Seattle City Light is celebrating full-enrollment for the Community Solar project in Capitol Hill, located on the roof of an affordable housing complex managed by the non-profit organization Capitol Hill Housing. Seattle City Light is celebrating full-enrollment for the Community Solar project in Capitol Hill, located on the roof of an affordable housing complex managed by the non-profit organization Capitol Hill Housing.
Community Solar is an innovative program that provides Utility customers with the opportunity to participate in Washington State’s burgeoning solar industry, without having to install an array on one’s own roof. The program is designed as an affordable pathway for Seattle renters, homeowners and business owners who want to ‘Go Solar’, but at a size and cost that works for them. This is one of the many reasons City Light’s program has been replicated by electric utilities throughout the Pacific Northwest.
While many customers opted-in to a single share of the latest Community Solar project (above), Seattle City Light would like to recognize a few of the many Solar Sponsors who went above-and-beyond.
Here is some feedback we received from a few of our Solar Sponsors explaining why Community Solar was a great fit for their business:
“We couldn’t have been more excited when we learned about the Community Solar program. Being able to invest in renewable clean energy is fantastic in and of itself; to be able to do so while additionally supporting Capitol Hill Housing, our favorite neighborhood non-profit, makes this program a perfect fit for us. We can only hope that such a unique and relevant program continues to grow and provide further opportunities for Seattle citizens to join.” – Rich Fox, Operating Owner of Rhein Haus Seattle & Poquitos
“The EcoDistrict is supported by Capitol Hill Housing and the Community Solar array is installed on one of our affordable apartment buildings, the Holiday. Capitol Hill Housing will benefit from the program long term, as ownership of the solar array will transfer to us in 2020. We really believed in this project and thought it made good sense to invest in it ourselves.” – Amy Allsopp, Communications Manager at Capitol Hill Housing
“Our decision to participate in the Community Solar program was an easy one. We wanted to help our community succeed in this project by our being a participating member and we also wanted to increase the overall awareness of the practicality for solar powered systems. As owner of Rainbow Natural Remedies I enjoy living in my Seattle home that is, itself, net-zero energy due to my home’s solar panels. So I know and live first-hand the benefits of a solar photovoltaic system.” – Ross Kling, Owner of Rainbow Natural Remedies
“A&R Solar is proud to be a participant in the Seattle City Light community solar program as a “Solar Sponsor.” We loved that this particular project not only benefits our local community by increasing the amount of solar in Seattle’s energy mix, but that it also directly reduces operating costs for low-income housing provider Capitol Hill Housing.” – Ryan Ceurvorst, Marketing Director at A&R Solar
“Here at Molly Moon’s, we love being on the cutting edge of ideas that are good for the community and good for the environment! We are excited to support Community Solar because it benefits us and our neighbors by making and using more solar energy.” – Emilia Arnold, Project Manager at Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream
Additional sponsors include Eagle Rock Ventures LLC, Rock Box, Capitol Hill Cider, and Central Co-Op.
Thank you again to our Solar Sponsors, and to all Community Solar participants!
Please feel free to check out the Community Solar website for more information about this program.
Seattle City Light administers the Washington State Production Incentive for customers who generate renewable energy like solar, as well as provide generous net-metering benefits. Paired with the 30 percent federal tax credit for purchasing a solar array and the decreasing cost of solar modules, many of our customers have enjoyed a 4- to 6-year payback on their home solar projects and/or Community Solar participation. Find out how much energy the Capitol Hill system is generating by visiting our solar energy monitoring dashboard, and feel free to contact an Energy Advisor with any renewable energy and conservation related questions about you may have: (206) 684-3800 – SCLEnergyAdvisor@seattle.gov