By Michael Howell
Officials and members of Ravalli Electric Cooperative (REC), joined by government officials and members of the public, all convened on the company’s Woodside substation last Thursday to celebrate the grand opening of the Valley Solar installation that is producing electricity for the REC grid. The solar panel project turned out to be so popular that it was already into Phase 2 of its planned development before it could even hold a celebration.
In early 2015, REC surveyed its members to learn whether an opportunity to participate in a community solar program would be of interest to them. With a 30% positive response rate, the board of directors decided the project was worth pursuing and planned a 25 kilowatt, 88 panel solar array to be built after all 88 panels were under reservation. It is the third community solar project in Montana, following the ones installed by the Flathead and Missoula Electric Co-ops.
The way it works is that participants purchase the output from one or more panels, either to use for themselves or a friend, or the power generated can be donated to one of the participating non-profit organizations using the REC lines, including the Corvallis School District, Trapper Creek Job Corps or Bitterroot Therapeutic Riding Center. The solar power generated is put into the REC grid and the owners of the panel are credited for that amount.
The first phase, consisting of 88 panels, was sold out within two months and a waiting list for a potential Phase 2 was started. Currently over two thirds of the panels planned for Phase 2 have already been sold. The output of the remaining 28 panels is still available to purchase.
Since the first phase was installed, the Valley Solar project has generated 10,153 kilowatt hours, about 58 kilowatt hours per panel.
Many of the purchasers are owners and operators of the co-op. REC General Manager Mark Grotbo thanked them for making the investment, “especially when the economics are longer-term but looking into the future of things to come. Without your investment, thought, support and enthusiasm, this wouldn’t have happened,” he said.
USDA Rural Development representative John Walsh presented a plaque to REC board member Larry Trexler. REC was a recipient of the Rural Energy of America REAP grant used to assist with the purchase and installation of the solar array.
“The energy generated will provide renewable energy and feed into the distribution and transmission system to supply electricity to coop members,” said Walsh. “Your project will increase the private sector’s supply of renewable energy and decrease energy costs for your co-op members.” He said every project around the country and Montana that goes up reduces our reliance on overseas oil and fossils fuels around the world.
The sun came out as Governor Steve Bullock took to the podium. “What better day to cut the ribbon than when we know these solar panels are generating at high capacity,” he said.
Bullock said that Montana has a population of one million people, but eleven million people visit the state annually for the same reasons that Montanans love living here, “quality of life, clean air, clean water, open lands and abundant wildlife.”
“As the future of Montana’s energy industries shifts beneath our feet, we are all going to have to work together so that we and our state are recognizing our full potential,” said Bullock. “Today I think we are seeing a great example of forward thinking leadership right here in our community.”
“As I understand it,” he said, “your customers spoke and you listened to what they had to say. As a result, not only are you meeting the expectations of your customers and harnessing home-grown energy from the sun, but you’ve put more Montanans to work in doing so – from the local electricians to the Montana company that fabricated the racks.”
REC board member Bob Bailey, also a panel purchaser, said the investment was probably not going to yield the top return, but it was a good investment in the future of the state.
According to Bailey, the real key to future solar development lies in the development of better and cheaper battery storage systems.
“We are betting on future technology and it’s changing fast,” said Bailey.