needs for the water reclamation plant, reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and cut their green house emissions,” Thompson said. “These kinds of projects are a win-win situation; not only is it supporting green technology and jobs, but benefiting our environment.”
The Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District (HVLCSD) provides water, sewer and reclaimed water to approximately 7,000 residents in southern Lake County.
The District”s water reclamation plant is the largest source of energy demand in the area, requiring approximately 423,000 kilo-watt hours, which produces 123 metric tons greenhouse gas emissions annually. The solar array system will ensure sustainable energy costs, cuts to greenhouse emissions and provide reliable sustainable service as the Hidden Valley Lake service area builds out.
“The District Board and staff have worked long and hard to make this solar project a reality for the Hidden Valley Lake community; but it would not have become a reality without the continued support and advocacy of Congressman Thompson,” Linda Herndon, President of the Board of Directors of the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District, said. “His advocacy for rural and less affluent communities has been consistent over the years and provided the critical opportunity for us to be heard in an arena where it really counts. As a result this project has been made possible.”
