The Suquamish Tribe held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a solar array project on the roof of the Family and Friend's Center (ʔiišədalʔtxʷ ʔə ti suq̓ʷabš). The celebration featured interactive and educational activities designed to engage younger community members on the benefits of solar power, including an overview of career pathways to get a foothold in the clean energy industry.  The solar-powered electricity expected to be  generated every year is equivalent to avoiding 21.2 metric tons of CO2 or 52,711 miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle or the electricity to power over 4 homes (*).  

As part of Solar Washington's goal to work with people, companies, programs and organizations, joining together to advance solar energy in Washington State, we will be highlighting a variety of solar projects in Washington. This month, Solar Washington's Vice President Alex Nephew visited the Snohomish County PUD Arlington Microgrid Project with his fellow insurance broker Adam Bain and came back with a video that he is sharing with the Solar Washington's audience.

The new Mukilteo ferry terminal opened in December with Native-inspired design and art--and a roof filled with solar panels installed by A&R Solar.

The state-of-the-art facility anchors the second busiest ferry route in the state. Washington State Ferries solicited input from several groups, including local tribes. Residents asked that the terminal be green, Washington State required that the building be LEED-certified, and local tribes wanted it to be “light on the earth.”

Everett-based HopeWorks, an organization launched in January 2011 with the goal of helping families gain skills and training for in-demand jobs in the path to a living wage career, recently installed 532 solar panels on its rooftop as well as a canopy for the parking lot generating 199 kWh as part of its Phase II project which opened October 11, 2019. This is part of HopeWorks' participation in the Living Building Challenge by the International Living Future Institute. HopeWorks is one of a few demonstration projects across the U.S. of affordable housing developments becoming a “Living Building”. HopeWorks aims to achieve 105% net energy for the residential portion of HopeWorks Station, called Station Place, which has 65 units of affordable housing, 57 of which are for homeless individuals and families. This is one of a few requirements of the Living Building Challenge.

At Little Bit, horses transform the bodies, minds, and spirits of children and adults with disabilities. Little Bit is one of the largest nationally accredited, industry-leading PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) centers and one of the largest full-time therapeutic horsemanship programs in the United States.