BELLA VISTA, CA, OCT 13, 2017 -- The Bureau of Reclamation awarded Bella Vista Water District a WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grant to install two solar photovoltaic power generation facilities near the cities of Bella Vista and Redding. Reclamation prepared an Environmental Assessment to disclose potential environmental effects and solicit public comment on the proposed project, which must be completed before construction can begin.
The two PV generation facilities would provide up to 608 kilowatts of combined energy to offset much of BVWD's operating energy costs. BVWD's goal is to meet approximately 80 percent of its electrical energy needs through the installation of solar voltaic generation equipment.
Through the WaterSMART program, Reclamation provides cost-shared funding on a competitive basis for projects that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently, increase the use of renewable energy and protect endangered species or facilitate water markets. Reclamation provided BVWD a grant for $999,938 out of a total project cost of $2,571,782. For more on WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/weeg/index.html.
Reclamation prepared the EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and it may be viewed at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=30121.
