The 20th Solar Washington conference Advancing Solar in a Time of Uncertainty explores the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of solar energy. As the public, businesses, and industry navigate shifting state and federal budgets and policies, market dynamics, technological advancements, and environmental concerns, this event brings together experts, innovators, and other collaborators to discuss strategies for resilience and growth. Attendees will gain insights into emerging trends, policy developments, financial models, and technological breakthroughs that can drive solar adoption forward despite uncertain conditions. Through our keynote, panel discussions, and networking, this conference serves as a crucial platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and actionable solutions to advance solar energy in a rapidly changing landscape.

The 2025 Solar Summit will be held on October 24 at South Seattle Community College.

 
Agenda

Sessions

Session 1: Powering Sovereignty: Tribal Clean Energy Case Studies

This session explores the clean energy journeys of tribal communities, offering firsthand insights into the goals and challenges for tribal clean energy, as well as successful project development and implementation. Panelists will share real-world lessons from planning through completion. Attendees will gain practical knowledge on tribal-driven energy leadership, grant navigation, and contractor coordination, illustrated with visuals and on-the-ground stories. Join us to learn how these communities are building resilient futures through solar and clean energy.

Presenters: Angel Cortez, Tulalip Tribes; Michiel Zuidweg, MZ Solar Consulting; Dayne Goodheart, GRID Alternatives; Charlee Thompson, Solar Washington

Session 2: What Remains of Federal and State Financing and Incentives?

This session will explore the state of play for federal and state incentive programs in the area of solar and energy storage. The panel will explain the new limits under the Inflation Reduction Act following recent changes that have taken away significant federal grant and tax credit funding. We will focus on the new timing realities for homeowners and solar project developers. In addition, the panel will look at other sources of funding, such as loans and the development of the new Washington State Green Bank program. Finally, the panel will review various state incentive programs managed by the Washington State Department of Commerce, including the new Clean Energy Grants and Tribal Clean Energy Grants programs, clean energy siting and permitting grants, and the Clean Energy Tax Credit Assistance Program.

Presenters: Eli Lieberman, Washington State Green Bank; Jill Eikenhorst, Depart of Commerce; A.C. Meyer, Lawyers for Good Government; Chris Brown, Solar Washington

Session 3: Deconstructing Community Solar in WA for Broader Adoption

This session will highlight how community scale projects make solar more accessible and bring value to the distribution grid. Building awareness around the barriers for adoption for utilities and how to overcome them with local resources.

Presenters: Ruby Moore-Bloom, Clean Energy Transition Institute; Chelsea Edgecombe, WSU Energy Program; Jessica Carmona, BEF

Session 4: Dual-Use Solar in Washington: How Do You Like Them Apples?

Ecovoltaic, agrivoltaic and the concept of dual-use solar. Farmland is a potential new frontier for solar energy, if done correctly. Experts from American Farmland Trust, The Nature Conservancy and Cascadia Renewables will provide transparency into the developing study of visioning out mutually beneficial dual-use applications of solar.

Presenters: Addie Candib, American Farmland Trust; Callum McSherry, Cascadia Renewables; Max Lambert, The Nature Conservancy 

Session 5: Microgrids--From Backup to Backbone

Following up on Cascadia Renewables' 2024 session at the WA Solar Summit to better account for resilience in utility tariffs and energy markets, this session brings together a panel of experts exploring how microgrids in WA can shift from being emergency-only assets to core tools for delivering community resilience and grid flexibility/modernization. With perspectives from within and beyond Washington State, panelists will examine how utilities, regulators, and developers are beginning to grapple with valuing resilience—both as a service and a system attribute—and what’s needed to scale equitable, affordable, and reliable microgrid deployment. Expect a dynamic conversation on real-world project experience, market design challenges, and the policy levers that can turn backup systems into backbone infrastructure.

Presenters: Markus Virta, Cascadia Renewables; Alex Corey, SnoPUD; Ben Schwartz, Clean Coalition; Allie Detrio, Reimagine Power 

Session 6: Grid Pro Quo: Valuing Customer Solar on Utility Systems

Without a state net metering requirement, how do utilities value solar on their systems? Many utilities have reached their 4% net metering threshold, and the 2029 end of the program gets closer every day. Utilities in WA have a variety of compliance requirements, including resource adequacy, clean energy, greenhouse gases, and more. During this panel, begin with an overview of the Washington State Academy of Sciences' Value of Solar and Storage Study, then utilities will talk about how they are valuing customer solar on their grids, what their solar crediting might look like, how a utilities organizational structure impacts their decision making, and programs and policies being considered that might mesh with customer solar.

Presenters: Suzy Oversvee, SnoPUD; Greg Mendonca, Okanogan County Electric Co-op; Donna Gerardi, Washington State Academy of Science; Matt Boast, Kittitas PUD; John Rothlin, Avista; Dever Haffner-Ratliffe, Solar Washington

Subject to change, check back often for updates.  

 
Past Solar Summits hosted by Solar Washington

Solar Washington has presented the Washington State Solar Summit to bring industry stakeholders together to address important issues relevant to the solar industry in Washington. Click on the following links to view past Solar Summit agenda and supporters.

2024 | 2023  | 2022 | 2021 |  2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

Photos from past Washington State Solar Summit conferences.

Photos from past summits 

2024

2023

2022

2019