We interviewed new Solar Washington member and Solar Summit volunteer Zoilo Sotero this month.  

Solar Washington: When, how and/or why did you become interested in solar? Tell us about any specific experiences with solar.

Zoilo Sotero: My interest was sparked in Environmental Science coursework, where we explored renewable energy and its role in addressing environmental racism. The idea of harnessing the sun’s energy for energy independence in historically marginalized homes and communities, fascinated me. I saw how science made a real difference in West Seattle. Our efficiency experiments and solar data analysis gave me first-hand experience of how solar technology works. 

This month, Solar Washington interviewed Dan LeFree, President and CEO of Community 1st Credit Union and Solar Washington Board member.

Solar Washington: How did you become interested in solar? 

Dan LeFree: I became interested in solar about a dozen years ago. I was engaged to provide consulting services for a local credit union. Their new CEO wanted to build upon the credit union's green lending program to finance solar, energy storage and other green home improvements and to fight global warming. I helped him to develop fair and transparent lending products that fit the needs of homeowners. When I saw the success of that program I knew that we had developed something really special.

This month, Solar Washington interviewed Thomas Honles, Public Works Engineer with Island County, Washington and Solar Washington Board member.

Solar Washington: How did you become interested in solar? 

Tom Honles: Solar energy has been an interest of mine since my youth. My early experiences seeing my Dad waiting in long lines to fill up the gasoline tank in the family car, on the assigned day of the week, at the gas station during the energy crisis in the late 1970s formed my awareness of over reliance on fossil fuels and got me thinking about "sustainability" before that term became common usage. I was eager to learn about the environment, energy sources, and solar energy, such as solar thermal systems used for hot water and also solar photovoltaics used for spacecraft. Incidentally, my amateur interest in astronomy heightened my awareness of the tremendous power of the Sun, and of solar energy. The energy from the sun seemed essentially limitless, and much kinder to the environment than burning fossil fuels like gasoline.

We interviewed Christopher Brown, partner at Holland & Knight LLP and Board Member of Solar Washington.

Solar Washington: How did you become interested in solar? 
Chris Brown: I grew up in Los Angeles and always loved the sun. My family had a small sailboat, and I remember as a kid, on that boat, we had one of those Sun Showers, which was basically a plastic bag that held a few gallons of water. We’d tie it to the deck during the trip out in the ocean, and then anchor, and then we’d go swimming or fishing off the boat, and later we’d have warm water from the Sun Shower to hose off. On those long sail boat trips, it struck me then that the sun was like the wind, because it was always present, and you could use it for different things that are useful. 

In late May, Solar Washington interviewed Markus Virta, the Managing Partner at Cascadia Renewables and a longtime supporter of Solar Washington.

Solar Washington: How did you become interested in solar? 
Markus Virta: My journey into solar energy began with a concern for climate change and a recognition of the role that distributed energy solutions can play in creating a more equitable and resilient power grid. 

In late April, Solar Washington interviewed Dever Haffner-Ratliffe, a Solar Washington member who is vice-president of the association.  Dever, who now works for a public utility district, shared her insights and experiences as a long-time leader and participant in the clean energy scene in Washington.  

In late January, Solar Washington interviewed Charlee Thompson, a member and board member of the organization. Charlee, who works as a Policy Associate with the Northwest Energy Coalition, shared her insights and experiences.

Solar Washington: When and how did you become interested in solar? 
Charlee Thompson: I first heard about climate change in elementary school, learning that humans were unintentionally harming many of the things that 12-year-old me loved and was fascinated by-- coral reefs, rainforests, and their inhabitants. Because I knew early on that I wanted to do something that would mitigate climate change and its impacts, I had a straightforward trajectory toward my career in clean energy policy.  My interest in solar specifically stems from our need for not only a clean energy transition, but a just transition. Solar is one of the clean resources that has additional value because it can more directly benefit historically underserved communities. And that's why I can't shake my interest in it.

In early November, Solar Washington conducted an interview with Craig Olson, a member and volunteer of the organization. Olson, who retired in 2016 from his job as a microbiologist and salmon pathologist for the tribes of western Washington, shared his insights and experiences.

Solar Washington: How did you become interested in solar?  
Craig Olson: Retirement poses the question, What am I motivated to spend my time on? Helping to transition the world off of fossil fuels for both human health and the health of the habitat we live in is one of those top motives for me. The recent, but very brief in human history, petroleum age has been VERY beneficial by providing inexpensive, portable, and useful energy.

In late July 2024, Solar Washington interviewed Anders Alexander, a member and a board member of Solar Washington. Anders (pictured here with his father in 2022) described how his educational background paved the way for a job in the solar industry, which evolved into a lifelong career and a fervent passion for renewable energy.  

Solar Washington: How did you become interested in solar?  
Anders Alexander: My first job out of college was for SolarCity, now Tesla. I graduated with an environmental policy and economics degree from Western Washington University and was open to any kind of environmental job, and when it ended up being for a solar company I decided to stick with it and dedicated my career to solar energy.

In July 2024, Solar Washington interviewed Joelle Hammerstad, a member of Solar Washington who helped plan the 2023 Solar Summit.

Solar Washington: How did you become interested in solar?  

Joelle Hammerstad: In 2016 I was the Sustainable Operations Manager at Seattle Parks & Recreation (SPR) working to reduce electric utility consumption and carbon usage in Parks Department buildings. Seattle City Light approached us with a partnership opportunity to build an innovative new project. City Light had a Clean Energy Fund grant to build a solar microgrid, which pairs a large solar array with industrial-sized batteries. A microgrid “islands” itself from the electric grid in the event of a power outage and operates independently to power a building or facility. Together with the community, City Light and SPR chose Miller Community Center to site the microgrid. We opened the Miller Microgrid in April 2022. During this same period, I also worked with the City of Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment to receive a GreenUp Grant from Seattle City Light, which SPR used to put a large solar array on a community center in Magnuson Park. These two experiences really opened my eyes to the possibilities that exist to build out many more solar arrays in the region to help reduce carbon use and power a sustainable future.