Corvallis waste water plant may go solar

Corvallis waste water plant may go solar

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By Molly Blancett

CORVALLIS, Ore. - The city of Corvallis' Waste Water Treatment plant is close to signing a 30-year agreement with a Bend company to fill most of a near bye field with solar panels. The panels would create energy that would go right back to powering the plant.

When all is said and done, the solar energy will provide 55% of the energy needed to run the facility. The Bend company would maintain and run the panels. The city just has to agree to buy the power and insurance.

"We don't pay for operations," said Public Works Director Steve Rogers. "We don't pay for maintenance. That's all paid for by the owner of the facility."

The panels won't save or really cost the city any money. Rogers said the environment will be the main benefactor. It's not quite a done deal yet. The city council still needs to finalize the agreement. But Rogers said he expects the panels should be up and running by December.

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