Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) announced that it had been recognized with the 2021 Utility of the Future Today award for its commitment to a sustainable clean energy portfolio, marking the second consecutive year it has earned the honor.

EMWD is one of 39 utilities nationwide to be honored with the award, which highlights transformational work in community engagement, watershed stewardship and resource management.

EMWD’s award application focused on its investments in energy generation and recovery programs and projects, including its solar voltaic production systems. EMWD says that its investments in solar energy help save its ratepayers millions of dollars each year and provide approximately half the power used by EMWD each year.

The Utility of the Future Today program was launched in 2016 by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the Water Environment Federation, the Water Research Foundation and the WateReuse Association, with input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.