Cities Using Solar
Cities Using Solar. I’m Greg Martin as Line On Agriculture presents the Harvest Clean Energy Report.
A lot of people are starting to discover and utilize solar energy, both individuals and businesses. But another entity has learned that using solar can be a benefit according Leslie Moynihan, Project Manager for Northwest SEED or Sustainable Energy for Economic Development.
MOYNIHAN: We’re working on really trying to help communities figure out that community solar and what we mean by community solar we typically think of solar electric systems that with voluntary participation people can choose to participate in it and that it provides power and some other financial benefits.
The City of
MOYNIHAN: In the case of Ellensburg solar they have the community solar project managed by the municipal utility and on a voluntary basis their rate payers can opt to participate in the project. They would provide an up front payment and then they would receive the benefits for a portion of the solar generation that comes that project.
That is just one model for community solar but Moynihan says there is another benefit.
MOYNIHAN: It really breaks down the access barrier to solar energy. Solar energy people think of mostly on an individual basis, thinking about putting it on their own home and it and it has a high up front price tag and it also has very specific needs in terms of the proper sighting.
Many home locations are just not conducive to solar because of trees or other obstructions and the community solar gives those people a chance to participate in renewable energy. Cities interested should look for a new publication to soon be released.
MOYNIHAN: We are publishing a guide in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation that’s really going to really reach out to communities and help them figure out how they can do this on their own. It’s called the Northwest Guide to Community Solar and we look at case studies like Ellensburg. We also include the community solar in
Keep an eye out on their website when the guide is published at nwseed.org. And for additional information on clean energy, visit harvestcleanenergy.org. That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
www.harvestcleanenergy.org
www.nwseed.org
