Garkane Energy Cooperative is a member-owned utility based in Loa, Utah, whose service area expands into Arizona, with a vision to “actively promote efficient energy use, energy conservation, and responsible renewable energy.”
One of the utility’s most impactful initiatives is its SHINE Program, short for “Solar Hydro Investment iN the Environment.” The community solar program enables residents to purchase blocks of clean energy, ranging from 100 to 300 kilowatt-hours (kWh), from local SHINE facilities. By purchasing blocks, customers lock in low prices for some of their energy and support the utility in building additional clean energy projects in local communities for others to benefit from.
Garkane has built solar pavilions for the communities of Escalante, Kanab, and Torrey. In Kanab, Utah, the company planned and built the $130,000 array over two years with the help of the generation and transmission cooperative Deseret Power Electric Cooperative. More than 20 feet above ground, it covers the roof of a 35-foot-by-70-foot pavilion and generates approximately 33 kilowatts of electricity. Kanab is a particularly relevant location, in close proximity to the Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Parks, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Referred to as the “heart of the American West,” it has also been the filming location for more than 100 movies and television shows, including 1939’s Stagecoach, 1968’s Planet of the Apes, and 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It was important that the elevated installation preserve aesthetics while occupying a minimal land footprint.
“We’ve helped the city of Kanab create a shaded performance space where people can gather for outdoor entertainment. It publicizes our commitment to renewable energy without taking up available parkland,” James Clegg, an energy program manager with Garkane, elaborated to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). “Instead of blocking the view of a national park or taking up space on our high desert landscape, we’re producing power on a site used for community entertainment.”
Kanab was isolated for much of its history, with only the Colorado River to the east and dirt roads connecting it westward through the Arizona Strip. “Many of our communities don’t have a lot of facilities, so projects like this can provide renewable energy for our members, and also help them make improvements,” Clegg added. Garkane promises to be “a catalyst to stimulate the economy of our service territory and to promote the quality of life for our members.”
Photo Courtesy Garkane Energy Cooperative, Inc. | Loa, UT
The final solar pavilion in Torrey includes 99 solar panels that provide shade for a local picnic area while generating 34,000 watts of power for members. At the project’s ribbon cutting in 2020, Tracy Potter, a member of Garkane’s Board of Directors, told Utah Public Radio about the project’s role in helping the community shift away from fossil fuels, “Coal, it will come to an end. It’s not a matter of if, but when. And both the Board of Directors at Garkane Energy and the Board of Directors and the CEO of Deseret Power are very well aware of that and are exploring other options, but they’ve still got some time.” Garkane CEO and General Manager Dan McClendon added that the transition “is a given.”
Garkane also helps customers add solar to their own residences. Neal Brown, marketing and members services manager for Garkane, spoke on NRECA’s podcast, Along Those Lines, about a tool the utility rolled out in 2023 to help members determine whether rooftop solar was right for them. Members must watch an orientation video and score 100% on a quiz to be approved to install the system. As Brown described, “We found there was a lot of misinformation going around about solar and solar companies spreading different information that wasn’t accurate,” especially in a region without any local solar vendors. The quiz ensures “they knew all the solar information before they were jumping ahead and getting involved in something they didn’t fully understand.” Ultimately, it “sends the message that we care,” Brown said.
Photo Courtesy Garkane Energy Cooperative, Inc. | Loa, UT
Garkane’s clean energy offerings are not the only services it provides to the community. The utility’s wildfire mitigation and vegetation management efforts enhance energy security and resilience in Utah and Arizona. Garkane works with Deseret Tree Worx to trim trees and clear vegetation within 15 to 20 feet of either side of Garkane’s poles. “Many of our consumers have experienced a heightened awareness of the potential risks for forest fires and interruption of power supply due to wildfires that have taken place throughout the west,” the utility explains of the necessary action.
The utility also offers rebate programs to further reduce member costs. For example, it offers rebates of $50 to $400 for qualified energy-efficient heat pumps and $400 for groundwater-source heat pumps. It also offers a $350 rebate for qualifying water heaters. “We are dedicated to providing our members energy services at fair prices, thereby improving quality of life,” Garkane notes.
Photo Courtesy Garkane Energy Cooperative, Inc. | Loa, UT
