On January 27, 2014, work began on the construction of a 1.5 megawatt Solar Array at the Buckman Direct Diversion’s Booster Station 2A. The construction of this facility will allow the Buckman Direct Diversion (BDD) to utilized electricity from the array to power the seven (7) high production pumps housed in this station. The 2A facility is the last pump station of the three (3) Raw Water Facilities used to divert up to fifteen (15) million gallons a day of water from the Rio Grande River eleven (11) miles to the Buckman Regional Water Treatment Plant (BRWTP) where the water will be treated through both Conventional and Advanced Treatment Processes. The addition of the 1.5 megawatt solar array to the existing 1 megawatt solar array located at the BRWTP allows the BDD to produce approximately 35% of the system’s electrical consumption from the sun. The solar energy is sustainable and green, allowing the Buckman Direct Diversion to minimize its carbon footprint and reduce carbon emissions. The 2A Solar Project is scheduled to be completed Oct 31, 2014 with an estimated cost of 4.5 million dollars funded mostly by a grant from the State of New Mexico. For more information please contact project manager Rick Carpenter, Water Resources and Conservation Manager, City of Santa Fe, at 505-955-4206.