AZ: Ameresco, City of Chandler Launch Initiative to Cut Municipal Utility Costs by Over $1M Annually

Ameresco, Inc., a leading energy infrastructure solutions provider, broke ground on transformative Solar Project for the City of Chandler, Ariz., designed to strengthen energy security, curb rising utility costs, and advance sustainability goals. This project will deploy solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across 22 municipal facilities, creating a municipal blueprint for resilient, cost-efficient energy solutions.

The portfolio totals 7.74 MW-DC / 5.85 MW-AC and is designed to produce more than 14,500,000 kWh per year, helping the city manage rising energy costs and reduce reliance on external energy markets. The initiative is expected to offset over 60% of the annual electricity requirements for the participating sites and provide over $1 million in annual utility savings. The project cost will be partially funded through the Federal Investment Tax Credit for Renewable Energy.

“Our challenge was to reduce the City’s energy spend and environmental footprint without compromising day-to-day operations,” said Steven Turner, Sustainability & Performance Officer for the City of Chandler. “Partnering with Ameresco enables us to meet that goal by deploying right-sized solar across 22 facilities, cutting annual utility costs, and offsetting electricity use.”

The portfolio includes a mix of covered parking canopies at city buildings, rooftop-mounted systems for smaller facilities, and large-scale, ground-mount arrays at water treatment facilities including the city’s Airport Water Reclamation Facility. This diversified design aligns system type and siting with operational needs across the city to maximize on-site generation and economic value. Buildings in the portfolio include City Hall, Chandler Nature Center, and Sunset Library, as well as fire and public safety stations, among others.

“Chandler’s objective was to take advantage of their excellent solar resources while delivering meaningful utility savings across their facilities citywide,” said Lou Maltezos, President of Central & Western USA, Canada Regions at Ameresco. “By tailoring canopy, rooftop, and single axis tracking systems to each site, we are helping the City of Chandler secure reliable, long-term renewable energy and reduce exposure to unpredictable utility costs.”

As systems come online, the city anticipates steady progress toward its cost-savings and sustainability targets, supported by the ITC and Ameresco’s design-build delivery. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026.

To learn more about solar solutions offered by Ameresco, visit www.ameresco.com/solution-solar-power/.