The 2025 Solar Summit was attended/viewed by students and trainees from many universities (University of Washington, Everett Community College, Whitworth University, etc.) and training programs (Sphere 1, Puget Sound Electrical Apprenticeship Program, etc.) thanks in part to our student scholarship sponsor, Cascadia Renewables.

The 2025 Solar Summit was attended/viewed by students and trainees from many universities (University of Washington, Everett Community College, Whitworth University, etc.) and training programs (Sphere 1, Puget Sound Electrical Apprenticeship Program, etc.) thanks in part to our student scholarship sponsor, Cascadia Renewables.

Dual-Use Solar in Washington: How Do You Like Them Apples?

Summary by Whitworth University Communications Student Hannah

This is a discussion from the Solar Summit about agrivoltaics and ecovoltaics, which are dual-use approaches to solar energy that integrate agriculture or ecological benefits within solar panel arrays. Max Lambert, the Director of Science for the Nature Conservancy in Washington, introduces the concept, highlighting the potential for land-sharing approaches to mitigate the land use impacts of greenfield solar energy. The panel explores the science, mapping, and modeling of agrivoltaics in Washington state, with a focus on crops like apples, pears, berries, and vegetables, as well as solar grazing with livestock. Addie Candee from American Farmland Trust shares social science research on farmers’ perspectives of agrivoltaics, emphasizing the importance of communication, trust, and policy incentives to promote its adoption. Callum McSherry from Cascadia Renewables provides insights from a solar professional’s perspective, discussing the challenges and lessons learned from an ecovoltaic pilot project at Eastern Washington University. The discussion covers topics such as fire code and ecology, fencing and microclimates, and construction and soil conditions. The panelists also discuss the needs and opportunities for collaboration to deploy these approaches, the role of dual-use approaches in Washington’s energy future, and the potential for integrating solar with cropping systems.

Deconstructing Community Solar in WA for Broader Adoption

Summary by Whitworth University Communications Student Hannah

The summit addressed the definition, benefits, and challenges of community-scale solar, explaining its role in Washington’s clean energy future. Speakers highlighted that community solar benefits local members, connects to the distribution grid, and provides equitable access to solar energy, especially for renters and those with unsuitable rooftops. The discussion covered economic advantages, like lower energy bills and job creation, energy, resilience, through storage, and contributions to greenhouse gas reduction. However, challenges, such as policy barriers, financing, permitting, interconnection, hurdles, and community opposition were also noted. Oregon’s Community Solar Program was presented as a case study, showcasing its structure, incentives for low-income communities, and partnerships with organizations like BEF Renewables. The program faces challenges like limited capacity and low bill credit rates, but offers valuable lessons for Washington.The Washington State University (WSU) Energy Program’s Community Solar Expansion Program was also discussed, noting its funding milestones and project examples. The program incentivized solar array installation costs based on the benefits flowing to low-income communities. A major announcement was made, revealing that the funding for this fiscal year has been obligated, so projects can still apply, but may not receive funding until the next fiscal year. Panelists discussed terminology and community engagement, emphasizing the importance of tailoring projects to local contexts and understanding community needs. They also explored the role of community solar in meeting clean energy goals and addressing grid constraints, underscoring the need for diverse energy resources and innovative approaches.

Recording sessions are now available

Thank you for making the 2025 Solar Summit a success!

Twenty years of coming together to advance Washington’s solar industry is something we can all be proud of. This year’s Summit, held on October 24 at South Seattle College’s main campus in the Brockey Student Center, brought together more than 230 solar professionals and enthusiasts from across the state.

A special thank-you to our partners — the Puget Sound Electrical Apprenticeship Program, IBEW Local 46, and the Puget Sound Chapter of NECA — for their support in making this event possible.

Microgrids Shift from Emergency-Only to Resilience and Modernization

At the Solar Washington Solar Summit on 24 October, a panel of experts explored how microgrids can shift from being emergency-only assets to core tools for delivering community resilience and grid modernization. Four expert panelists examined how utilities, regulators and developers are beginning to grapple with valuing resilience and what’s needed to scale equitable, affordable and reliable microgrid deployment.

Grid Pro Quo: Valuing Customer Solar on Utility Systems

A panel of experts at the Solar Washington Summit in October discussed how utilities value solar on their systems and the impact of utilities reaching their 4% net metering threshold. They also discussed compliance requirements such as resource adequacy and clean energy.

Keynote Address
Kate Brouns, Senior Policy Advisor of Climate and Energy, The Office of the Governor

Kate started the keynote by saying she had spent the morning in a meeting with the governor's data center work group, which is taking a hard look at the competing trade-offs of data center growth, energy usage, potential environmental and tribal impacts, and tax incentives. Washington faces enormous load growth challenges, she said. Regionally, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council has projected that data centers and chip fabrication could add an average of 2.2 gigawatts of electricity load in the Pacific Northwest by 2030, though their high growth scenario shows that load increasing by about 4.8 gigawatts.