Beaver Water District Completes 5 MW Solar Array
A solar array now supplies a share of the utility's electricity for its Northwest Arkansas service area.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Utilities
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Madison Energy Infrastructure and Verogy have completed a solar array for Beaver Water District, which supplies drinking water to Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville. The array is operational and is expected to meet 15% to 20% of the district's electricity needs.
Why it matters
The district serves more than 425,000 customers in Northwest Arkansas, so a renewable source covering a meaningful share of its power use could affect operating costs over time. The project is also expected to offset about 8,264 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.
The approximately $10 million array has a 7.22 MW DC and 5 MW AC capacity and is projected to save $7 million to $11 million over its lifetime. Those savings figures are district estimates, and actual performance has not yet been recorded.
The players
Beaver Water District
A public water utility that supplies drinking water to Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville in Northwest Arkansas.
Madison Energy Infrastructure
A New York City-based developer and financier of renewable energy projects that originated, developed, and financed the array.
Verogy
A West Hartford, Connecticut-based company that built the solar array.
The details
The single-axis tracker system, made up of more than 15,000 solar panels, sits on about 32 acres adjacent to the district's administrative center at 301 N. Primrose Road. Madison Energy Infrastructure originated, developed, and financed the project, and Verogy built it.
Timeline
The article reporting the completed array was published on November 2, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The array relies on single-axis tracker technology, which tilts panels to follow the sun east to west across the day. Utilities increasingly pair such tracker-based arrays with their existing grid supply to reduce reliance on purchased power.
For customers of Beaver Water District, the array is expected to offset part of the utility's power purchases, which could influence long-term operating costs. The district has not announced any change to customer rates tied to the project.
The takeaway
Renewable generation built on district land can cover a meaningful share of a utility's electricity use while lowering emissions. Whether the projected savings materialize will become clearer as the array operates over time.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Utilities in Lowell.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Talk Business & Politics.
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