New rooftop solar array installed at Corvallis Community Center

April 27, 2026 - This spring, an unexpected act of generosity gave a boost to the City's sustainability efforts.

Thanks to a generous donation, a new 46.8 kilowatt rooftop solar array was installed at C3 - Corvallis Community Center. Project materials and labor were provided by a coalition of  local contractors from the community's tight-knit solar industry. They gladly donated their time and expertise to honor the memory of James Reismiller, a founder of Corvallis-based Abundant Solar and a tireless champion of solar energy in Oregon. Reismiller died unexpectedly in 2022.

The project was coordinated by Cassandra Robertson, Reismiller's wife and co-founder of Abundant Solar. At the April 6, 2026 City Council meeting, Cassandra explained how the project's organizers looked throughout Corvallis for a building that could host their donated solar array.

"I knew James would really want this to be something that was community-oriented and also very visible, because he was very pro-solar," Cassandra said.

They found a likely candidate at C3 - Corvallis Community Center. The recreation center is centrally located just north of Oregon State University's campus, right in the heart of Corvallis. 

Scott Dybvad, the City's sustainability coordinator, worked closely with Cassandra and the project's organizers to figure out how to let the sun shine in at C3. In March 2026, less than a year after first exploring the concept, the new array began operations at C3. It now provides about 41% of the center's annual electricity and is expected to last for at least 25 years.

"This is a gift that will continue to help us work towards our Climate Action Plan and our Sustainable Facilities goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy used in City operations," Dybvad said. 

Solar industry supporters included Elemental Energy, Abundant Solar, Unirac, the Oregon Solar + Storage Industries Association, Energy Trust of Oregon, Eaton, Platt Electric, Greentech Renewables, Enphase, and Energy Wise Services. The project was also supported by the City of Corvallis through various departments, including Parks & Recreation and Public Works. 

The City now has seven (7) solar arrays in operation. Since the first installation at Fire Station 4 in 2011, City solar arrays have generated more than 3.8 million kilowatt hours of electricity. That equates to more than 7 million miles driven by a gasoline-powered passenger car, not to mention the savings on our electricity bills.