CARLSBORG — Clallam County Public Utility District commissioners have awarded a bid to a Port Townsend company to build a community solar project in Sequim.
District commissioners voted 3-0 Monday to award a $108,350 contract to Power Trip Energy Corp., PUD Executive Assistant Teresa Lyn said Thursday.
The PUD is building a 30-kilowatt solar array at a former substation in Sequim and will offer its customers investments in the renewable energy.
Those who purchase 15-watt solar units from the community array at 410 E. Washington St., will be eligible for financial incentives from the state.
PUD Utility Services Coordinator Mattias Järvegren has said the project will generate an estimated $122,928 over 25 years.
The estimated cost of the project is $116,864.
Solar photovoltaics, or PV, is a technology that converts sunlight into electricity using semiconductors.
Power Trip Energy, which submitted the lowest of two bids for the PUD project, has been installing solar PV on the Olympic Peninsula and surrounding areas since 2003, according to its website.
Community solar allows PUD customers who do not have the money to buy their own solar panels to invest in a small piece of the solar array, Järvegren told PUD commissioners last month.
Customers will be offered up to 125 solar units. Each unit will cost $57.96 and will provide an estimated $61.46 benefit over the life of the 25-year project, Järvegren has said.
Actual payments will be based on actual solar generation.
Järvegren has said the system must be “in the ground” by Nov. 15 for the PUD to receive a tax credit.
The contract will require the work to be completed by Sept. 24, PUD officials said in a memo.
In addition to community solar, PUD officials plan to build an electric vehicle charging station and solar batteries at the former substation.
The PUD is accepting participation agreement for community solar.
For information on community solar or to participate, click on www.clallampud.net/communitysolar.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
