Seattle City Light and the Seattle Aquarium announced the start of construction today for the largest solar array at any aquarium on the West Coast as part of the utility’s Community Solar and Green Up programs.
Community Solar is coming to the Seattle Aquarium. It will be the largest solar installation at any aquarium on the West Coast.
Seattle City Light and the Seattle Aquarium announced the start of construction today for the largest solar array at any aquarium on the West Coast as part of the utility’s Community Solar and Green Up programs.
“Part of the vision of the Seattle Aquarium is to invest in alternative energy,” Aquarium President and CEO Robert W. Davidson said. “Operating sustainably will help fulfill our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, and this is an important step in that direction.”
NW Wind & Solar of Seattle is installing the $330,000 system, which will cover a large portion of the south side of the Seattle Aquarium’s roof. The 247 panels for the 49.4 kilowatt system are being purchased from Marysville-based Silicon Energy, promoting more green jobs in Western Washington.
Most of the panels will produce electricity on behalf of City Light customers who want to buy solar power through the utility’s Community Solar program. The rest of the panels are being installed as a demonstration project through the utility’s voluntary Green Up renewable energy program with the electricity produced helping to power the Aquarium’s operations.
Only a few of the 1,800 units of the Community Solar portion of the project are still available. Each 24 watt unit of the solar installation cost $150. To buy one of the last units, call Project Manager Suzanne DuRard at (206) 684-3874.
“We’re excited to start construction,” City Light Conservation Resources Director Glenn Atwood said. “Customer demand for participation in the Community Solar project has been strong. We’re looking forward to generating electricity from the power of the sun on their behalf soon. And with our reliance on the power of fresh water and commitment to environmental stewardship, we’re especially pleased to be partnering with a world-class organization dedicated to the life and health of the sea. Our missions are joined by the journey of salmon, from river to ocean and back.”
Participants receive credit on their City Light accounts for their portions of the solar panels’ output through 2020 along with all state production incentives. Together, those credits amount to $1.15 per kilowatt-hour. City Light estimates that participants will receive more than $150 worth of electricity and production incentives for each unit purchased by the end of their agreements. Details are available online at www.seattle.gov/communitysolar .
“The Aquarium community solar system is a great deal,” said Gina Hicks of Capitol Hill, who purchased the maximum 125 units. “So easy, so smart, I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve been telling everyone to get a piece. I can’t wait for it to get installed so I can go online and see the power it’s generating.”
Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public electric utility in the United States. It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to nearly 1 million Seattle area residents. City Light has been greenhouse gas neutral since 2005, the first electric utility in the nation to achieve that distinction.