Washington state may soon be home to world’s largest PV solar project

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By Sarah Van Schagen, Grist

About four miles from the town of Cle Elum, Wash., there is a large, flat piece of land surrounded by a ring of 50-foot-tall Ponderosa Pines. The area has been repeatedly logged over the last few decades and is now relatively treeless. But it may soon be home to an entirely different sort of renewable resource. The land has been purchased by investors who want to build a 400-acre solar park that would generate 75 megawatts of renewable energy—enough to power 45,000 homes—making it the largest solar photovoltaic facility in the world.

The world's largest solar park ... in Washington state? Why yes, says Howard Trott, the managing director of the project. Contrary to popular belief, this area of the state (about 80 miles southeast of Seattle's notorious gray skies) enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year—plenty enough to move Washington state into position as the second largest solar producer by megawatt in the U.S., behind California.

If all goes as planned, the Teanaway Solar Reserve would also include a solar manufacturing facility that would construct the photovoltaic panels needed for the park and then go on to produce versions appropriate for residential customers. All told, the project would create "hundreds of new family-wage manufacturing and construction jobs" in the area, Trott says.

It would also extend Washington state's leadership in the emerging clean-energy economy, says Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who worked closely with Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) to ensure that critical tax incentives for renewable energy did not expire at the end of last year.

Before construction can begin, the Teanaway Solar Reserve project must survive the local permitting process, which could take about six months. But Trott is hopeful that by 2011, they'll be up and running—and showing the rest of the country that Washington has a bright future in solar energy.

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-10-wa...-solar-project/

[HAL 9000 96]

Interesting... hope it works.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Cuz you know California doesn't want the eyesore. Don't worry California, the other states will do your heavy lifting. Work on your pottery.

[HAL 9000 96]

Hey Steven isn't it right California, Southern Cali, in particular, has very large solar farms right now and are planning putting panels on top of abandoned/used big box stores?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hey Steven isn't it right California, Southern Cali, in particular, has very large solar farms right now and are planning putting panels on top of abandoned/used big box stores?

We lead the nation right now in solar power. It like to see my home state, Arizona, take the lead though.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Cuz you know California doesn't want the eyesore. Don't worry California, the other states will do your heavy lifting. Work on your pottery.

We lead the nation right now in solar power.

So who's wrong here?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Cuz you know California doesn't want the eyesore. Don't worry California, the other states will do your heavy lifting. Work on your pottery.

We lead the nation right now in solar power.

So who's wrong here?

Rich is doing his best Michael Savage impersonation. Maybe if he really is lucky, they'll give him his own radio program.

[HAL 9000 96]

Hey Steven isn't it right California, Southern Cali, in particular, has very large solar farms right now and are planning putting panels on top of abandoned/used big box stores?

We lead the nation right now in solar power. It like to see my home state, Arizona, take the lead though.

Oh my who would've thought California wasn't doing its part!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hey Steven isn't it right California, Southern Cali, in particular, has very large solar farms right now and are planning putting panels on top of abandoned/used big box stores?

We lead the nation right now in solar power. It like to see my home state, Arizona, take the lead though.

Oh my who would've thought California wasn't doing its part!

Savage wannabe's.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

California is full of commies. Once that is stated, the argument is won and nothing else matters.

[HAL 9000 96]

Hey Steven isn't it right California, Southern Cali, in particular, has very large solar farms right now and are planning putting panels on top of abandoned/used big box stores?

We lead the nation right now in solar power. It like to see my home state, Arizona, take the lead though.

Oh my who would've thought California wasn't doing its part!

Savage wannabe's.

Yeeeaaah... you mean people that don't amount to much other than fart-noise making.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

California is full of commies. Once that is stated, the argument is won and nothing else matters.

If you said, commies peppered with Right Wing fascists, I'd say you're not too far off the mark.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

California is full of commies. Once that is stated, the argument is won and nothing else matters.

If you said, commies peppered with Right Wing fascists, I'd say you're not too far off the mark.

The right-wing fascists are oppressed and have no rights left. Their sonstitution has been shredded and lady liberty sheds tears of blood for them.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

California is full of commies. Once that is stated, the argument is won and nothing else matters.

If you said, commies peppered with Right Wing fascists, I'd say you're not too far off the mark.

The right-wing fascists are oppressed and have no rights left. Their sonstitution has been shredded and lady liberty sheds tears of blood for them.

They're the ones holding the state hostage. They have more power than constituents.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Savage would disagree.