The Clinton Foundation will soak up the sun with new solar array

The Clinton Foundation is jumping into sustainability action in Central Arkansas through a new partnership with the City of Little Rock and national energy firm ENFRA.

Working with the city, the Clinton Foundation will create a new “Clinton Sustainable Energy District” in downtown Little Rock to lower energy costs and  provide central cooling to several downtown buildings including the Robinson Center, Museum of Discovery and Little Rock City Hall. The Foundation announced that they will also partner with ENFRA to build a 5-megawatt solar array in Russellville to offset carbon emissions from the Clinton Center campus, which includes the Presidential Library and the former Heifer International property.

Along with the solar array, ENFRA will also help the Clinton Center install electric vehicle charging infrastructure, energy efficiency upgrades around their downtown campus, and on-site power systems to reduce strain on the grid. The total investment will be $30 million.

“The Clinton Sustainable Energy District is a win-win. It will significantly reduce the Clinton Center’s environmental impact and serve as a model for sustainable energy infrastructure across the nation,” Bruce Lindsey, counselor to the chair of the board of the Clinton Foundation, said in the press release. “We are proud to partner with ENFRA and the City of Little Rock to make a lasting investment that will benefit Little Rock.”

The Clinton Foundation’s move follows similar moves by both the City of Little Rock and Pulaski County to build solar projects to power city and county operations.

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. praised the decision in the press release.

“This innovative and transformational partnership with the Clinton Foundation and ENFRA is a model for sustainability and energy efficiency, and it will result in significant cost savings for Little Rock residents. Through fiscal and environmental stewardship, we are prioritizing our community’s common values while leading the way to create a greener, cleaner and brighter future,” Scott said in the press release.