Construction of Tacoma Power’s community solar project has begun, and customers can buy solar units starting Feb. 23. The utility will build four, 75-kilowatt solar arrays on its warehouse roof at 3628 S 35th St.
Tacoma Power customers can buy 28.5-watt solar units for $100 each, with a limit of 20 units per power account. There will be 10,447 solar units available. Only Tacoma Power customers may buy solar units, and only customers who register at TacomaPower.com/CommunitySolar may buy solar units when they go on sale. Registration closes Feb. 21.
Community solar participants will receive an annual Washington state solar production incentive payment, provided the state continues the current solar incentive program, as well as payment for the electricity produced from the project. The estimated total payments for each $100 solar unit is $161.70.
Tacoma Power will send incentive payments annually from 2016 to 2020. In 2020, customers will receive the final Washington state solar incentive payment, as well as payment for 16 years of projected electricity production between 2021 and 2036.
Tacoma Power has estimated the incentive payments for each unit. Estimates are based on National Renewable Energy Laboratories’ solar projections for this area. Actual incentive payments may vary.
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021-2036* |
Total |
|
| Estimated value of electricity at $.0405 per kilowatt hour |
$0.36 |
$1.22 |
$1.21 |
$1.20 |
$1.20 |
$18.36 |
$23.55 |
| Estimated state solar incentive at $1.08 per kilowatt hour |
$9.51 |
$32.40 |
$32.24 |
$32.08 |
$31.92 |
– |
$138.15
|
| Total estimated community solar payments for 2016 through 2036 | $161.70 | ||||||
*Participants will receive payment for the estimated value of electricity for years 2021-2036 in August 2020.
Tacoma Power will sell solar units on a first-come, first-served basis for customers who have registered.
To learn more about Tacoma Power’s community solar project, visit TacomaPower.com/CommunitySolar or call (253) 502-8377.
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About community solar
Community solar is a more affordable way to participate in solar energy. It doesn’t require home ownership, a south facing roof or the high cost of installing solar panels.
The community solar project adds to Tacoma Power’s already-extensive list of renewable energy; all of the power the utility produces is renewable hydropower. Nearly all of the power purchased from the Bonneville Power Administration is renewable as well.
The project will feature solar panels and inverters manufactured in Washington State.
About Tacoma Power
Tacoma Power serves 172,000 customers in Tacoma, University Place, Fircrest and portions of Fife, Lakewood, Federal Way, Steilacoom, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and other portions of Pierce County. The utility includes seven divisions: Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Power Management, Click! Network, Utility Technology Services, Reliability & Compliance, and Rates, Planning & Analysis. www.tacomapower.com.