White Bluffs Solar Station

Photo: Solar Panels

The White Bluffs Solar Station is located 10 miles north of Richland, Wash., where the sun shines about 300 days a year. The project uses 242 photovoltaic panels to convert sunlight into 38.7 kilowatts of direct current electricity.

A demonstration project, Energy Northwest developed White Bluffs as a joint effort with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, the Bonneville Power Administration, the Department of Energy and Newport Northwest LLC. Energy Northwest owns and operates the project.

Energy Northwest sells all of White Bluff’s power to the Bonneville Power Administration for 4 cents per kilowatt-hour, less than the cost of production. The Bonneville Environmental Foundation sells green tags, or renewable energy certificates, from White Bluffs to businesses wanting to support construction of new renewable energy facilities or pollution mitigation.

Solar power is a clean, renewable energy source. White Bluffs further demonstrates Energy Northwest’s commitment to developing environmentally responsible sources to generate electricity.

Learn more about solar power

Quick Facts

  • Type: polycrystalline photovoltaic panels (solar)
  • Generating capacity: 38.7 kilowatts DC
  • Location: 10 miles north of Richland, Wash.
  • Site size: 6,000 square feet


White Bluffs Fact Sheet (PDF)

History

  • Project planning began: June 2001
  • Contract awarded to BP Solar: December 2001
  • Construction began: March 2002
  • Meter installed; supplying power to the grid: April 2002
  • Construction complete; site dedication May 2002