Page 39 - Flathead Beacon // 7.29.15

ENERGIZING THOUGHTS FLATHEAD ELECTRIC CO-OP
PROCURE YOUR PANEL NOW PAND JOIN US IN THE SUN
ANELS ARE NOW AVAILABLE infrastructure, but that is not our pol- for purchase in a community icy. We used a Montana-made racking solar array (the first of its kind system and American-made panels.
BUILDING PERMITS
BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED IN KALISPELL AND WHITEFISH IN JUNE
in Montana) being built for members of Flathead Electric Co-op. Construction on the project, branded “SUN” (Solar Utility Network), got underway in June near the Stillwater Substation on White- fish Stage Road in Kalispell (on prop- erty already owned by the Co-op) and is scheduled for completion in September. It will consist of 356 solar panels, and each 285 watt panel is expected to gen- erate approximately 360 kWh per year. Each panel will cost $900 and initially, FEC members will be limited to pur- chasing one panel for the 25-year life of the program. Spearheading the SUN is Energy Services Supervisor Ross Holter, who sat down for some Q & A.
Why did Flathead Electric initi- ate this program? Solar arrays con- tinue to increase in popularity and our board and management recognize that this project could provide our members with an alternative to putting solar pan- els on their roofs while still promoting clean, renewable energy.
In a nutshell, how does commu- nity solar work? It’s really quite sim- ple. We build a large solar array, thereby achieving some economies of scale. We then sell those panels to individual par- ticipants for the 25-year life of the pan- els. We track the monthly kilowatt out- put of the whole system and then credit each owner their allocated share against their monthly electric bill.
How was the cost of a panel deter- mined? We based it on associated costs such as construction, engineering, labor, insurance, metering and so on. The panels could have ended up costing slightly less, had we opted for Chinese
Will the participants benefit financially? Alternative energies are expensive. Typically solar power has a long-term payback, and this is no excep- tion. People who endorse this project will do so generally because they sup- port clean, renewable energy.
Are there energy tax credits avail- able for the panels? There are no state tax credits offered for our particular project, but we believe some members may be eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit. We are not tax experts, how- ever, so we suggest participants consult their tax preparers.
What are other incentives to par- ticipate? It doesn’t require home owner- ship. It eliminates proper siting require- ments and minimizes investment. The panels are transferable if you move out of the Co-op service territory; and it allows people to demonstrate their com- mitment to clean, renewable energy.
Will the solar array result in addi- tional costs for members who do not choose to buy in? There will be no cost-shifting if all panels are ultimately purchased by members. All expenses are captured in the price of the panel.
What if you don’t sell all the panels? We’ll cross that bridge if or when we come to it, but we’ve had a lot of inter- est. In fact, some people have indicated they’d like to buy more than one panel. Right now it’s first-come, first-serve and members are limited to one panel each, but that policy could change down the road.
Why is the program designated for 25 years? Because that is the life of the warranty on solar panels.
KALISPELL
RECIPIENT: Beargrass Holdings LLC; 1035 W Idaho St.
CONTRACTOR: Michael K Blend Inc
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $14,680
RECIPIENT: Trinity Lutheran; 400 W California St. CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Shed
VALUE: $8,000
RECIPIENT: Whitefish Credit Union; 1845 Hwy 93 S CONTRACTOR: American Electric Inc
FOR: Fire alarm
VALUE: $19,495
RECIPIENT: Bridgeland/Westcraft Homes; 163 Northland Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Westcraft Homes
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $270,000
RECIPIENT: Habitat for Humanity Flathead Valley;
185 Short Pine Dr. CONTRACTOR: Owner FOR: Single-family residence VALUE: $178,000
RECIPIENT: Dan and Pennie Ulvila; 180 Fourth Ave. WN
CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Roof
VALUE: $3,000
RECIPIENT: WAV Draper LLC; 115 Hutton Ranch Rd.
CONTRACTOR: Dick Anderson Construction FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $1,000,000
RECIPIENT: Richard Kolden; 606 Second Ave. E CONTRACTOR: Cody Way
FOR: Roof
VALUE: $4,000
RECIPIENT: Anthony Hirsch and Joni Mamica; 380 Fourth Ave. EN
CONTRACTOR: Robert W Ross Bldg Const FOR: Window
VALUE: $4,100
RECIPIENT: BID Inc.; 165 Werner Peak Trail
CONTRACTOR: BID Inc. FOR: Single-family residence VALUE: $188,400
RECIPIENT: TKG Spring Prairie Dev. 3; 165 Treeline Rd.
CONTRACTOR: Build Retail
FOR: Renovation
VALUE: $50,000
RECIPIENT: Tamara Newby; 403 Seventh Ave. W CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Roof
VALUE: $3,500
RECIPIENT: Southfield Plaza, LLC; 1825 Hwy 93 S CONTRACTOR: Bear Springs, Inc.
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $32,675
RECIPIENT: Llanberis, LLC; 24 First Ave. E CONTRACTOR: Bear Springs, Inc.
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $32,906
RECIPIENT: Southfield Plaza, LLC; 1825 Hwy 93 S CONTRACTOR: Hammerquist and Casalegno Construction
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $60,836
RECIPIENT: Whitefish Credit Union; 1845 Hwy 93 S CONTRACTOR: Western States Fire Pro.
FOR: Sprinklers
VALUE: $16,000
RECIPIENT: Bridgeland Development; 441 Hilltop Ave.
CONTRACTOR: Westcraft Homes
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $250,000
RECIPIENT: Emily Thomsen and Dana Howell; 1026 First Ave. E
CONTRACTOR: Rock River Builders
FOR: Deck
VALUE: $8,500
RECIPIENT: Pacific Homes and Land, Inc.; 115 Leisure Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Pacific Homes and Land, Inc. FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $250,000
RECIPIENT: Judy Stoick; 112 Moes Run
CONTRACTOR: Chad Graham Construction FOR: Garage
VALUE: $10,000
RECIPIENT: John and Jill Klocke; 143 W Swift Creek Way
CONTRACTOR: Malmquist Construction FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $525,000
RECIPIENT: Owl Corporation; 196 Ali Loop CONTRACTOR: Owl Corporation
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $158,000
RECIPIENT: Allen and Linda Clark; 123 S Main St. CONTRACTOR: St. Peter Construction
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $9,240
RECIPIENT: Kalispell Regional Healthcare; 310 Sunnyview Ln.
CONTRACTOR: Swank Enterprises
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $2,720,236 WHITEFISH
RECIPIENT: The Carrington Co.; 6475 Hwy 93 S CONTRACTOR: Tim Leininger Const.
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $267,950
RECIPIENT: Timberland Real Estate LLC; 722 Edgewood Pl.
CONTRACTOR: Seven Hills Const.
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $113,000
RECIPIENT: Timberland Real Estate LLC; 722 Edgewood Pl.
CONTRACTOR: Seven Hills Const.
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $187,000
RECIPIENT: Ryan Lance; 1482 Barkley Ln.
CONTRACTOR: Robbie Shreve FOR: Addition
VALUE: $40,000
RECIPIENT: Frank Leftwich; 2309 Houston Circle CONTRACTOR: Bigfork Builders
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $98,936
RECIPIENT: Joe and Lizanne Reger; 340 Sugarbowl Circle
CONTRACTOR: Brandt Const.
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $990,000
RECIPIENT: Old MT Bldg Co.; 4033 Red Eagle Dr. CONTRACTOR: Old MT Bldg Co.
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $400,000
RECIPIENT: Michael and Andrea Annau; 4009 Red Eagle Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Old MT Bldg Co.
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $400,000
RECIPIENT: Bighorn Dev.; 715 Aspen Grove
CONTRACTOR: Bighorn Dev. FOR: Single-family residence VALUE: $200,000
RECIPIENT: Rod and Sonya Herrick; 1055 Creek View Ct.
CONTRACTOR: Big Mtn Builders
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $575,000
RECIPIENT: Spencer and Lauren Frampton; 737 Aspen Grove St.
CONTRACTOR: Compass Construction
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $200,000
RECIPIENT: Brett and Janice Pierce; 29 Somers Ave.
CONTRACTOR: Blackwell Enterprises
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $47,800
RECIPIENT: Judy and Gary Hewson; 230
Glenwood
CONTRACTOR: KACM, LLC FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $25,000
RECIPIENT: Val Trina; 536 Ramsey Ave. CONTRACTOR: Kalispell Structural Moving FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $21,000
RECIPIENT: Jim and Susan Banister; 1750 E Lakeshore Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Fields Construction
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $16,000
RECIPIENT: Manuel Mendoza; 418 Kalispell Ave. CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $2,000
(To purchase a panel or get more information on the SUN, start by calling Flathead Electric at 751-4483.)
MONTANA’S PREMIER GOLF COURSE!
Public Golf - 18 holes
• Practice Range • Pro Shop • Group & Individual lessons • Group outings
3230 Hwy 93, Kalispell www.northernpinesgolfclub.com
Call for a Tee-Time
751-1950
JULY 29, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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2013 February
7olf Digest Ranked
in MT