Baldwin City, Westar Energy break ground on solar project
With the addition of community solar project, about a third of the city’s electricity will be generated from renewable sources.
TOPEKA, Kan., March 6, 2019 – Leaders from Baldwin City and Westar Energy broke ground Tuesday on a 1-megawatt solar project to serve the city’s electric customers.
“I am excited that we were able to form a partnership with Westar Energy to further enhance our portfolio of sustainable energy offered to our citizens. While this increases our sustainable energy, it also helps control our expenses on our purchased energy for as long as this solar power is producing,” said Mayor Casey Simoneau.
“Westar Energy is excited to help Baldwin City on a forward-looking, sustainable energy strategy. Community solar is a cost-effective way for cities to harness the sun’s energy for customers,” said John Bridson, Westar Energy vice president, generation services. “We’re also excited to partner with Baker University to provide lessons in business and science using the community solar project.”
Science and business students from Baker University are using the project as the basis for field study. Business students may use the project to learn about energy management, building business cases and managing request for proposal processes. Science-related lessons will include ecology, assessing the soil and designing the site to provide habitat for endangered Monarch butterflies.
About 40 people attended the groundbreaking. The project will be constructed on city property adjacent to the city’s public utility building and is scheduled to be complete summer of 2019.
With the addition of the solar plant, about a third of the electricity needs of Baldwin City will be met with renewable sources. Learn more here on the Baldwin City website.
Westar is working with other municipals and cooperatives that are interested in adding renewable energy sources.
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About KCP&L and Westar Energy: Serving approximately 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L), KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company and Westar Energy are the electric utilities of Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG). Together we generate nearly half the power we provide to homes and businesses with emission-free sources. We support our local communities where we live and work, and strive to meet the needs of customers through energy savings and