MALIN, Ore. — The massive stretch of solar panels, the length of about five semi-truck trailers end-to-end, looks alien amid the expanse of soil in front of Gold Dust Potato Processors headquarters in Malin.
But they could cut the operation's power bills nearly in half, an attractive prospect to an industry facing higher power rates and a higher probability of groundwater pumping because of water regulations.
The panels cost about $5 per kilowatt hour — a cumulative $750,000 — to install, and each irrigation pump solar panel costs about $5.30 per kWh, about $74,200.
Together, the operation's solar panels will produce about 330,000 kWh annually, which a cost-benefit analysis showed will make the initial investment worth the cost.
"It helps us a little with our bills, and helps us move toward being a greener farming system," said Lexi Crawford, business manager for Gold Dust Potato Processors, which primarily grows chipping potatoes used for processed foods like potato chips.
The operation took advantage of the Oregon Feed-in Tariff program, which reimbursed one-third of installation costs. Through the program, Pacific Power will pay the operation a monthly rate for the solar power it produces. That money will go toward paying off installation costs.
Read the rest of the article at The Republic:
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/2c6d90e70e5c4b28976da2acbd34d03d/OR--Solar-Potatoes
