Project Details:Top

Utility Name:	City of Ellensburg Public Utility
Utility Type:	Muni
Funding Source(s):	Voluntary Customer Premium Payments
State:	Washington | WA
Region:	West
Utility Program(s):	Centralized Solar System: Photovoltaic,Green Pricing Program
Technology:	PV

Project Description:Top

The city of Ellensburg installed the first community solar project in the U.S., called the Ellensburg Solar Community, in November 2006, which was the inspiration for SMUD's SolarShares program which followed. This project allows all of the Ellensburg city inhabitants to invest in a jointly-owned community PV installation. Customers of the Ellensburg city electric utility are able to make financial contributions to the project and in return receive direct credits on their electricity bills for the green power produced by the system. This is referred to as virtual net metering.

The energy bill savings from the system output vary by the proportion a customer has contributed to the overall fund, beginning with a minimum contribution enrollment of $250.

If a customer contribution represents 3% of the total funds contributed by all utility customers, that customer receives 3% of the power produced by the PV system, which is deducted directly from their electric bill. All of the electricity produced from the installation is fed directly into the utility grid.

The first PV system that was installed is 36kW and is sited in a highly visible location in Ellensburg. The City will expand the system in 12kW-increments as financing and support for the Ellensburg Solar Community grows.

While the utility customer`s contributions purchase the solar modules themselves, the city`s Conservation and Renewable program funds the other project costs, i.e. PV system Balance of System (BOS) equipment, operations and maintenance (O&M), design development and marketing. System performance information is available on the internet to city residents through a Fat Spaniel Technology data acquisition system. The system cost was $308,258. There are currently 66 contributors with the smallest contribution being $250 and the largest contribution $11,000.

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Project Links:Top

General Project Description: http://www.b-e-f.org/renewables/ellensburg.shtm

Factsheet: http://www.bpa.gov/energy/n/Utilities_Sharing_EE/workshop2007/pdf/Nystedt-Solar-ESC-Overview.pdf  

Power Point presentation: http://www.awcnet.org/trainmaterials/SustainableCommunitiesConf/2007/10BToolsEncouragerRenewEnergyDevelop.pdf

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