A 1MW PV Dairy Farm Project in Underserved Rural Community of Mabton, WA
The community being served is a rural, agricultural, and underserved area in Eastern Washington. There are local policies supporting solar energy implementation, including the USDA REAP grant and a statewide 100% sales tax exemption.
The primary challenge was to identify the optimal location for solar installation near a large service area capable of accommodating a substantial solar array and facilitating aggregation with other meters. The utility’s net-metering and aggregation policy required that all involved meters be situated on the same parcel and adhere to the same schedule rate. This stipulation had complicated the efforts to achieve optimal net-metering and aggregation, which were essential for justifying the investment in solar energy, particularly in Eastern Washington.
Mountain State Constructions
The owner, Hank Stamschror considered eliminating their energy bill for their shop in Sunnyside, WA. This location includes three buildings/offices used for construction equipment storage, a welding shop, and office spaces. In addition to the Sunnyside location, the owner constructed a new warehouse and storage building in Granger, WA, which has optimal southern exposure. Both locations feature buildings with metal roofs suitable for solar installations.
At the Sunnyside location, over 450 solar modules were installed across the three buildings and connected to six Fronius Symo inverters equipped with an integrated monitoring system. This system is projected to generate over 90% of the current energy requirements and will be paid off in approximately six years.
Kinter Electric, Sunnyside, WA: 60kW
Kinter Electric is our partner and electrician. They have completed several residential and commercial installations for us. Kinter initially installed a 27kW system on their shop roof in 2012. However, over time, their electricity usage increased significantly, and the old solar energy system could no longer meet their energy needs.
Green Acres; 112kW
Solar power has emerged as a viable solution to meet global energy demands while addressing climate change. Across the United States, solar installations are transforming businesses and communities, driving economic and environmental benefits. A recent project in Central Washington demonstrates the impact of renewable energy on various industries.
An example is Green Acres Farms, LLC, an agricultural operation that has adopted solar energy to enhance sustainability and reduce operational costs. Solora Solar developed a 112kW (DC) system in Wapato, Washington for Green Acres Farms. The farm’s new 250,000 ft² hop kiln facility features a roof with optimal Southern exposure for solar energy use.
Assisted Living Facility, Carport, 15kW
This newly constructed complex in Olympia, WA includes several buildings for Senior Living and Care. To meet the City of Olympia’s renewable energy standards, the project features a self-generating energy system. Solora Solar installed a 15kW system with over 50 modules and a Fronius inverter on the south-facing parking carport to maximize energy production.
A Fronius integrated monitoring system has been implemented to track the progress and production of the system, which can be monitored using a desktop or laptop computer, or any smartphone from anywhere at any time. This system is expected to be paid off in less than 5 years.
