Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2020)
BUSINESS A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2020 Solar array makes Hermiston RV park fi rst of its kind By KATY NESBITT FOR THE HERMISTON HERALD The new Panelview RV Park near Hermiston is the fi rst of its kind to provide solar shade canopy solar arrays, meaning on a sunny day more energy could be produced than a motor- home can use. The 147-kilowatt solar array system will generate an estimated 226,357 kilo- watt-hours of renewable electricity per year, which is enough to power 27 typ- ical U.S. homes. Overall, the solar array will help the RV park reduce its utility bill by $19,020 per year. “We named the park Panelview RV Park due to the fact that our guests are surrounded by solar panels and the park runs entirely on renewable energy,” said Kent Madison, Panelview RV Park owner Overseeing construc- tion is Sunthurst Energy. Owner Daniel Hale said his company is an Energy Trust Trade ally and he became familiar with the USDA grant opportunity when he built arrays for Wtechlink and the Rees Ranch. “From the beginning it was deemed essential to add solar panels to this project,” Hale said. “Per our research, at time of Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald The Panelview RV Park, just outside of Hermiston, will have 49 sites when it is completed and generate an estimated 226,357 kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity each year. fi ling for the grant, Pan- elView RV Park will be the fi rst with solar shade cano- pies with nearly 100% net energy metering.” Net energy metering is a solar incentive that allows the owner to store energy in the electric grid. When solar panels pro- duce more electricity than needed, that energy is sent to the grid in exchange for credits. The USDA Rural Energy for America Pro- gram grant funded $49,428 of the $197,713 total cost and Energy Trust of Oregon will contribute $25,000 in commercial solar rebates. The remain- ing balance will be paid for by the owner, Hale said. Madison said Panelview will sell a little more than half of a megawatt of solar to Pacifi c Power. “We wanted to control our future power costs and solar does that,” Madison said. 40th Anniversary Sale! Panelview RV Park will have 49 sites when com- pleted and is the fi rst in the nation to have a Phage sewer treatment plant that can con- trol environmental waste- water process problems. Hale said Sunthurst, established in 2013, has built solar projects of every type from ground mount to canopy and roof- top and energy storage. His company is licensed in fi ve states and has completed more than 18 megawatts of solar energy systems. About 50 percent of their work is Oregon. Outside of Umatilla County, many of their proj- ects have been in Klam- ath Falls, Ashland and Medford. Sunthurst has installed arrays at the Oregon Air National Guard, Pendleton Fire Station No. 1 and the Pendleton Oregon Depart- ment of Transportation District Offi ce. In all, $8.7 million in FUZZBALL ANIMAL RESCUE is in need of dog food, cat food, cat litter & supplies. 2021 BUICK ENCORE MSRP $26,090 - $2,112 Swain Discount - $1,000 Customer Cash Your $ Price Mark Sargent, DVM • Brent Barton, DVM Eugenio Mannucci, DVM, cVMA • Jana von Borstel, DVM, cVMA 22,978 Stk #B7899 VIN #KL4CJAS68MB313218 Small and Large Animal Care Offer ends October 31, 2020 www.swainmotors.com 541-567-2277 80406 Hwy 395 N., Hermiston Top of the Hill REAP funding was granted to Oregon to help 27 farm- ers, ranchers, and rural small businesses adopt renewable energy tech- nologies, conduct critical energy audits, and make pollution and cost-cut- ting energy effi ciency improvements. “Energy effi ciency upgrades will help farm- ers and ranchers lower costs, cut pollution, and create jobs — a common- sense, win-win-win part of that path,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley, who serves as the ranking member on the Senate Appropriations sub- committee that oversees funding for the USDA. “I’m pleased that these funds are headed to Ore- gon, and will keep work- ing to ensure that people in every part of our state have the chance to build better, more prosperous, healthier lives.” Mon: 8-6 Tue - Fri: 8-5 Sat: 8-12 Emergency Service 541.567.1138 80489 Hwy 395 N Hermiston www.oregontrailvet.com Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, animal shelters need our help more than ever. Please donate to your local shelter, or offer to foster an animal in need. Please contact Fuzzball animal rescue via Facebook or our website www.fuzzballrescue.com to donate items. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please mail check to Fuzzball Animal Rescue PO BOX 580, Hermiston, OR 97838 NEW HEROES PROGRAM! www.BonneysAg.com Military, Firefighters, Medical Employees & Police ID REQUIRED SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICING! RUGGED, RELIABLE, RED...AND THAT’S NO BULL!!! NEW 2205 BRANSON HYDRO TRANS Quick Latch Bucket $ 13,500 Zero down - $195/month 4.24% for 84 months, oac NEW 4x4 BRANSON 2515R 2200 Loader Lift Capacity Tractor with Loader - $ 19,500 OR Tractor Loader Backhoe w/ Thumb - $ 23,950 NEW BRANSON 3515CH Heat, A/C, Stereo, 3’ RD Function Hyd Value, 35hp with rebates ONLY - $ 28,500
