We’ve been installing SolarWorld for years and see this company as a hands down leader in quality and performance. But the thing we like best about SolarWorld is that the modules are made right here in our backyard. SolarWorld’s Hillsborough plant is an impressive work of modern manufacturing, employing over 1000 people. With over 35 years of solar manufacturing experience in the United States, we believe SolarWorld is here to stay.

Financing for Gorge Businesses can also be available through the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District’s Revolving Loan Funds for Small Business Program. Find out more here: MCEDD_RLF_Overview_2012

Ray Schultens Motors in The Dalles let me test drive their Nissan Leaf and take some photos at the Sherman County RV Park solar array in Moro, OR (the SunStorage Carport Array was just aching for and EV photo shoot and I was looking for any excuse to drive a Leaf). It is 37 miles from The Dalles to Moro with a 1847′ hill climb in between. My plan was to drive the car up and let it charge at the solar array all day. Then drive back to Schultens in the afternoon – no problem. When I arrived at the dealer in the morning they told me the car had been sold and the new owners would be picking it up at 10:30. If I wanted to drive up, take my pictures and drive back that would be okay. Yikes. I left the dealer with 120 mile range. 65 mph down Hwy 84 for about 16 miles really ate range. There’s this gage on the dash that shows how far you have left. Heading up the Fulten Canyon hill climb the range dropped dramatically. When I finally got to the the RV park I only had a 22 mile range left. RANGE ANXIETY was pulsing through my veins. I plugged it in to the 120V receptacle at the solar array. This car – all cars – charges very slowly at 120V (120V x 10amps is only 1.2kW and the heater in this car uses 6kW). I was only able to charge for about 20 minutes before heading back. The range had only increase to 24 miles while charging and I had 37 miles to go. In my mind I was picturing the tow truck hauling the electric car back to the dealership with the new owners bailing out of their commitment…This was range anxiety peakdom.
I babied the car through town and across the prairie – going 20 to 40 mph and loosing range all the time. When I finally hit Fulton Canyon again the car started to generate power. Magic! At the botom where I got back on I-84 at Cellilo I had gained range. Only 16 miles left to go and 31 miles of range. RANGE ELATION! What a thrill. I took it up to 70mph and cruised down the Gorge to deliver the car to Schultens with 5 miles of range left. They plugged it in to their 240V charging station and everyone lived happily ever after.
The electric car experience is definitely not for the faint of heart. You have to know your range, know your route and plan your trip around available time and charging options. But EV driving really does put the zip back into the automotive experience. It gives the thinking person something to think about. Think about driving an average 2.9 miles per kWh. Multiply that by your electric rate. In The Dalles that’s 6.3 cents per kWh so I took this trip for about $1.60 (thank you Ray Schulten). Think about making those kWh’s with sunshine. RANGE REVOLUTION.
The Nissan leaf is going to join us at the Solarize White Salmon Kick off Meeting on May 1st http://hireelectric.com/solar/solarize-white-salmon/

I Go to KPUD’s web site fairly often to get updates to their Net Metering policy or incentives. Today I was pleasantly surprised to find a Hire Electric, Washington Manufactured project in their banner photo. Hire Electric and Seraphim Energy have been responsible for about 90% of the net metered systems in Klickitat county and it’s been a great relationship from the very beginning. KPUD has a very proactive and helpful approach to all forms of renewable energy which isn’t the case with all small utilities. Sharon Ohnstad is KPUD’s Energy Services Specialist and she’ll be with us at the Solarize White Salmon meeting on May 1st.  Keep up the good work KPUD and thanks for adding solar to your web page!

Mindy and Dan McHale
Owners
Hire Electric

Hire Electric, Inc.
Since 1935, Hire Electric has been providing electrical contracting services from their office in The Dalles, making them one of the oldest electrical contractors in the Gorge. Hire is fully licensed, bonded, and insured to perform work in both Oregon and Washington and regularly serves residential, commercial and industrial customers. In 2009, Hire purchased Seraphim Energy in Goldendale, adding renewable energy work to their portfolio including solar and wind installations.

Hire’s lengthy experience and highly-qualified electricians given them a competitive advantage. In fact, many other electrical contractors in the Gorge were trained at Hire Electric as apprentices.  With about 10 electricians on staff currently, Hire works primarily on commercial projects, from long term contracts with The City of the Dalles and Oregon Cherry Growers to one-time projects such as new grain storage bins in Roosevelt, WA and a fish hatchery near Roseberg, OR.

The Solar Division at Hire Electric is headed by Jonathan Lewis. Promotion of this part of the businesses is what brought them in as members of the Gorge Tech Alliance. They can evaluate the solar and wind potential of your home or business and help put together your best option for taking advantage of the available renewable resources. Their analysis and reports offer a detailed description of system components, potential output, available incentives and an installed cost proposal. Recent projects can be seen on their website here and have ranged from the a medical center in Richland, WA to the Hood River Middle School and of course many residential installations. They also offer an e-newsletter covering the latest renewable energy incentive information for Oregon and Washington, sales and price reductions for solar or small wind, updates on the jobs they’ve done, trends in the renewable energy industry and new product offerings. Sign uphere or contact Hire at 541-296-5574 for more information.

Find out more about the Gorge Technology Alliance.

To SUBSCRIBE to either the GTA Member Spotlight or Newsletter, please email jessica@crgta.org.

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We deployed a DECK Monitoring site so Kadlec Medical Center can keep track of the solar and wind production of this system.

Tri-City Herald Article

Free Solar Seminar!

Our first three seminars were a great success with about 20 people excited to learn about the new Washington State incentive programs. Our next seminar will be at the same, central Tri Cities location on the 15th of December.

Bob Skinner and Jonathan Lewis of Hire Electric will cover the basics of going solar in today’s economy, the Washington State incentive program, Washington manufactured inverters and solar panels, community solar options, federal tax credits, electric vehicle charging coupled with solar and much more! Munchies provided. Bring lots of questions.

Please RSVP here: hireelectric.com/rsvp/