Why

The Teanaway Solar Reserve is an exciting development for the region given that it will create hundreds of manufacturing jobs, increase demand for goods and services and have a favorable impact on tax revenues. Additionally, it presents rural Kittitas County with the opportunity to become a national leader in solar power. The Reserve was conceived in response to Washington State’s Renewable Electricity Standard, Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Title 19, mandating that the state’s largest utilities derive at least 15% of their retail electric load with renewable energy by 2020.

Scientists and energy experts agree that we have barely begun to tap the potential of solar energy. In a single 40-minute period, the amount of energy contained in the sunlight striking the earth’s surface is equivalent to a year’s worth of energy consumption worldwide. Photovoltaic solar systems are reliable and easy to maintain. They have virtually no environmental impact, offer a low visual profile, and are free of emissions.

In fact, the energy generated by the Teanaway Solar Reserve will offset about 275-million pounds of carbon dioxide annually compared to the same amount of energy produced by coal plants (U.S. Department of Energy).