Your PUD
News Release
WVC solar panels spark more solar installations at schools
Chelan County PUD
News Release
3/20/2003
Revenues from production of solar power at Wenatchee Valley College will be used to build three new solar power stations at schools in Chelan County through an agreement with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
The 10-kilowatt solar array at Wenatchee Valley College is part of Chelan County PUD’s Sustainable Natural Alternative Power (SNAP) program. The college installation features 132 solar panels on the roof of the Eller-Fox Science Center, visible from Fifth Street. The panels began producing energy about a year ago. As of March 3, 10,600 kilowatt hours (kWh) had been generated by the college’s panels. This is about half the total amount of energy used by a typical all-electric home in Chelan County.
The college is one of five local generators of alternative power in the SNAP program and, at 10 kilowatts, is a significant producer, said Jim White, senior engineer at the PUD. As such, the college will be entitled to about $13,000 of the annual payments made to local SNAP producers.
Initially, the college intended to turn those proceeds back to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, which provided startup funding for purchasing and installing the solar equipment. Foundations officials, impressed with the success of the SNAP program, have instead suggested that the funds be used to start additional solar stations tied to education.
The money will be used to help build solar installations at three schools in Chelan County. The new school systems will be similar to the 600-watt solar power station that was installed at Cashmere Middle School last September. Students at the schools will be able to help install the solar panels, monitor their output, and compare their power production with that at other schools in the Pacific Northwest.
Which three schools has yet to be determined. Chelan County teachers interested in integrating instruction on alternative sources of energy into their science curriculum should contact White, 661.4829, for information about setting up a solar array at their school.
The SNAP program was initiated in August 2001. In addition to the college, the local solar producers are the Federal Building in Wenatchee, Randy and Anne Brooks in Chelan and Cashmere Middle School. One wind producer is located in the Colockum area southwest of Wenatchee; a second wind turbine is scheduled to go online in the Peshastin area this spring.
The SNAP program links neighbors to neighbors, connecting small producers of solar and wind power in Chelan County with local customers interested in purchasing that power.
PUD customers can purchase SNAP energy and promote the development of local alternative energy resources by paying a little extra on their electric bills. Residential customers can opt to pay $2.50, $5 or $7.50 a month, while business customers can choose $10, $25 or $50 per month. All funds earmarked for SNAP go directly to the local producers who supply power into the PUD's electrical grid for use by local customers.
Customers can sign up via e-mail at snap@chelanpud.org, on the PUD's Web site (SNAP), or by calling the PUD's SNAPLine at 667-4242. Electric bills include a space where customers can write in a purchase amount as well.
***
Contact Jim White, PUD Energy Services senior engineer, at 661-4829, if you have questions.
Kimberlee Craig
Public Information Officer
661-4320
kimc@chelanpud.org