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COLBY, KAN. – (November 4, 2014) Clean Energy Collective (CEC), the nation’s leading community solar developer, has begun construction for the 1.2-megawatt Midwest Energy Community Solar Array in Colby, Kan., the state’s largest and most efficient solar PV facility.
With community solar customers enjoy the benefits of solar ownership, yet bypass the research, construction, and ongoing maintenance and repair required of a rooftop system. Midwest Energy also provides a credit directly to the owner’s electric bill. Energy credits move with panel owners within the utility territory, and owners have the ability to resell panels at any time.
A New Standard of Technology and Efficiency
The Midwest Energy Community Solar Array will set a new standard for production efficiency and energy savings, helping to deliver the fastest possible payback for owners in the nearly 4,000-panel array.
The final site was selected for its superb solar exposure rating, and the facility is employing state-of-the-art inverters and the highest efficiency 305-Watt panels, resulting in customers needing fewer panels to offset their energy needs. CEC has also designed the facility using an advanced solar tracking system, which boosts both power production and cost savings by more than 11% over a fixed-panel commercial system and roughly 25% over a residential rooftop system.
The simplicity of implementation, along with the energy savings, will be particularly attractive to local businesses, oil production facilities, and farms intent on cutting operating expenses while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
Expected to be operational by the end of the year, the Midwest Energy Community Solar Array will produce over 2 million kWh of electricity per year, the equivalent of 1,480 metric tons of CO2, equal to 1.6 million pounds of coal burned or more than 166,000 gallons of gasoline consumed.
Getting Started
Midwest Energy electric customers can purchase individual solar PV panels—as few as one or enough to fully offset the electric load of a home or business. At a net price of $2.92/Watt, or $891 per panel after the available Midwest Energy rebate, pricing is among the lowest in the country. Fully refundable reservations are now available, and CEC expects the facility will sell out quickly.
For more information on the Midwest Energy Community Solar Array, visit www.MWEcommunitysolar.com or contact CEC at (800) 646-0323 or info@MWEcommunitysolar.com.
About Midwest Energy
Midwest Energy, Inc., is a member-owned electric and natural gas cooperative serving 92,000 customers in 41 central and western Kansas counties. Established in 1939, Midwest Energy provides safe, reliable and efficient energy services to its members, delivering innovative, affordable and environmentally sound solutions. True to its cooperative roots, the company also works to foster leadership and growth throughout central and western Kansas. www.mwenergy.com
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC)
Colorado-based Clean Energy Collective is the nation’s leading developer of community-owned renewable energy facilities and power generation. CEC established the first community-owned solar garden in the country in 2010 near El Jebel, Colorado. Since that time, CEC has built or has under development over 40 community solar projects with 18 utility partners across 8 states, representing 26 MW of community solar capacity. www.easycleanenergy.com |