Demand for shares in a Spokane community solar installation was so strong, sponsoring utility Inland Power and Light boosted capacity with a second array. The project’s second phase, completed in late March, added a 20 kW ground-mount array outside the utility’s main office off Interstate 90 in eastern Washington. It joins a 30 kW array that went into service last fall. The arrays include all certified “Made In Washington” solar equipment, including modules by itek Energy of Bellingham, microinverters by Blue Frog/APS of Poulsbo, and racking by SunModo of Vancouver, WA. Installation was by Brimma Solar of Seattle.
“Inland Power was great to work with for the entire project,” said John Harley, Brimma vice president.
A member-owned utility, Inland Power made units in the solar installation available to its ratepayers through a lottery.
“The project sold out immediately,” said John Francisco, chief of energy resources for Inland Power.
Unit holders will get credit for their portion of the array’s power production, along with a pro rata rebate from the state under Washington’s Renewable Energy Cost Recovery program.
Inland Power and Light serves about 39,000 residential and commercial customers in 13 counties in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Founded in 1937, it is the largest electric cooperative in Washington.
Blue Frog Solar manufactures advanced microinverters under license from APS, a global leader in solar technology. Blue Frog was recently honored by Seattle Business magazine as a top emerging manufacturer in the 2015 Washington Manufacturing Awards.
Inland Power & Light community solar, phases 1+2
Designer/Installer: Brimma Solar
Owner: Inland Power and Light (member-owned utility)
Location: Spokane, WA
Installation date: August 2014/March 2015
Capacity: 50 kW
Module type: itek 265 W and 280 W modules
No. of modules: 184
Microinverters: Blue Frog/APS YC500 MIW
No. of microinverters: 92
Racking: SunModo
