As renewable energy sources become more commonly used around the world, many Oregon areas are planning to put in more renewable energy sources, and one can be found right across the street from WAHS at the Department of Energy: National Energy Testing Lab.
Lee Jensen, the project manager for the solar field, said that several groups of people have been contributing to the production of the solar field. “Different people from our utility, honorable global administration, and the department of energy, as well as local administration and local facility.”
However, this isn’t the only site in the State of Oregon. Several locations have been considered for solar panels, yet this location in Albany floated to the top of the list. This is currently the only solar field that is being put in here in Albany.
Many factors were considered when finding a location for the solar field. The primary things looked at for the location were the space available and which part of the country would benefit most from the installation of solar panels. Other factors included the budget and site location, but the site in Albany was chosen for the project.
“The main reason we’re doing this is because there are initiatives by the Department of Energy to reduce carbon footprint,” Jensen said. There are eight acres of land on the south side of the National Energy Testing Lab, located near the WAHS tennis courts. This is the location in which the solar field is being put in.
There are several benefits to this new and upcoming installation of solar panels. “The electrical power that we use comes from Bonneville Power Administration is about 97 to 98% carbon-free energy,” Jensen said. This project would bring that percentage up to 100% carbon-free energy.
“Renewable energy sources like hydroelectric power, wind power, solar power, and others like that don’t use carbon fuel. What [the project] is meant to do is to try and make up that extra couple percent,” Jensen said. “So that our site then coming out of this could be what we call a net zero.”
The installation of solar panels is currently being designed. Many factors are being considered in how it will affect nearby people. “We’re taking a lot of care to make sure that it’s going to be aesthetically pleasing to the community as a whole,” Jensen said. They plan on putting up a privacy fence around the panels and some shrubbery to provide visually pleasing scenery to the community.
Construction is planned to start around mid to late summer of 2024 and conclude construction in the summer of 2025 if the project goes according to plan.
