Yakima County — A new $180 million solar project officially opened in Yakima County after years of development.

The Ostrea solar project includes more than 200,000 solar panels and is part of a plan to provide power across Washington. NonStop Local was at the project site this morning as the project opened.

Cypress Creek Energy has worked on the project to bring what it described as clean and environmentally safe energy to Washington. The company said the project was expected to generate more than $13 million in local and state revenue.

Mike Descenza, chief finance officer at Cypress Creek Energy, said the project would also support the community through that revenue.

“A third of those revenues are for state education. About a third is for local education uses, and then maybe the balance is for other state and local uses. So it’s a real positive benefit of this project being here,” Descenza said.

The project covered about 275 acres. Cypress Creek Energy has also worked with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and EFSEC to make sure agricultural impact was addressed in the area.

Yakima Commissioner Ladon Linde said agriculture remains central to the local economy while the project adds another layer to the region’s power supply.

“You know agriculture is the core of our economy, so we have an obligation to protect that. But this is not detracting from agriculture, but it is adding to the energy grid. So we can feel good about that,” Linde said.

The project was set to operate for the next 30 years while supplying energy across Washington.