MEC Solar Allows Co-op Members to Take 5

In November 2015, Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) launched its community solar array dubbed MEC Solar for short. Since that time, significant work has taken place at the site adjacent to MEC's substation just south of Lolo.

Just before Christmas, installers completed their work and brought the system online. Shortly afterward, the meter was installed which measures all of the electricity produced by the system. To date, the panels have produced nearly 2,600 kilowatt-hours of energy.

For those unfamiliar with how community solar systems function, the basic framework involves installing a large solar array in an area with favorable sun exposure and ready access to the electric grid. Once constructed, the energy produced by the array is allocated to participating co-op members, usually on a per solar panel basis.

In the case of MEC Solar, the Cooperative constructed two - 25 kilowatt (KW) photovoltaic arrays comprised of 176 panels, each capable of producing an estimated 339 kilowatt-hours of energy per year.

MEC is currently marketing the output of each panel for $700 which entitles the participant to that panel's energy output for a term of 25 years. Interest in the project was immediate, with the first 25 KW array selling out Jan. 18.

The popularity of community solar programs center around their flexibility. For members who are unable to install a solar array at their own home due to a lack of southern exposure, too many trees or because they rent, community solar offers the option of solar energy regardless of where a member lives. The program is also portable, transferable and maintenance-free. Members simply purchase their share(s) in MEC Solar and watch for the energy credits on their monthly bill.

Community solar systems may be new to Montana, however other regions of the United States have successfully deployed community solar systems that have been producing energy for almost a decade. Community solar is so popular that it currently accounts for the largest segment of growth in the solar industry here in the United States. Yet with numerous examples and models to emulate, including two others here in Montana, MEC's challenge was to tailor the MEC Solar program to fit the wants and needs of the member-owners of the Cooperative.

The first step in rolling out MEC Solar to our members was an information campaign designed to explain the basic concept of participation and the benefits of adding MEC Solar to an individual's home energy portfolio. While this work is ongoing, the Cooperative has launched two new initiatives tied to the larger MEC Solar program. These new initiatives are the Take 5 and Give 10 campaigns.

Take 5

Members have various reasons for participating in MEC Solar – some choose to purchase shares in the array as a way to support the technology, some participate for environmental reasons and still others are looking for a way to hedge against changes in electricity costs over time. One thing discovered early in the process is that members wishing to participate may not know the appropriate amount to invest.

Enter the Take 5 initiative – Members take five percent of their average annual electricity usage and offset it through participation in the MEC Solar array. Why five percent? It all boils down to MEC's fuel mix.

As you may know, MEC is fortunate to be a preference power customer of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Purchasing power from BPA means MEC members benefit from the vast network of hydroelectric power that is the Federal Columbia River Power System. BPA's fuel mix including hydropower, nuclear, wind and other carbon free resources consistently accounts for 95 percent of the electricity that they supply.

For those members who wish to go carbon-free, replacing five percent of their annual electricity usage from the MEC Solar array is a great option that will last for the next two and a half decades.

Give 10

One of the greatest benefits of the community solar is affordability. Unlike investing in a complete rooftop or ground-mount system that may cost thousands of dollars, MEC members can participate in MEC Solar for as little as $700. For some however, the idea of investing even this much in their energy future may be entirely out of reach.

The Give 10 initiative seeks to eliminate this financial barrier through donations of MEC Solar panel output to low-income members. Local businesses or individuals can help reach the ultimate Give 10 goal which is to ensure that 10 percent of the array (18 panels) is donated to those who do not otherwise have the means to participate.

Members wishing to Take 5 or Give 10 should contact MEC for more information.