Press Release
Stracker Solar offers to secure another Community Renewable Energy Grant for the City of Ashland
Ashland, Oregon, January 19, 2023 - Stracker Solar has announced that they are in position to secure a new $100,000 planning-grant for the City of Ashland from the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) for three large City Solar projects.
In the last round, Stracker Solar procured $940,000 in state funds for the City to pay 100% of the design and construction costs for a cutting-edge solar & storage project at the City's Service Center. The construction of that project is planned for the spring of this year.
Now, Stracker Solar is again advocating for and requesting the city council to approve submittal of a grant application for a $100,000 Planning Grant from the ODOE Community Renewable Energy Program to explore the feasibility, benefits, and costs of installing three unique 1-Megawatt solar projects tied directly into the City's electric distribution grid. The projects could be installed at minimum or no cost to the City and together would produce enough electricity to power 700 typical Ashland residences. The 7.2GWh of reliable clean energy they would generate annually would provide resilience and sustainability to the Ashland electric grid while reducing the city’s carbon footprint by an amount equal to the sequestration of over 6,000 acres of US forests each year.
Project 1 is planned as a critical infrastructure project at Ashland’s biggest electricity user, the Waste-Water Treatment Plant. Part of the planning grant may be used to explore the practicality of showcasing a novel gravity energy-storage system in lieu of batteries for critical system backup.
Project 2 is an Ashland Community Solar project that might be placed at the Ashland Airport to provide enough power to offset all the airport’s energy use, with a battery backup to assure continued airport operation even in grid-blackout situations and provide a mechanism for lower-income citizen assistance.
Project 3 is a Distributed Generation project planned that could be located on the Dunn Ranch, directly across from the PPL Oak Knoll substation, that would be privately owned and pump solar power directly into the City’s southernmost distribution grid to fortify and provide resilience to the city-owned feeder lines.
The grant proposal was presented to the Mayor and City Council. Stracker Solar is awaiting their timely feedback as the grant deadline is less than one month away (February 15).
About Stracker Solar: Headquartered in Ashland, Oregon, Stracker Solar has been manufacturing, selling, and installing state-of-the-art elevated dual-axis solar trackers since 2017. Strackers are robust yet elegant, high-efficiency solar power systems, generating up to 70% more solar energy each year than same-sized rooftop, carport, or fixed ground-mount systems. This efficiency translates to a 55%-65% lower carbon footprint as well. The Stracker units’ minimum 14’ ground-clearance at all times makes them ideal for parking lots, agricultural operations, school yards and more.
The elevated Stracker solar system was developed and is continues to be manufactured in Ashland, Oregon. Stracker units installed in northern California and southern Oregon have documented both unparalleled robustness and production performance. Based on this success, Stracker Solar has embarked on a national expansion initiative certifying regional fabrication facilities and enlisting EPC Distributor Partners. The Stracker system is patent-pending and carries the valued UL 3703 certification.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Brigitta Banki, Marketing and Communications Director
bbanki@strackersolar.com
541-631-1275
www.strackersolar.com
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