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The Oregon University System for more than six years has pursued what would be the state’s largest photovoltaic project. The path has been riddled with obstacles, but a committed group is now closing in on a deal that it hopes will finally lead to installation of ground-mounted solar arrays.

Three campuses in the Oregon University System were supposed to have arrays totaling five megawatts operating by the end of 2011, with more to come online this year. But after ground was broken with much fanfare last August, the 27 dedicated acres remain untouched.

On Dec. 30 鈥� the day before the first phase of the massive solar project was expected to be ready 鈥� the project’s developer, Utah-based Renewable Energy Development Corp., filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The action represented the second failed attempt to configure 鈥淪olar by Degrees,鈥� a program to add solar power to all seven OUS schools; previously abandoned the project. It would be the largest university system-based contract in the U.S. if it were to move forward, according to OUS.

鈥淲e entered the hurdle race,鈥� said Bob Simonton, OUS’ assistant vice chancellor for capital programs. 鈥淏ut it’s taking a pole vault to get over them.鈥�

But OUS is now finalizing a new deal with San Mateo, Calif.-based , according to Brandon Trelstad, sustainability coordinator for Oregon State University.

If SolarCity were to officially take on the challenge, one crucial aspect of the financing package would already be in place: Business Energy Tax Credits.

SunEdison was unable to secure money through the state BETC program; however, after the company walked away, Simonton decided to take matters into his own hands and file the application himself.

鈥淥ne of the biggest lessons learned was not to leave it up to the developer to get the BETC,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 did that as a precaution and now I can pass them through.鈥�

The BETC program is almost wholly unfunded for now, but if the ground-mounted solar project were built this year, it would benefit from slightly more than $13 million in tax credits, Simonton said.

Because the project would receive significant state assistance, pressure is on everyone involved to demonstrate the quality of the investment, according to Martin Shain, who has served as a project consultant for nearly five years. After several deals fell through, some people are questioning why OUS is still trying to push it forward, he said.

鈥淲e need to show them that their investments in these programs are prudent,鈥� said Shain, co-founder of renewable energy consulting firm . 鈥淎 lot of people are very anxious to earn the badge of credibility here.鈥�

According to OUS, the three initial university participants would save a total of more than $6 million over the next 25 years. The electricity rates the university pays are expected to be the same as in the previous plan: 4.1 cents per kilowatt-hour for power produced at the Oregon Institute for Technology and 4.8 cents per kilowatt-hour at Eastern Oregon University and Oregon State University.

Construction is anticipated to begin in late summer, although campus administrations could wait until May 15 to approve the plan.