From Business Examiner (Tacoma, Wash.), October 3, 2011

Installation has begun on a 225-kilowatt photovoltaic system on the site of Mason County PUD No. 3's Johns Prairie Operations center.

The center will be the site for the PUD 3 warehouse; field operations such as Shelton line workers; vehicle maintenance, repair and fueling; engineering, telecommunications, the meter shop, transformer and substation maintenance; and various administrative functions.

The solar panels are being placed on the roof of one of the vehicle storage buildings and will cover about 22,000 square feet. PUD 3 is under contract with Adolfson & Peterson Construction of Minneapolis, Minn., and its Tacoma-based subsidiary, Rushforth Construction, for installation of the nearly $1.24 million solar energy system and a power purchase agreement for the output.

A&P is funding 61 percent of the project and obtaining federal and state tax credits and renewable energy incentives. PUD 3 will pay 39 percent of the capital costs, and have an option to purchase the solar power system outright at the end of 10 years.

A&P will maintain and operate the project, selling the output to the PUD. PUD 3 will also receive "renewable energy credits" from the project, which because of its nature will be counted at twice their value. This will help meet a portion of the PUD's renewable energy requirements under state law.

By using electricity generated by the solar power system, the PUD will avoid purchasing an estimated 189,000 kWh annually. The alternative power production will also reduce the PUD's carbon footprint by about 130 tons per year.