Midwest Energy is proud to be the first utility in Kansas to offer its customers a solar energy option: the Midwest Energy Community Solar Array, located in Colby, KS.
Community Solar provides a renewable energy option for Midwest Energy customers who want the benefits of solar ownership without the research, construction and maintenance of a roof-top system. With community solar, all panels are located in a central location, and members receive monthly bill credits for the electricity their panels produce.
As of March 2016, all panels in the array are sold; however, residents and businesses interested in being added to a wait list for panels being re-sold can contact Midwest Energy at 1-800-222-3121 for more information.
In partnership with Clean Energy Collective (CEC), this program was offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, with 3,960 panels available for purchase. Midwest Energy and CEC contributed to a limited pool of rebates, which brought the price of each panel was $891, or $2.92/watt, installed. All maintenance and insurance is covered under this one-time price. Customers also have the flexibility or selling their system or taking energy credits with them if they move within the utility territory.
Midwest Energy’s array features panels mounted on a single-axis tracking system, which should result in a roughly 30% efficiency gain over traditional roof-mounted panels. The array was completed and began producing commercial electricity on Feb. 1, 2015.