ellensburg community solar 3 4-12-4

Ellensburgs Community Solar Electric Project

Ellensburg Community Renewable Park

Ellensburg

City of Ellensburg

(approx 8500 utility customers )

Electricity Annual Usage - 185 million kWh $11.7 million

Natural Gas

Annual Usage - 9 million therms $9.5 million Ellensburg Community Renewable Park

Ellensburgs Conservation /RenewablePrograms

1980-present $16 million in conservation project

2004 - present Community Solar Project- 111 KW Small Wind Turbines - 17.6 KW


City of Ellensburg

(approx. 8500 utility customers )

Electricity Annual Usage - 185 million kWh $11.7 million

Natural Gas

Annual Usage - 9 million therms $ 9.5 million Ellensburgs Community Renewable Park

the sun Ellensburgs most abundant energy resource

2004 Northwest Solar Summit

identified solar barriers impacting the installation of solar systems



Solar Electric Barriers Aesthetic concerns solar modules on the roof

High initial costs $25 - $30,000 for a standard residential installation

Primary roof area not oriented south Roof shading from other buildings & trees

Lack of qualified solar installers

Lack of understanding about renewable energyMaintenance Issues



Key Elements

overcomes many of the solar barriers

new and innovative funding approach

valuable educational tool

distributed energy resource

keeps utility dollars in the community

link to local economic development

benefits to the local utility

encourages other communities


Key Players

Utility Director

City Council

Northwest Solar Center

Bonneville Environmental Foundation

Central Washington University

Bonneville Power Administration

Senator Rockefeller

Utility Customers

A New Marketing & Financing Concept Introduced People in the Community partner with the Utility to help fund the project

In exchange for their financial support the Utility gives the Contributors a credit on their utility bill for the value of the electricity produced by the solar system


if a customer contributes the customer receives 3% 3 % of the project funding kWhs produced by the solar project in the form of a solar credit on their utility bill The solar credit is given to the customer for 20 years (the length of the warrantee on the solar panels ) Ellensburg Community Renewable Park

contribution for a community solar system $250 to $15,000

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Pledge Brochure


High Visibility Site

EllensburgSolar Community Project2004 solar concept Local citizens partnering with the City for clean renewable energy options

Strong Educational Component CWU- Industrial Engineering Technology Department - Geography Department - Education - Faculties Management Ellensburg Public School District National Solar Tour


Phase I November 2006 36 KW System (120 ) 300 watt polycrystalline modules Phase ll

November 2008 21 KW System(72 ) 300 watt polycrystalline modules

Phase III September 2009 13.5 KW System (180) 75 watt thin film modules

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Federal ARRA Grant Ellensburgs New Renewable Park

the wind

Ellensburgs 2nd most abundant energy resource

Skystream 2.4 KW

2.4 KW

Energy Ball 2.5 KW

Honeywell 1.5 KW

10 KW

4KW

5.o KW

Tangarie 10KW

2012 - 2013

Complete Installation of the 3 remaining turbines

Interstate & Project Signage

New Data monitoring system/weather station Update Web Page
