Pella Cooperative Electric and CIPCO Launch Utility-Scale Solar Generation
Pella – Pella Cooperative Electric is part of Central Iowa Power Cooperative’s (CIPCO) utility-scale solar project which is the largest in the state. The ZON VELD (Sun Field) solar facility will generate 1,219,700 kWh of energy as a part of CIPCO’s 5.5MW solar project. Once complete, the ZON VELD generation facility will contain 3,168 solar panels and generate enough electricity to power up to 121 homes. In late 2015, CIPCO initiated an RFP for the development of utility-scale solar facilities to be located at several member cooperative sites in Iowa. The multi-site solar installation is the first phase in CIPCO’s long-term plan to incorporate solar as an additional emissions and carbon-free resource within its generation assets.
“Distributing safe, reliable power to our members through diverse generation resources is important to Pella Electric Cooperative.” Said CEO Jon Miles. “Utility-scale solar is an important component of the portfolio.”
Utility-scale solar provides reliable, clean electricity generation for members of Pella Cooperative Electric and compliments CIPCO’s existing renewable energy generation portfolio. The development and installation costs for utility-scale systems are significantly below those of residential-scale solar and provide benefits to all members within the system. Members of all income levels will be benefiting from this project. The addition of utility-scale solar increases Pella Cooperative Electric’s support of emissions and carbon-free generation resources.
“CIPCO is committed to providing environmentally friendly sources of energy to our members across the state,” said CEO Dennis Murdock. “Over half of the energy generated by CIPCO is emissions and carbon-free, and the addition of solar resources continues our commitment to providing a well-balanced generation portfolio.”
CIPCO selected Azimuth Energy LLC of St. Louis, MO to install the photovoltaic utility-scale solar project. Azimuth Energy LLC is an engineering, construction and development-support service company focused on renewable energy and energy efficient projects.
Pella Cooperative Electric Association, a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, has been serving its more than 3,000 members for over 75 years. The service territory spans the counties of Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, Poweshiek and Warren.
CIPCO is Iowa’s largest cooperative energy provider serving 13 electric cooperatives and associations spanning 58 of Iowa’s 99 counties. CIPCO is a generation and transmission cooperative supplying power to its member distribution cooperatives covering a territory which stretches 300 miles diagonally across the state from the Mississippi River on the east to Shenandoah in the southwest. CIPCO supplies all power requirements for its member cooperatives, and as their power provider, CIPCO is dedicated to delivering quality, safe and reliable service at the lowest possible cost.
