Avista Introduces Solar Select Renewable Energy for Large Business Customers

Avista’s interest in the development of a voluntary commercial solar program is consistent with the Company’s ongoing commitment to provide customers with renewable energy choices.

Avista is pleased to announce it will be bringing a new renewable solar energy project to its large commercial and industrial electric customers in Washington.

The Solar Select program is powered by 28 Megawatts DC of renewable solar energy, making this array 25 times larger than the current largest array in WA. Located in Lind, WA, part of Avista’s electric service territory, the array will be comprised of more than 81,000 panels that span 170 acres and generate enough electricity to supply approximately 4,000 homes annually.

Solar Select demonstrates the power of partnership. Through collaboration, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, Strata Solar, the WSU Energy Program, and Avista created a cost-effective structure to bring solar energy to large business customers in Eastern Washington, allowing them to begin to meet their desired goals.

Avista’s interest in the development of a voluntary commercial solar program is consistent with the Company’s ongoing commitment to provide customers with renewable energy choices. In recent years, an increasing number of Avista customers have requested more options to subscribe to renewable energy programs, and Avista is uniquely suited to evaluate and assess the development of a renewable energy product that meets our customers’ needs today and into the future.

Construction of this new facility is scheduled to begin this spring with commercial operation starting mid-December 2018.