Oregon Public Broadcasting

The private company proposing the region's largest solar power plant got a sunny welcome at its first public presentation of the idea.

Earlier Wedsnesday, about 50 residents of central Washington's Kittitas County asked questions of Teanaway Solar Reserve managing partner Howard Trott.

Trott told his audience that the 400,000 panels he wants to install in a forest clear-cut will be well hidden.

Howard Trott: “It doesn't produce green house emissions. It's sustainable. It's low maintenance, silent, offers a low visibility profile, and produces power even on cloudy days.”

Trott said his company submitted a development application to the county Tuesday.

Locals who came to the solar company's briefing seemed most interested in the jobs the project might bring.

The 145-acre installation is billed as generating enough electricity to power 45,000 homes.