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.

Recently Solora Solar (with offices in Issaquah and Yakima) has worked on a significantly important project for particular market segment: the farming community in central Washington. Solora Solar has recently completed one of the largest commercial system in Central Washington, 112kW (DC) system in Wapato, Washington for Green Acres Farms, LLC. Green Acres Farms has recently built a new 250,000 ft² hop Kiln facility for their Hops operation, building roof has perfect Southern exposure, which provides a perfect opportunity for them to go solar, reduce their energy cost and claim their energy independence. The system is approximately 112kw (DC) with 437 Trina solar monocrystalline solar modules. This system will qualify for $5000/year of production cash incentive, 30% federal tax incentive and will generate just under 90% of customer current energy need with approximate half a million dollars of saving over next 25 years. In addition, system will qualify for MACRS accelerated depreciation, with system payback between 5-6 years. System will cover roughly 9,000 ft² of the total roof area. Significant positive impact on environment by reducing Green House Gas emission 2,484 tons of CO2 over next 25 years.

3400 Capitol Boulevard still looks like any other office building in Tumwater when viewed from the street. However it’s 48 panel solar array makes it unique to every office building around. Owned by Renee Ries, whose business Fairchild Record Search is the main tenant, this building has undergone quite the journey.