PGE Rolls out Another Rooftop Solar Project with ProLogis, Increasing Its Total Solar Energy Capacity to More Than 12 Megawatts
PORTLAND, Ore., Mar 02, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR) is expanding its solar energy resources with a new 2.4-megawatt rooftop project -- the largest rooftop solar project in the Pacific Northwest.
PGE is partnering with U.S. Bank, ProLogis, and several Oregon companies on the project. Northwest Solar Solutions, a division of locally-owned Snyder Roofing and the installer for this project, estimates 60,000 hours of union-wage electrical and roofing Oregon jobs will be created by this project.
The rooftop solar project is the second with ProLogis, a distribution facilities company, bringing PGE's total partnership with ProLogis to 3.5 megawatts of solar energy, enough to power approximately 388 households annually. The roughly 900,000-square-foot project will cover the roofs of seven ProLogis distribution warehouses in Portland, Gresham, and Clackamas. The new project will use UNI-SOLAR innovative "thin-film" solar panels that are similar to the ones used on the 1.1 megawatt rooftop project PGE and ProLogis brought online in 2008.
"PGE is continuing to steadily grow its solar energy resources for our customers," said Carol Dillin, vice president of customers and economic development at PGE. "It's exciting to be able to bring innovative projects like this to Oregon and strengthen the state's solar industry."
The renewable energy generated from the solar project will be included in the energy resource mix PGE provides to all its customers and further help the utility meet the state's renewable energy standard of providing 25 percent renewable energy by the year 2025. PGE currently is at 10 percent renewable energy -- mostly wind -- the largest percentage of which is generated at PGE's Biglow Canyon Wind Farm.
"We are pleased to expand our relationship with PGE," said Drew Torbin, vice president of renewable energy for ProLogis. "Our goals are very much in line, and we are excited to help grow PGE's renewable energy portfolio."
With the new 2.4-megawatt project, PGE will have more than 12 megawatts of solar capacity in its resource mix, including the 104-kilowatt solar highway project with the Oregon Department of Transportation and 9.1 megawatts of customer-owned solar energy projects PGE supports through its net metering program. Among utilities, PGE ranks 8th in the nation for total solar capacity, according to the national Solar Energy Power Association.
U.S. Bank and PGE have formed SunWay 3, LLC, to own and operate the system and to secure state and federal solar tax credits to help finance the project. In 2008, PGE and U.S. Bank formed a similar joint venture to finance the 1.1-megawatt project with ProLogis and the nation's first solar highway with the Oregon Department of Transportation.
"U.S. Bank and PGE have a great relationship," said Darren Van't Hof, head of renewable energy investments, U.S. Bank. "We're simply thrilled to participate and to provide support for our valued partners."
Late last year, PGE, along with U.S. Bank, ProLogis, and ODOT, earned a Solar Business Achievement Award from the Solar Electric Power Association for being the first utility in the nation to develop a unique third-party ownership model to help develop large-scale solar projects in its service area.
"The financial model we developed for these projects allows PGE to bring renewable energy resources online for our customers at a much lower cost than we would be able to build otherwise," Dillin added. "We will continue to work hard to keep energy costs as low as possible for our customers while meeting state energy standards."
Energy Trust of Oregon is providing about $2.3 million in incentives for the project. Other partners on the project include PV Powered (Bend, Ore.) and Tonkon Torp (Portland). The project also received funding from PGE's Clean Wind program, which helps fund renewable energy projects in the region.
About PGE: Portland General Electric, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is a fully integrated electric utility that serves more than 818,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Oregon. Visit our Web site at www.PortlandGeneral.com.
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SOURCE: Portland General Electric
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Elaina Medina, 503-464-8790
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