Rainy skies didn’t dampen the celebration as Charlotte Water, community leaders and project partners gathered Thursday, Sept. 24, to officially open the McDowell Creek Solar Facility in Huntersville.
Guests gathered under a tent overlooking the expansive solar array as speakers celebrated the completion of the project and the partnerships that brought it to life. The morning concluded with an official ribbon cutting marking an important sustainability milestone for Charlotte Water.
The McDowell Creek Solar Facility puts underutilized utility land to productive use by generating clean, renewable energy while allowing the property to continue supporting Charlotte Water’s core mission. It is the largest solar facility located on Charlotte Water property and represents the utility’s continued commitment to sustainability, innovation and responsible stewardship of its resources.
“Projects like this take vision, collaboration, and a willingness to think differently about how we can use the resources we already have,” Charlotte Water Director Angela Charles told guests during the ceremony. “We want to continue finding practical opportunities to reduce our environmental impact while creating lasting value for the community we serve.”
Charles was joined on stage by Huntersville Mayor Christy Clark, EnerWealth CEO and Founder Ajulo Othow and EnergyUnited CEO Thomas Golden. Each shared remarks before joining together for the ceremonial ribbon cutting.
The project was developed by EnerWealth and is the first site in the company’s Freedom Dividend community benefit program. EnergyUnited also played an important role in bringing the project into operation, including its work related to the project’s power purchase and interconnection.
For Charlotte Water, the facility is about more than generating renewable energy. It demonstrates how existing utility resources can be used in new ways to support a more sustainable future and create long-term benefits for the community.
“The McDowell Creek Solar Facility will continue producing clean energy for years to come, and it serves as an example of the kinds of partnerships and innovative approaches that can help shape a more sustainable future,” Charles said.
Following the ribbon cutting, guests had the opportunity to tour the site and get a closer look at the new facility.
Despite the wet weather, the backdrop of rows of solar panels made for a fitting setting to celebrate a project designed to deliver benefits well beyond one day — and another step forward in Charlotte Water’s commitment to sustainability and responsible stewardship.