Midland Power Cooperative members officially have an affordable and flexible way to benefit from solar power, as the cooperative has begun construction on their first community solar array. The 150 kW (AC) utility-size solar site is under construction at the Iowa Falls Service Center location, and will include more than 500 high-performance solar panels that Midland Power members can subscribe to.
“Midland Power Cooperative is excited to begin this new member program,” said CEO Bill McKim. “Utilizing solar energy supports our commitment to providing environmentally responsible electric service to our members.”
Utility-scale solar provides reliable, clean electricity generation for members of Midland Power Cooperative. The development and installation costs for utility-scale systems are significantly below those of residential-scale solar, and this project will provide benefits to members of all income levels within the system. The addition of utility-scale solar increases Midland Power Cooperative’s support of emissions- and carbon-free generation resources.
With this program, Midland Power members have the opportunity to become involved in solar energy production without the additional costs, construction, and maintenance required of a personal solar system. Each member can purchase multiple subscriptions and will then receive monthly bill credits equal to the monthly real-time production of their percentage of the system.
Midland Power selected TenK Solar of Minnesota as the manufacturer of the solar array. TenK has successfully completed several solar array projects throughout the Midwest. Western Iowa Power Cooperative (WIPCO) was selected as the contractor to complete the installation of the solar array. WIPCO is a rural electric cooperative that is located in Denison, Iowa.
Members of Midland Power Cooperative who are interested in participating in the program should visit www.midlandpower.coop/communitysolar or call 800-833-8876 for more information. Subscriptions are available on a first-come, first-served basis while availability exists.
