As of this week, 100 Northwest Seattle residents have contracted to install residential solar systems through the Solarize Seattle: Northwest program spearheaded by Northwest SEED and Seattle City Light.
City Councilmember Mike O’Brien helps out on the first Solarize installation in Northwest Seattle.
Solarize Seattle: Northwest—the innovative solar bulk purchase campaign spearheaded by Northwest SEED and Seattle City Light—has just reached an exciting milestone.
As of this week, 100 Northwest Seattle residents have contracted to install residential solar systems through the program. This equates to nearly 450 kilowatts of clean, renewable energy that will energize our region for generations to come.
Northwest Seattleites have come out en masse to demonstrate their support for solar energy—free public workshops held this spring attracted more than 600 residents interested in the program. The 100 that have moved forward with a solar installation are simultaneously demonstrating support for local businesses. More than 85 percent of participating homeowners have opted to install solar modules that were manufactured in Washington.
Through Solarize, participants learn about solar with their neighbors, receive a free site visit from an approved installation team, and access discounted pricing enabled by economies of scale and a group purchase. This innovative model has helped to drive solar installations in our city, our state, and around the country by making solar easier and more affordable for all.
Moreover, Northwest Seattle’s 100 Solarizers have helped power the Solarize Washington program past another big goal. Since Northwest SEED launched Solarize Washington in 2011, campaign participants have collectively installed more than one megawatt of new solar power. See the impact here.
The momentum behind Solarize Seattle: Northwest is magnified by partnerships with 10 local community groups that help spread the word to their members and constituents. Partnering organizations include Phinney Neighborhood Association, Sustainable Greenwood-Phinney, Sustainable Ballard, Sustainable Wallingford, Sustainable Seattle, Phinney Ridge Community Council, Greenwood Community Council, Wallingford Community Council, Fremont Neighborhood Council, and Green Lake Community Council.
Solarize Seattle: Northwest participants will have until early summer to sign a contract and lock in the program’s discounted rates—there is more solar to come! More information can be found at www.solarizewa.org.
Additionally, Northwest SEED and City Light are recruiting community organizations in Southeast Seattle for the next installation campaign. Details on that effort are available here.