Ground Broken On Community Solar Project In Ames, Iowa

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Posted July 29, 2020

A groundbreaking event was held on July 24 for the SunSmart Ames Community Solar Project in Ames, Iowa.

Speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included Donald Kom, Director of Ames Electric Services, and John Haila, the Mayor of Aimes (a video of the speakers and the groundbreaking is available here).

Implementing a community solar project has been a long-established goal of the Ames City Council.

“A community solar project allows all residents to invest in renewable energy,” said Kom earlier this month. “This 2-megawatt community solar farm will add clean, solar energy to our renewable energy portfolio, which includes refuse-derived fuel.”

SunSmart is on track to be producing electricity by the end of the year.

The solar generation facility will be built and operated by ForeFront Power of San Francisco, Calif., and Ames Electric Services will purchase all electricity provided by the solar panels.

Additional information on the project is available here.