Watertown Airport Pursues $5 Million FAA Grant for Major Solar Farm Project
- Steve Jurrens
- Oct 27
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council unanimously authorized City Manager Alan Stager tonight to submit a pre-application for a Voluntary Airport Low-Emissions (VALE) grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The funding, estimated at up to $5 million, would be used to construct a solar farm at the Watertown Regional Airport, which would suggestively reduce the facility's carbon footprint and operational costs.
The VALE program, which recently became available to South Dakota airports, offers federal funding for projects that improve air quality and conserve energy.
While the airport's current annual electricity expenses are approximately $100,000, City Manager Stager explained that the $5 million investment is crucial to the city's future…
Stager stated, indicating the project is part of a larger strategy for facility expansion.
Councilman Heuer expressed enthusiasm for the initiative and suggested looking for similar opportunities beyond the airport...
Councilman Dan Schutte inquired about the City’s financial involvement, and City Manager Stager confirmed that a match is required. Still, the City’s contribution for a $5 million project would be $125,000.
Airport Manager Ian Meriwether presented details on the project's financial structure and long-term vision…
Councilman Lynn Jurrens conducted some research…
Meriwether assured the Council that the system could be up-gauged, and preliminary discussions with Watertown Municipal Utilities (WMU) confirmed they have a buyback program for any additional electricity returned to the grid.
The pre-application is due November 1st, and the City expects to decide in January or February. If awarded, the complete grant application would be submitted around August, with actual construction potentially scheduled for 2027.
The motion to proceed with the grant pre-application passed unanimously.
