Vacaville, ForeFront Power Launch Solar-Storage System at Easterly Wastewater Treatment Plant
The City of Vacaville has taken a major step forward in its clean energy and sustainability journey with the successful energization of a new, state-of-the-art solar and battery energy storage system at the Easterly Wastewater Treatment Plant (EWWTP). The achievement was commemorated during a “Flip the Switch” ceremony, symbolizing not only the activation of the 5-megawatt DC (MW DC) facility but also the city’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, operational resilience, and long-term fiscal responsibility.
Developed in collaboration with ForeFront Power, a leading provider of distributed solar and energy storage solutions, the project reflects Vacaville’s broader strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, stabilize municipal energy expenses, and reinforce reliability at essential public infrastructure. The EWWTP is one of the city’s most critical 24/7/365 operations, processing millions of gallons of wastewater every day and requiring a highly dependable energy supply. By integrating solar power with advanced battery storage, the city is ensuring that this core service remains resilient, efficient, and environmentally responsible.
At full operation, the new solar array is expected to generate nearly 8.1 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity each year. This represents a significant amount of renewable power—equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 1,400 typical homes. The energy generated will directly offset the plant’s electricity requirements, helping to reduce reliance on the conventional power grid. As a result, the facility will operate more efficiently, with lower overall energy costs and reduced exposure to unstable utility prices.
Over the 20-year lifespan of the system, Vacaville anticipates saving more than $25 million in electricity costs. These savings represent substantial long-term value for residents and taxpayers, while freeing up municipal resources for reinvestment in other essential services and community priorities. The financial benefits are complemented by important environmental gains: the project is expected to help the city avoid approximately 4,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. That reduction is comparable to removing more than 900 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from area roadways each year, contributing to cleaner air and healthier living conditions across Solano County.
Vacaville Mayor John Carli emphasized the human and community-focused aspect of the project during the ceremony. “Vacaville’s sustainability goals are about better outcomes for people—healthier air, smarter use of resources, and reliable public services,” he stated. “By pairing solar with smart battery storage at an industrial facility that treats an average of 7.5 million gallons of wastewater daily, this project will help power operations essential to minimizing public health risks and our environmental impact.”
The system has been engineered to operate intelligently and efficiently. During periods of peak sunlight, the solar array provides power to a wide range of electrical loads at the EWWTP, including high-demand equipment such as motors, pumps, HVAC systems, digital controls, and security infrastructure. Any surplus energy produced during these peak hours is stored in the battery system. This stored energy can then be deployed when solar production dips—such as at night, during cloudy weather, or during times when facility demand temporarily exceeds solar output.
This capability not only ensures a consistent and reliable energy supply but also allows the facility to avoid costly peak utility rates. By using stored solar power during high-demand periods, the city is able to minimize operational expenses while reducing strain on California’s already challenged power grid. In an era of increasingly frequent grid congestion and extreme weather impacts, the ability to self-manage energy loads represents a major boost to local resilience.
Ruben R. Fontes, CEO of ForeFront Power, highlighted the significance of the city’s leadership in adopting advanced clean energy technologies. “We applaud the City of Vacaville for its leadership in deploying clean, renewable energy at a mission-critical facility,” he said. “The Easterly WWTP now benefits from solar energy generation paired with intelligent storage—producing power when it’s abundant and dispatching it when it matters most—supporting local public health and community resilience for decades to come.”
The project was made possible through a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between the City of Vacaville and ForeFront Power. Under this model, ForeFront Power owns, operates, and maintains the solar and storage system, while the city purchases the clean electricity generated at a fixed, discounted rate. This structure delivers guaranteed budget predictability and shields the city from utility rate volatility. Additionally, ForeFront Power’s responsibility for system maintenance ensures optimal performance without adding financial or operational burden to the city.
The initiative aligns closely with Vacaville’s Energy and Conservation Action Strategy (ECAS), a long-term roadmap designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve natural resources, and promote sustainable municipal operations. ECAS emphasizes the importance of improving energy independence, lowering utility costs, and enhancing air quality across the community. The new solar and storage installation directly advances these goals and forms a key component of the city’s broader Sustainable Energy Project. That project includes efforts to expand solar generation across multiple city facilities, modernize energy infrastructure, and strengthen backup power capabilities at critical service locations.
By bringing this major renewable energy asset online, Vacaville has demonstrated what can be achieved when forward-thinking public leadership meets innovative clean energy technology. The EWWTP solar and storage system serves as a model for other municipalities seeking to reduce carbon emissions, control operating costs, and enhance reliability at essential public facilities. The project stands as a reminder that sustainability is not only about environmental outcomes—it is about delivering safer, more reliable, and more cost-effective public services for current and future generations.
Source Link: https://www.businesswire.com/
