Hire Electric » Grid Connected

Ellensburg Renewable Energy Park

Jonathan Lewis — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:35:06 +0000

The City of Ellensburg has a Renewable Energy Park on some vacant land next to I-90. They’ve installed about 75kW worth of solar and are in the process of installing 8 wind turbines. 5 are in place at this time. The wind project is part of a research grant in conjunction with Pacific Northwest National Lab, the Department of Energy and the City of Ellensburg. The research focus is on various small wind technologies for residential and farm applications. Hire Electric installed the largest machine so far – a 10kW Bergey XL-S. The other machines are a Windspire, Honeywell, EnergyBall and the Skystream installed by Burke Electric of Seattle, WA. Real time data monitoring is supposed to be available for all of the machines some time this spring or early summer.

Solar Seminar in Kennewick, WA on March 22nd, 2012

Jonathan Lewis — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:24:30 +0000

Thursday, March 22 • 6:30 p.m.

Red Lion Columbia Center

1101 North Columbia Center Boulevard, Kennewick, WA

(509) 783-0611 ‎ · redlion.rdln.com

Free Solar Seminar!

Last years seminars were a great success with about 20 people each time excited to learn about the new Washington State incentive programs. Our next seminar will be at a NEW Tri Cities location on the 22nd of March – the Red Lion Columbia Center in Kennewick.

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/

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Badger Mountain Winery

Jonathan Lewis — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 06:33:36 +0000

Rendering of Badger Mountain's 36kW Solar Array

For three years Hire Electric worked with Badger Mountain Winery in Kennewick, WA to secure a REAP grant. Finally, on the third attempt the USDA granted the winery 25% of the system cost. Along with the 30% federal tax credit and Washington State’s $.15/kWH performance incentive, solar became a very attractive financial move for the winery.

The Powers family has been growing organic grapes and making sulfite free wine since 1988. Harvesting the sun to do great things comes naturally at Badger Mountain Winery.

System Specs:

Solar – 162 – Sanyo HIT-N225Ao1 Modules
Inverter – 162 – Enphase M210 Micro Inverters
Monitoring – Enlighten Web Based (Click to see the winery’s production)
Winery Website - http://www.badgermtnvineyard.com/

Wasco Clinic 25kW Solar

Jonathan Lewis — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:08:40 +0000

In 1937 The Dalles needed a new hospital. In 2010 the same building had been long converted to a clinic and was set to house a regional 911 center. And it desperately needed a new roof. Through an ARRA grant via the Oregon Department of Energy, Wasco County was able to add 25kW in roof mounted solar to the re-roof project. Hire Electric was awarded the design build contract in July 2010 and the solar came on line in early December. This system utilized 104 – Sharp 240 watt modules into 5 – PVPowered 4800 inverters with PV1010 monitoring.

This is the largest solar array to date in Wasco County and bumps the limit of North Wasco PUD’s net metering policy.

Franklin PUD's Silicon Energy Solar Array

Jonathan Lewis — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:54:41 +0000

Hire Electric had the privilege of being on the design team for Franklin PUD’s new solar array on their office building in Pasco, WA. They used Silicon Energy’s new Made in Washington Solar Modules and a building integrated design that makes the modules fit into the architecture very nicely. If you get a chance, stop by and see it – or check it out on this video:

Silicon Energy solar system at Franklin PUD from Isaac Lewis on Vimeo.

Open House at Hire Electric

Jonathan Lewis — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:51:50 +0000

Hire Electric has installed their own 7.5KW solar array on our shop in The Dalles. Please come by during the week of December 7th to see the solar panels, learn about the Enphase solar micro inverters, ask questions about the technology and incentives available and enjoy some Christmas goodies. We will also have product literature and demos on hand.

December 7th through the 11th, 9 to 5:00 Each Day

2700 West Second St, The Dalles, OR. (next to the Elks behind The Dalles Transmission)

On Monday, December 7th at 2pm will will have a ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the system.

On Thursday December 10th at 5 pm we will give a short power point seminar on putting solar energy to work in The Gorge.

See you there!

Want to help promote the event? Just print the flyer below, and post it! Thanks for your help.

HireElectricOpenHouse.pdf