Tri-Cities Emerging as a Solar Demonstration Hub for the Pacific Northwest

"The Tri-Cities [Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco] could soon be home to the largest utility-scale solar power project in Washington," reports Courtney Flatt. A French company called Neoen is planning to develop the 20-megawatt project on 100 acres of land that used to be part of the Hanford nuclear reservation. The region is considered a desert, and local economic development efforts, led by the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) is working to position the Tri-Cities as a hub for energy companies in the Pacific Northwest.

Energy Northwest, which operates the Northwest’s only nuclear power plant, has a 38.7-kilowatt demonstration solar project 10 miles north of Richland. Last year, Energy Northwest also announced its plans to develop a 4-megawatt solar power generating and battery storage system.

Another project is in the works just to the south in Boardman, Oregon, as well.