Three Rivers Sets The Trends

Central Oregon Thrives Off Solar Energy

By Joseph Friedrichs, 5-21-07

At the confluence of Central Oregon’s three prized rivers - the Deschutes, Metolius and Crooked - about 250 homes are jumping aboard a national trend and choosing to live “off the grid,” meaning without commercial power.

Everyone in the tiny community of Three Rivers gets most of their power from dark solar panels on their rooftops or on nearby freestanding structures positioned to more efficiently capture the sun, according to a story in today’s Baltimore Sun.

Solar power easily handles computers, lights, large-screen televisions, microwave ovens, refrigerator-freezers and more for a majority of Three Rivers residents.  Some even supplement the intake with energy generated by windmills.

Off-the-grid living is edging into America’s main nerve. It isn’t there yet, but about 180,000 homes, mostly in the West, operate on it, the Sun reported. Throughout Central Oregon homes decorated with solar panels are becoming increasingly more popular. In Bend, the mother of all trend setters in the Oregon high desert country, your house is pretty much not cool unless it hosts a solar energy device of some form.

It’s occurring mostly in the West because of people moving into remote areas that are beyond the reach of commercial power, such as Three Rivers, because of ample sun and environmental conscientiousness, and possibly because of Westerners’ traditional independent streak, according to the Sun.

However, living off the grid doesn’t come without a price tag.

High demand for solar panels and improved technology has kept the price up, the Sun reported, and homeowners in Three Rivers say an advanced solar energy system can cost $25,000 for the panels, batteries, inverter and other equipment. 

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