Celebrate Fayetteville: Exploring the Greater Fayetteville Region

FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION
What began over one hundred years ago
with little more than hollow logs bringing
water from nearby springs, has expanded into
the Fayetteville Public Works Commission.
PWC is now the largest municipal power
system in the state of North Carolina, as well
as the thirty-fifth largest public power system
(of more than 2,000) in the United States.
They are also a leader in sustainability and
green business programs and have been recognized
nationally for creating new technology.
It is PWC’s belief that going green is
good for the future of Fayetteville and that
has positioned them as a forerunner in
sustainable practices. Visitors to PWC’s 10,000
square foot, LEED-Certified Gold Customer
Service Center can see one of the first buildings
in the area to be constructed to LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) standards, the nationally accepted
benchmark for design, construction, and
operation of high performance ecological
buildings. The facility, which was opened in
2009, upholds the LEED mission to promote
the reduction of negative environmental
impacts on buildings, while improving the
health and well-being of its occupants.
PWC’s fleet is also changing to benefit
the environment and air quality. Currently,
PWC has seven hybrid vehicles, including
two bucket trucks, with plans for replacing
older trucks with those using lower emission
diesel engines. As other equipment ages and
is replaced, PWC is making more clean air
choices, such as all-electric forklifts and
solar-powered message boards.
Since LED lighting significantly reduces
energy use and has a longer life expectancy,
PWC resolved in 2013 to upgrade the
area’s 34,000 street and area lights to LED.
Residents will receive more efficient and
higher quality lighting while also reducing
PWC maintenance costs.
PWC’s green business commitment
includes owning and operating a 750 acre
farm to recycle biosolids that are removed
during wastewater treatment. These biosolids
become fertilizers and soil conditioners
which are used in over 3,100 acres of
Cumberland County farmland. Partnering
with the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, PWC
sponsors the Water Wise garden, which
demonstrates conservation techniques that
can be incorporated into home landscaping.
PWC also collaborates with Sustainable
Sandhills (SS) to support the Cumberland
County Schools’ Go Green Initiative. Through
PWC funding, Sustainable Sandhills assists
individual schools with conservation and
recycling practices.
The future of efficient electricity requires
innovative solutions and the engineers at
PWC are always busy coming up with new
ways to help the electric system operate in
the most efficient manner that will ultimately
help customers save on their bills. One of
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