Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The town of Garfield is moving ahead with a plan to build a solar farm to power one of two town water pumps in a proposed loan and construction package set up by Apollo Solutions of Kennewick, Wash.
Similar to a deal the company put together for Palouse to build a solar array in 2016 to power one of its pumps, Apollo is looking to finalize a grant application with which they aim to receive $525,000 from a private firm on the west side of the state.
Ulimately the Garfield proposal would involve the grant, $106,000 in Avista rebates over eight years and projected savings of 155,000 kilowatt hours per year in electricity bills.
“It’s going to be real similar to what we did in Palouse,” said Mike Fuentes, division manager for Apollo.
Apollo is expected to return to Garfield in early March with a full plan.
“Right now we’re probably 70 percent sure it’s gonna happen,” said Garfield Mayor Jarrod Pfaff.
The solar array would power the town’s water pump no. 2, with the goal – and guarantee from Apollo – to generate enough electricity to cover the Avista bill while the extra energy Avista buys back from the town covers the loan.
Pfaff conferred with Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove and Palouse clerk/treasurer Kyle Dixon on the matter.
“We’re basically going off of Palouse’s recommendation. Is it a winning thing or is it snake oil?” Pfaff said.
In Garfield, if the plan comes to fruition, the town may decide to install the solar panels at a site on the south edge of town next to pump no. 3 by the silver water tower. Another possibility would be to put one array there and another next to the sewer plant. All energy would still go to power pump no. 2
Pfaff indicated it could all be built this year.
“It’s all conditional on the funding package,” he said.
Scott Lewis, account manager for Apollo Solutions, came to the Garfield city council meeting Jan. 24 and laid out an estimate for the project, which began last year with talks and a meeting with previous Garfield Mayor Ray McCown.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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