Olympia Community Solar, a non-profit that works to make solar energy equitable and accessible to everyone, is excited to announce their third annual solar energy group purchase program, Solarize, happening from now until July 4th. This year, the Skagit Valley Clean Energy Cooperative is working in partnership with Olympia Community Solar to facilitate the program in Skagit County. The campaign also continues to include Thurston and Mason counties.

Solarize is a solar group purchasing campaign. It makes the process of installing solar power simple, affordable, and secure. By purchasing solar equipment in bulk and partnering with well-qualified installers, Olympia Community Solar helps communities to save money on solar power by leveraging their cumulative purchasing power for better prices. The last two years of Solarize have solidified this program as a regional success which has resulted in over 200 installations, totaling approximately 3.5 million dollars in investment.

Solarize programs are a great way to encourage communities to investigate and install solar energy. Solarize provides a one-stop shop for people to find a well-qualified contractor, analyze the suitability of solar power at their home, and understand how the installation and financing will work. Solarize lowers the cost of installation and provides financing sources. Typically, a decision to go solar, including the burden of research and risk, is left to individual households acting alone. Solarize simplifies the process and lowers the cost.

Previous Solarize project:

In preparation for this year’s campaign, Olympia Community Solar and the Skagit Valley Clean Energy Cooperative held a competitive bidding process to secure solar installers in Skagit County. They pre-qualified local contractors Fire Mountain Solar, Truly Electric & Solar, Blossom Solar, and Capstone Solar.

The Olympia Community Solar team will host enrollment on their webpage, perform education, and act as a customer advocate. Almost 100 homeowners have already signed up in advance for solar site assessments through this program.

If you are interested in a solar project in Thurston, Mason or Skagit counties, sign up for a free solar site assessment at olysol.org/solarize. A Solarize installer will provide a virtual or in-person site assessment of your home or business, and will give you a detailed solar proposal at the campaign’s discounted group rate. Once contracted, the solar installer will schedule the date of your solar installation.

Inquiries may be sent to [email protected] or (360) 481-4020.