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Solar project could provide power for Talent residents By Tony Boom Jun 21, 2022 12:15 AM A A A six-acre solar farm outside Ashland could provide low-cost energy for low-income Talent residents and others. Proponents of the project — in the exploratory phase — are preparing an application for a state feasibility study grant. The city of Talent will submit the application in partnership with Oregon Clean Power Cooperative, Solarize Rogue and Recology, which would host the installation on land near its transfer station on North Valley View Road. If the feasibility study is favorable, a grant for up to $1 million would be sought from a state of Oregon program. “The goal is to provide as much low-cost power to the citizens of Talent as we can,” said Dan Orzech, general manager of Oregon Clean Power Co-op, primary developer responsible for technical, financial and management aspects of the project. The 1.1 megawatt solar project would be located on property just beyond and to the east of Recology’s closed landfill site. The project would contain about 2,300 solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers. The system is expected to produce more than 2,400 million kilowatt hours of clean solar electricity every year and would be the first landfill-based solar installation in Oregon. Recology provides recycling and waste disposal services for Talent and Ashland. The Oregon Legislature last year allocated $50 million for renewable energy projects, focusing on energy equity and rural communities, among other things. The program provides planning grants of up to $100,000, and construction grants up to $1 million. Funding from a planning grant would allow the project development team to prepare the project for construction, including writing an application for a construction grant. Grants must be submitted by governments, tribes or utilities. “Our aim with this potential project is to positively impact the communities we serve, while also providing a much-needed clean energy alternative. This idea aligns with the company’s innovative pedigree and vision to create a world without waste,” Recology Ashland Manager Gary Blake wrote in response to emailed questions. “We’re thinking, what better use for a remote and closed landfill than to provide locally generated, carbon-free electricity at below-market rates to predominantly low- and middle-income residents in the southern Rogue Valley?” Recology proposed the project, said Orzech. Solarize Rogue, a Talent-based nonprofit, has worked with Oregon Clean Power on other local solar projects and would serve as co-developer and provide outreach to inform residents if it is built. Agreements on how Recology might be compensated have yet to be determined, Orzech said. “Our primary objective in exploring this opportunity is not the compensation associated with it. We want to pass ... benefit through to the community subscribers. If completed, we would likely enroll in the community solar program ourselves, which would mean the Recology Valley View Transfer Station at the site would use a modest amount of power each year and be powered by 100% renewable energy,” Blake wrote. Energy costs would be about 40% to 50% less than rates Talent residents currently pay, said Orzech. The project would not be limited to low-income residents. About 300 to 400 homes would likely be able to get the power generated. Users would need to sign up for the program. “It’s a very good site. It’s more or less level land. It has great solar access. The piece we don’t know about it is what it will take to connect to the power grid,” said Orzech. Included in the $45,000 grant application is $10,000 for an interconnection study on the feasibility of connecting the project to the Pacific Power electric grid. An access road to the site already exists, and minimal site preparation would be required, Blake wrote. Recology has about 100 acres in the area, bordered by other large, remote parcels. Construction of the installation would probably cost close to $2 million, said Orzech. A state grant could provide half of the costs, up to $1 million. Clean Power and Solarize Rogue would look for other ways to finance the remainder of installation costs. The city wouldn’t be involved as a financial partner, although it might help with outreach and be a power customer, said Orzech. “It’s a feasibility grant to see if the project would even be possible. We look forward hopefully getting it and seeing if it’s an option,” said Jordan Rooklyn, Talent city manager. The city is helping with grant preparation and is involved to ensure it complies with city requirements, said Rooklyn. “Talent has a lot of low-income families. If we can … sign up all our low-income families to the project, that would be pretty much a win-win for everyone,” said Ray Sanchez-Pescador, president of Solarize Rogue. Power from solar projects has not been available to low-income families under previous programs, he said. Recology hosts a large rooftop solar system at the company’s transfer station in San Francisco. When installed in late 2018, it was the largest privately held solar array in the city and county of San Francisco. That system offsets much of the power needed to run the transfer station. The company is exploring other solar options at sites in Oregon and California, but none would be community solar applications like the proposed local project. Reach Ashland freelance writer Tony Boom at [email protected].