Co-op members enrolled in Community Solar Phase I by purchasing one or more of the 356 panels located on Whitefish Stage Road.
During Phase I of Community Solar, Flathead Electric Co-op built a solar panel “garden” in a sunny location on Whitefish Stage Road, visible to the public, on property owned by Flathead Electric. Co-op members enrolled in the project by purchasing one or more of the 356 panels.
| Community Solar Phase I | Fast Facts |
|---|---|
| Where is this located? | Whitefish Stage Rd. |
| What year did the project come online? | 2015 |
| How much did a panel cost at the time? | $900, but members could use a 30% income tax credit. |
| How many panels comprise the project? | 356 |
| How many members own panels in this project? | 267 |
| How many watts is each panel? | 285 watts |
| How much energy does each panel generate on average per year? | 340 kWh |
| What is the average reduction on a panel owner’s electric bill each year? | Based on today’s rates, and depending on which rate tier the generation offsets, residential members typically see a reduction on their electric bill of $18 to $35 per year per panel. |
| How many kilowatts are the panels capable of cumulatively generating? | 86 kW |
| How was this funded? | Via a $42,749 grant from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. The balance was participant-funded. |
