Community Solar Project

Community Solar is a different approach to developing solar energy. Instead of putting solar on your home (which requires home ownership, the right sunny location, and a relatively large upfront investment), Community Solar lets many people come together to build one more extensive solar array. Tanner Electric built a Community Solar project on behalf of our members. We chose a location that is a good fit for solar. The panels are sunny, visible to the public, and on property owned by Tanner Electric.

Tanner Electric members had the opportunity to participate in our TEC community solar program and invested in solar shares in 2016.

Frequently Asked Questions

All Tanner Electric members with a metered account can participate. Whether you are a business, nonprofit group, or household (rented or owned); living in a single family home, apartment or condo-you qualify to participate, with the exception of those members that are already or will be receiving Washington state financial incentives for their own solar installation.

Community Solar provides an easy and affordable way to participate in a solar energy project. Payback comes in two forms. First, you will receive a credit on your electric bill for the electricity generated by your portion of the project. Second, you will receive a Washington state production incentive until 2020. The annual production incentive is estimated to be between $50 to $60 for each $230 unit. The actual production incentive will depend on the actual electricity produced. We project full payback could be expected within three to four years. That means Community Solar is a good investment for the planet and a good deal for your wallet.

Each $230 unit purchased equates to 55 watts of installed solar power. Each 55 watt unit is projected to produce 53 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually. This projection is calculated based on our experience with our existing solar demonstration array and others in our service territory but will vary slightly year to year. Participants will see an energy credit on their bill at Tanner’s current residential energy rate of $0.0998. This value will change if our rates change over time. We will true up the energy credit to total actual production of the whole Community Solar project once a year. On an ongoing basis you will be able to see how the project is doing by going to our website to view live solar production data.

Yes. Participants receive an annual incentive payment through 2020 from both Tanner Electric and Washington State for their portion of the electricity generated. Current production incentives are as follows:

Washington state: $1.08/kWh*
Tanner Electric: $0.0998/kWh*
Total Production Incentive of $1.18/kWh yields an estimated annual credit of almost $.96 per watt in a solar unit, or approximately $66 per year through 2020.

The program ends in June 2036 as that is what Tanner Electric estimates the life of the solar array panels. The Washington state renewable energy production incentives are currently guaranteed until June of 2020 and represent the largest portion of energy credits. In 2036, the Community Solar project will end, correlating with the expected productive life of the solar panels.

We will be accepting members who wish to purchase units of our first Community Solar system beginning May 18, 2016. To give all members an equal opportunity to participate, actual purchase allotments will be done by lottery that includes the names, and desired number of units up to 10, of all qualified members who are interested in participating. This will be advertised on our website, and through direct mail. Members will have until Tuesday, May 31, 2016 to become eligible for the lottery. The members selected from the lottery will be notified on Friday, June 3 via email.

Due to the fact that your solar panels are part of a 40,000 watt array that shares one production meter, your bill will be credited back at a pro-rata portion of the entire array’s production. For example, each unit in the Community Solar represents a 55 watt piece of the entire system. We have projected that each $230 Community Solar unit could return about $350 in electricity bill credits and incentive payments to members by the time the Tanner Electric Community Solar project ends in 2036.

Participating utilities pay production incentives to qualified solar-generating customers (including Community Solar participants) within their service territories and receive an operating tax credit equal to the cost of the payments. The tax credit that the utility may claim cannot exceed the greater of $100,000 or 0.5% of the utility’s taxable power sales. Utility-owned Community Solar can only be 25% of our maximum tax credit allowed. The incentive amount paid by a utility on behalf of the state may be proportionally reduced if requests for incentive payments exceed the tax credit cap available to that utility. Without a change in Washington state law, incentive payments to Tanner Electric’s Community Solar members could be reduced for the duration of the program, through 2020, if additional Community Solar projects are built. For Community Solar members, a reduction in incentive payments per unit would be small, but is dependent on Tanner Electric building additional Community Solar units; it is not possible to estimate the amount of reduction, if any. Therefore, Tanner Electric is planning to limit the size of the Community Solar project(s) so that incentives are not capped.

Annual Meeting:

Can solar power work in North Bend?

Is Community Solar available to all Tanner Electric members?

Does this mean I don’t have to own my house or building to participate?

Why should I sign up?

How much does it cost?

Where is this Community Solar project located?

How much electricity will each Community Solar share produce?

Do I receive an incentive credit for the energy produced by my solar unit(s)?

Why does the program end in June 2036?

How do I enroll?

How do customers pay for their Community Solar units?

Will I be publicly recognized for my participation?

Is my payment for solar unit(s) eligible for an investment tax credit?

Can I take the solar electricity benefits with me if I move?

Do I have to apply for rebates or file for state production credits?

Will I have to pay additional fees in the future?

How is the credit to my utility bill determined?

How does the state incentive program work?