COMMUNITY SOLAR

Community solar happens wherever multiple community members share in the costs and benefits of a single solar installation. Many creative models are emerging across the nation. Northwest SEED is a leader in the field of Community Solar, working to increase access and reduce upfront costs. Our efforts include:

SunShot Initiative: Evergreen State Solar Partnership
In partnership with the WA Department of Commerce State Energy Office, Northwest SEED put together a winning proposal to the Department of Energy under the SunShot Rooftop Solar Challenge. Under this award, the Washington team consisting of the Cities of Edmonds, Seattle, Bellevue and Ellensburg, and the electric utilities that serve them, will work together to establish standards and processes that streamline solar installations and accelerate the use of solar power in the state. Other solar industry stakeholders, including nonprofits Northwest SEED, Solar WA, Thurston Energy, and Sustainable Connections will advise the team and support implementation of proposed changes. Learn more about the project here.

Solarize Washington - Neighborhood PV Bulk Purcashing Program
Northwest SEED is expanding our successful Solarize program from Seattle neighborhoods to communities across Washington.  Using the power of neighbor-to-neighbor organizing and the compelling cost savings of a group purchase, Solarize Washington will help communities go solar together!  Visit the project website for more information.

Seattle City Light Community Solar Program Design
With help from Northwest SEED, Seattle City Light secured a $300,000 grant from the DOE Solar America Cities program to develop a customer-supported community solar installation. For the first project, City Light is building three solar picnic shelters at Jefferson Park in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Customers can enroll by making an upfront purchase of solar energy, in return for production incentives and energy credits over time. See more about the program here. Visit this link for more information about the Solar America Cities program

Sign up for Seattle City Light's Community Solar e-mail updates to be notified of the latest project news!

The Solarize Guidebook: A community guide to collective purchasing of residential PV systems

Authored by Northwest SEED in 2011, the Solarize Guidebook captures the essence of the first neighborhood campaigns in Portland and reviews numerous variations that have emulated the Solarize model. The guide outlines the steps for launching a successful campaign, leveraging local grassroots groups and institutional technical support to produce market transforming results.The Solarize Guidebook was prepared for and funded by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, under the Solar America Communities program and can be downloaded for free here.

A Guide to Community Solar: Utility, Private, and Non-Profit Development
In 2009, Northwest SEED authored The Northwest Community Solar Guide, offering an in-depth look at real community solar projects. In 2010, Northwest SEED partnered with the National Renewable Energy Lab to revise the guide with a national scope, including new emphasis on securities issues and ownership models, with content from our partners, Stoel Rives and Keyes and Fox. The Northwest Community Solar guide and A Guide to Community Solar are available here for free download.

Whidbey Island Community Solar at Greenbank Farm
Whidbey Islands Port of Coupeville won a $25,000 grant from Puget Sound Energy to develop a Community Solar P-Patch at Greenbank Farm. Northwest SEED helped one local group, Island Community Solar, LLC, to be the first to plant their panels at the Farm. Northwest SEED provided technical assistance with project design, securing additional project capital through grant writing, and helping to ensure that the project lessons learned are widely shared so that other groups can pursue solar projects across Washington. The 25 kW array came on-line in June 2011.

Lopez Island Neighborhood Solar:
In 2009, the Lopez Community Land Trust (LCLT) completed development of one of the first zero-net-energy, affordable housing projects in the United States. The project consists of 12 super efficient buildings, providing a new office space for LCLT and low-income housing to Lopez residents. Northwest SEED provided LCLT with assistance in planning, design, procurement, and construction of a 33kW PV system to meet the community’s net-energy needs.