Invenergy, an independent power producer, and Grant County Public Utility District celebrated the groundbreaking of the Quincy Solar Energy Center on August 18.
The 120-megawatt project milestone marks Washington State-based Grant PUD's first solar project in Grant County and Invenergy's first solar project in Washington state to break ground.
The event was held at the project site, located near Moses Lake, Washington, and featured a $20,000 donation presentation from Invenergy to the Grant PUD Share the Light program that will support over 600 local families in need. This neighbor-to-neighbor program helps families and individuals in need pay their electric bills.
Following remarks from project stakeholders, a ceremonial gold shovel dig highlighted the construction progress already underway at the Quincy Solar site.
Attendees included Grant PUD commissioners, executives, and staff; Washington State Senator Judy Warnick; Washington State Representative Alex Ybarra; leaders from IBEW Local 191, IUOE Local 302, and LiUNA Local 348; representatives from Cupertino Electric, the project's engineering and construction contractor; and Invenergy project team members.
"We're proud to partner with Grant PUD on its first solar project in the county and help advance a shared goal of delivering reliable, affordable electricity while creating lasting economic benefits for Grant County,” said Mateo Gomez, lead developer for Quincy Solar at Invenergy, in a news release. “As Washington experiences growing electricity demand and increasing pressure on the grid from extreme weather conditions, projects like Quincy Solar help strengthen energy security and support a more resilient energy future."
“The Quincy Solar Energy Center is a vital component of Grant PUD’s plan to provide clean, renewable energy to our growing customer base as outlined in our 2024 Integrated Resource Plan,” stated John Mertlich, Grant PUD General Manager/CEO. “This Grant County project will provide great benefits to our area for many years to come.”
Quincy Solar will support more than 200 jobs at peak construction, boosting local businesses in the area. In addition to powering the local grid, Quincy Solar is expected to contribute more than $27 million to the local economy through land lease payments, local taxes, and other expenditures over the life of the project.
"Quincy Solar represents an important investment in Grant County's energy future. Our region has long been a leader in hydro power, and projects like Quincy Solar will build on that legacy by supporting grid reliability, diversifying our energy resources, and helping meet growing electricity demand across Washington," said Washington State Representative Alex Ybarra. "This project will strengthen our local economy and help ensure reliable, locally generated power for years to come."
The project is expected to reach commercial operations in late 2027.
Quincy Solar builds on Invenergy's growing presence in Washington, where the company has now successfully developed four energy projects totaling more than 950 megawatts of generation capacity.
