On the evening of February 23, 2015, DLR Group (an architecture firm) hosted more than 60 women and men to the second annual Women in Solar Energy gathering. It was part of a 17 city simultaneous event crafted to raise the visibility of women, promote their key roles in their companies or agencies, network and learn from each other.

The purpose of this report (released February 2016) is to provide state lawmakers and regulators, electric utilities, the solar industry, and other energy stakeholders with timely, accurate, and unbiased updates on how states are choosing to study, adopt, implement, amend, or discontinue policies associated with distributed solar photovoltaics (PV).

(February 10, 2016) Washington, DC  — The Solar Foundation (TSF), an independent nonprofit research and education organization, released state-by-state data from its annual National Solar Jobs Census series via the State Solar Jobs Census Map. This year’s State Census provides the most detailed solar jobs information for every state including data on solar jobs per state and federal congressional district. Read the full press release.

(February 9, 2016) - Budding young scientists and engineers will get a boost this year with help from Snohomish County PUD. Local students will soon be assembling Snap Circuits and racing solar cars. They’ll learn about energy transformations and water turbines. The PUD recently awarded 13 mini-grants for science-related educational projects in several local school districts. The grants help schools incorporate energy and water education into their curriculum. View the recipients from 2015-2016 (PDF).

February 4, 2016) Solar Washington has provided a chart of the number of added solar systems each year courtesy of Phil Lou, Solar Energy Specialist from the Washington State University Energy Program. Note that the Y-axis refers to #. (The 2015 bar is systems installed in 2015, not total systems in operation in 2015). View the full size chart (PDF).

Lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate passed a spending package on December 18, 2015 that included multi-year extensions of solar and wind tax credits, plus one-year extensions for a range of other renewable energy technologies.

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(SHELTON, WA)-Participants joined with community leaders Tuesday, December 21, 2015 at Mason PUD 3's Shelton headquarters to dedicate Mason County’s first shared solar energy project.

The 75-kilowatt project is located at PUD 3’s Johns Prairie operations center. Approximately 110 PUD customers will be reaping benefits of energy produced by the solar array, a Washington State Production Incentive, and federal tax credits. It will generate enough electricity to power seven Mason County homes.