Hire Electric » Net Metering

Sherman County RV Park Solar Awning

Jonathan Lewis — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:30:46 +0000

Hire Electric helped Sherman County obtain a feed in tarif incentive from Pacific Power for a 10kW solar project at the RV Park Sherman County operates in Moro, Oregon. We are using Sanyo HIT-225AO1 solar panels with Enphase micro inverters and a SunStorage solar awning structure. Click here to view solar production data.

Kadlec gets energy efficient with solar panels, wind turbines

Jonathan Lewis — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:09:17 +0000

This article came up in the Tri-City Herald about the solar and wind installation that Hire Electric did for Apollo Solutions Group at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, WA:

By Michelle Dupler, Tri-City Herald

Cody Parsons, an electrician at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, poses for a portrait on the roof next to newly installed wind turbines and solar panels. The project was paid for in part with money from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, and includes a new heating system. See story below.

RICHLAND — The Tri-Cities’ infamous “400 days of sunshine” now are helping power Kadlec Regional Medical Center with the recent installation of an array of solar panels on the Richland hospital’s roof.

The solar panels, along with two miniature wind turbines, were part of a multi-million dollar energy efficiency project Apollo Solutions Group pitched to the hospital to help Kadlec save money on its energy bills.

Apollo secured $2 million in stimulus funding, along with $900,000 in cash incentives from the Bonneville Power Administration and Richland’s city government, to do the project, which also involved changing out 6,000 lightbulbs and replacing Kadlec’s aging boiler system with a more modern and efficient one, said Jason Rose, the hospital’s director of plant operations.

“(Apollo) really looked at the holistic picture of the hospital — opportunities within the hospital where we could save energy,” he said. “It was a fun project. It probably wouldn’t have been feasible without Apollo’s assistance.”

Kadlec paid $4.5 million out of its own pocket for the project, but Rose said it was the time investment by Apollo officials that really was invaluable.

The project almost didn’t happen when the stimulus money originally was awarded to another recipient.

“It took the wind out of our sails,” Rose said.

But then the recipient backed out when it was unable to meet a deadline, and the Kadlec project was back on.

The wind turbines and solar panels provide only a small fraction — about 10 kilowatts — of the hospital’s power, but because of the overall revamp, Kadlec expects to save about 30 percent on its energy bills.

“That’s huge for an organization this size,” Rose said.

And Apollo in its contract guaranteed those savings — or it will write the hospital a check, Rose said.

“They’re standing behind what they do,” he said.

Patients shouldn’t see any changes, other than maybe a little difference in the lighting.

“That’s kind of the beauty of this is we’re able to do all of these savings without changing the patient experience,” Rose said.

– Michelle Dupler: 582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com

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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150kW Solar Array in Christmas Valley

Jonathan Lewis — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 06:24:20 +0000

The Christmas Valley Project in the news:

Hire Electric had the great privilege of working on a large commercial solar array for the Oregon Military Department with Randolph Construction Services and Bradford Engineers. The project uses all Oregon Manufactured solar equipment with solar panels form SolarWorld in Hillsborough, OR and inverters from PVPowered in Bend. Here are a few photos of the Horizon/Desert Solar Project:

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/

Solar Barn in Klickitat County

Jonathan Lewis — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:23:26 +0000

The solar array on this barn helps offset an estimated 22% of the electric bill for this Klickitat County residence outside of Goldendale, Washington. It is composed of 30 – 230 Watt NESL solar modules and a PowerOne/Aurora, 6kW inverter on a SunModo metal roof mount application.

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