Early summer start date anticipated, solar panel generation for sale soon
WHITEFISH, Montana – Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC) is the recipient of a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy Program for America (REAP) program. The $495,535 grant will help fund the Co-op’s third community solar project. The project will also receive a $50,000 grant from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF).
The project, known as Community Solar III, is being developed in partnership with the City of Whitefish in response to the City’s Climate Action Plan which calls for the installation of a solar photovoltaic facility near the Whitefish Wastewater Treatment Plant. As approved by the Whitefish City Council early last year, the City will lease the land to FEC in exchange for the generation from a panel in the project, which will offset electricity use at the plant. Construction is expected to begin early this summer on the facility which will be managed and maintained by FEC.