Solar farm in Lind

Washington’s largest solar farm will begin producing electricty next month in this small town better known for its annual Combine Demolition Derby. Nearly 82,000 solar panels have been installed on a hill near Lind’s pioneer-era cemetery. From some vantage points, the flat blue panels resemble a mirage on the dusty landscape. Sensors adjust the panels’ angle throughout the day, allowing them to capture the maximum rays in the sunny Columbia Basin.

Section:Gallery

Thu., Nov. 8, 2018

Thousands of solar panels tilt toward the sun automatically on a slope above Lind, Washington Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The solar farm feeds power to Avista, which sells it to companies who want to have more renewables in their energy portfolio.
Marshall Micheli, Assistant Superintendent of Swinerton Renewable Energy, walks the solar arrays at the new solar farm in Lind, Washington Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.

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Agriculture surrounds a new solar farm above Lind, Washington Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The farm has almost 82K panels, which track the sun automatically.

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Marshall Micheli, Assistant Superintendent, Swinerton Renewable Energy explains how the systems work as he walks the grounds of a new solar farm above Lind, Washington Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The farm has almost 82K panels, which track the sun automatically.

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Marshall Micheli, Assistant Superintendent, Swinerton Renewable Energy walks the grounds of a new solar farm above Lind, Washington Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The farm has almost 82K panels, which track the sun automatically.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
The new solar farm near Lind, Wash., will supply power to Avista Corp., which is selling it to companies that want to have more renewables in their energy portfolios.

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The town graveyard sits next to a new solar farm above Lind, Washington Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The farm has almost 82K panels, which track the sun automatically.

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Marshall Micheli, assistant superintendent with Swinerton Renewable Energy, walks the grounds of a new solar farm near Lind, Washington, on Thursday. The San Diego-based company built the facility.

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Inverters housed in panels on a central gathering convert DC current to AC at a new solar farm above Lind, Washington Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The farm has almost 82K panels, which track the sun automatically.

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A new solar farm takes shape on rolling farm land above Lind, Washington Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The farm has almost 82K panels, which track the sun automatically.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Marshall Micheli, Assistant Superintendent, Swinerton Renewable Energy walks the grounds of a new solar farm above Lind, Washington Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The farm has almost 82K panels, which track the sun automatically.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo