Idaho Farmers Sow Solar, Reap Rewards

A new crop is now growing in Idaho: Solar energy

Cynthia Sewell, July 25, 2016 (Idaho Statesman)

“…[Every morning on a 360-acre stretch of land south of Boise, 174,800 polysilicon photovoltaic solar panels begin to move on a single-axis tracking system with the] first shafts of sunlight…Throughout the day, the solar panels quietly rotate from east to west, following the sun and absorbing its energy to create 40 megawatts of electricity — enough to power about 29,000 homes…[The Idaho Solar 1 project] is putting a new crop on former Treasure Valley farmland: solar energy…[The first commercial solar farm to be built in Idaho] will deliver electricity to Idaho Power for at least the next 20 years…Construction began in December and was completed in April. The project will go online in August…[Idaho Power has contracts with eight solar projects] with a combined total capacity of 240 megawatts…[It is also planning a community solar pilot program to allow customers without solar-suitable roofs access to solar]…’ click here for more

Tweet