CEC to dedicate community solar project

Members of Central Electric Cooperative, its community solar participants and the general public are invited to attend the official dedication of the co-op’s community solar project Thursday, Jan. 21, at 1:30 p.m.

Members of the CEC board of directors will “flip the switch,” the final step to interconnecting the 200,000-watt photovoltaic system with the cooperative’s electrical distribution system.

With that action, solar-generated electricity will begin flowing directly to CEC members for the first time, energizing the largest community solar project in Oregon. Its annual production will create enough carbon-emission free energy to serve the annual electricity needs of approximately 18 CEC residential members.

Additionally, the project will help feed the growth of solar energy, ultimately making it economically competitive with traditional energy sources. The project has the potential to grow its generating capacity to 500,000 watts, depending on the rate of increase in the project’s member participation.

During 2016, Central Electric will be promoting the project throughout Central Oregon, sharing the story of its forward-looking stance for meeting tomorrow’s energy needs.

We also will be promoting the opportunity for co-op members to participate in the project’s success by acquiring subscriptions to the energy produced by the solar panels or by enrolling in the long-established Green Power program. (Learn more at www.cec.coop/communitysolar)

Central Electric is the only utility in Oregon to take the innovative approach community solar energy project development using two distinct but related voluntary funding programs.

The 1.3-acre solar energy site is located adjacent to and immediately south of our Bend Service Center at 61090 SE 27thSt.