A privately-held solar company today announced plans to install a 400-acre solar park on property north of Cle Elum, Washington. The Teanaway Solar Reserve is designed to generate about 75 megawatts of renewable energy — enough to power approximately 45,000 households — making it the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar project ever proposed in the Northwest.
With a package of benefits that includes hundreds of new manufacturing jobs in the county, the Reserve is receiving widespread praise from a variety of supporters.
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) says,
Last year, I fought to pass my bipartisan clean energy tax incentives bill, and now, thanks in part to that legislation, we’re seeing this project get off the ground. Washington State is leading the way to transitioning our world to a clean energy economy, and I am so proud that our state will be home to one of the largest solar generating facilities in the nation. This groundbreaking project will create construction and manufacturing jobs, bring hundreds of millions of investment dollars into Central Washington, and generate fuel and emissions-free electricity for our citizens.
Rogers Weed, Director of Washington State’s new Department of Commerce added;
This is precisely the type of business we want to attract to Washington State. It showcases our commitment to clean energy as a way to grow the economy, create jobs, and control our own energy destiny.
The developer, Teanaway Solar Reserve, LLC, is negotiating with several international manufacturers of solar PV panels and is reviewing several sites in Cle Elum on which to build the plant for manufacturing the approximately 400,000 panels needed to complete the project. Economic projections indicate the solar reserve will create hundreds of manufacturing, installation and maintenance jobs in the county.
The Teanaway Solar Reserve will employ PV solar technology to directly convert sunlight into electricity. The power it generates will be connected to the utility grid and will offset about 75- million pounds of carbon dioxide every year compared to the equivalent amount of energy produced from coal. The target date for completion is fall 2011.
State Representative Bill Hinkle (R-13th Legislative District) commented;
This project exemplifies what many of us have dreamed of. It presents Kittitas County with an opportunity to bring in family-wage jobs, diversify our energy portfolio and get in on the front end of renewable solar energy. This is clearly a future trend and I feel blessed that, of all the places this project could have been located, it’s coming to us.
Ron Cridlebaugh of the Economic Development Group of Kittitas County had this to say;
The Teanaway Solar Reserve has the potential to be huge for the county.Not only will it translate into good jobs for our community but it’s our understanding that the developer will take great care to minimize impact on the environment, wildlife, local residents and recreational visitors.
Central Washington University President James Gaudino adds,
The opportunities this project presents the region are enormous. I imagine it will be the beginning of a rich collaborative relationship between Kittitas County and the University focused on solar research and bringing solar applications to market.
Please visit www.teanawaysolarreserve.com for more information.
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