Community Solar East at the Port of Camas Washougal

In 2022, Clark Public Utilities’ Board of Commissioners directed utility staff to study and propose options for a second Community Solar project, with the goal of broad and equitable customer participation levels and options. In partnership with our site-host Port of Camas Washougal, we’ve identified five Port buildings with the ability to accommodate a (799kw) system.

In 2023, Clark Public Utilities is designing, facilitating, constructing and managing this Community Solar East project for all Clark Public Utilities customers, just as we did for the original Community Solar project(s) that are sited at our Operations facility in Orchards. The Port of Camas Washougal is the project site host. Customer participants are the project funders.

Community Solar East at the Port of Camas-Washougal

The Clark Public Utilities’ Community Solar East project is a 799 kilowatt capacity solar array that was constructed in 2023 and launched in the first quarter of 2024. The project was developed in partnership with our site host, the Port of Camas-Washougal, and is fully subscribed by our residential, business and government agency customers. The project includes 199 kilowatts of capacity that is reserved for low-income customers; the solar electricity generated by the low-income portion of the project is credited to the Clark Public Utilities energy assistance program, Operation Warm Heart, which distributes energy assistance grants to customers in financial need. The Community Solar East project was developed at a cost of less than $1.70 per watt of installed solar capacity. One hundred percent of the renewable solar electricity generated by the project is consumed in Clark County!

Monitoring Data

  • Solar-Year-to-date (July 1 – current read date) production per Solar Unit: 32.49 kWh
  • Lifetime production per Solar Unit: 54.66 kWh

Quick Facts

  • Anyone can be a part of this clean and renewable project with affordable participation options starting at $10 for residential customers and $85 for business and government customers
  • Total system size 799kW
    • 440kW for residential customers
    • 100kW for business customers
    • 60kW for government customers
    • 199kw directly benefits customers on a limited income; energy credit dollars go directly to the utility’s Operation Warm Heart fund
  • Installed across five Port of Camas Washougal buildings
    • 3830 S Truman St, Washougal, WA  98671
    • 3801 S Truman St, Washougal, WA  98671
    • 4125 S Lincoln St, Washougal, WA  98671
    • 4225 S Lincoln St, Washougal, WA 98671
    • 4060 S Grant St, Washougal, WA  98671
  • Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for project details including Return on Investment calculations, project life, funding by customer sector and more!