On February 17, the University of Washington celebrated the completion of a solar canopy installation at the E18 parking lot. This 86.4-kilowatt solar canopy was developed as a pilot project in collaboration between UW Solar – a student-led, interdisciplinary group – and UW Transportation Services.
The project marks a major milestone in decarbonizing the university’s energy systems and demonstrates the power of student initiative and community partnerships. We’re proud that City Light’s Green Up program helped make this project a reality. The E18 solar canopy is a model for future sustainability efforts, testing the potential of larger solar expansions and advancing the university’s commitment to clean energy.
A student-driven effort
Braden Kelly, with UW Transportation Services, opened the event by sharing the significance of the new solar project with attendees:
“Welcome and thank you for coming out on this cold wintry day to celebrate our collective accomplishment that installs 86.4 kilowatts of solar generating capacity and 20 mixed-use electric vehicle chargers that serve both fleet and public vehicles here at UW. From this site, we can see UW’s energy legacy and future [….] We have hard work ahead to decarbonize this campus, and we believe we can get there together.”
The plan to transform the E18 lot began when UW Solar identified the area’s potential for large-scale solar energy and partnered with UW Transportation Services. The project was funded in part by City Light’s Green Up Community program, which provided $126,000 to purchase the renewable energy credits generated from this project. Students, staff, and other advocates worked for years to bring this vision to life, learning from challenges and exploring new solar technologies and funding structures.
Jan Whittington, Associate Professor of Urban Design and Planning and UW Solar Faculty Advisor, noted the project’s deeper significance for UW students in her remarks:
“Students in UW Solar learn about infrastructure development by doing it [….] Every project they take on includes at least one new innovative thing. Yes, solar works under our famously cloudy skies [….] As of the summer of 2019, the cost to develop a solar array here at UW fell below the cost of purchasing that same energy from Seattle City Light. This is a good thing, because to electrify transportation, we will need a lot more renewable energy.”
Looking ahead
The E18 solar canopy is a bold step toward UW’s 2050 Sustainability Action Plan and a model for future solar installations on campus. Projects like this show the power of long-term partnerships, student vision, and community collaboration. We are proud to support transformative programs that build a more sustainable and equitable energy future across our region.
You can read more about the E18 solar canopy on the University of Washington’s website.
Green Up: Supporting Renewable Energy
City Light’s Green Up program was instrumental in making the E18 solar canopy a reality, providing essential funding and ongoing support as a key project partner. If you want to support local, renewable energy projects in our region, visit our website to learn more about joining Green Up.
Green Up is a voluntary renewable energy program that allows customers to support Pacific Northwest solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects. By participating in Green Up, customers help fund projects like this one, which generate renewable energy and benefit local communities. Join the Green Up program today if you want to contribute to more stories like this to deliver meaningful, local benefits.