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City Light Community Solar Project Wins IREC Innovation Award

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One of the solar picnic shelters at Jefferson Park in Beacon Hill.

 

Seattle City Light’s Community Solar project has won a 2012 Innovation Award from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

“Each year, IREC recognizes individuals and organizations for projects, programs and policies that are helping advance the understanding and use of renewable energy technologies in our cities, states and local communities,” said Ken Jurman, immediate past chair of IREC. “The 2012 Annual Innovation Awards acknowledge and shine a light on innovative initiatives that have made an impact in the categories of State and Local Government, K-12 Educational Programs, Community Renewables, and Clean Energy Workforce Development.”

City Light’s Community Solar project broke ground last year and consists of three solar picnic shelters at Jefferson Park. So far, the program has enrolled 468 residents and businesses owners who have made an upfront purchase of solar energy generation in exchange for receiving credit for the power produced along with a state production incentive. The utility is still accepting participants until the end of September. Learn more or sign up here.

“Through Community Solar, any City Light customer can purchase solar electricity, even if they can’t install their own solar panels,” Conservation Resources Director Glenn Atwood said. “Despite our Rain City reputation, solar works in Seattle.”

In announcing the award, IREC said, “Seattle City Light’s Community Solar program exemplifies how a large municipal utility, with some of the lowest customer rates in the nation, can develop a program that increases customer engagement and access to solar.”

City Light developed the Community Solar project in partnership with Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Public Utilities, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Communities program.

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.

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council Inc. is a non-profit organization accelerating the use of renewable energy since 1982. IREC’s programs and policies lead to easier, more affordable connection to the utility grid; fair credit for renewable energy produced; best practices for states, municipalities, utilities and industry; and quality assessment for the growing green workforce through the credentialing of trainers and training programs. Visit www.irecusa.org

 

May-June Issue of Light Reading Available Online

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The May-June issue of Your Seattle City Light’s customer newsletter, Light Reading, is now available online.

Inside, you’ll find informative articles on LED streetlight installations, our Community Solar project in Beacon Hill, tips for saving money on your electricity bills, rebates on energy efficient appliances, opportunities to share your ideas about clean, renewable energy and a discount admission at Woodland Park Zoo to celebrate the first anniversary of the solar panels that now power its historic carousel.

Light Reading is available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog, Korean and Somali.

If you have a story suggestion for a future issue of Light Reading, we’d love to hear it. Send them to Light Reading Editor Connie McDougall at connie.mcdougall@seattle.gov .

 

Seattle City Light Community Solar Project Begins Generating Electricity

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Founding Members celebrate the installation of the Community Solar project at Jefferson Park.

Seattle City Light completed installation of its first Community Solar project today and started generating renewable energy from the power of the sun for hundreds of customers who purchased a portion of the project’s output.

“This Community Solar project is another way Seattle City Light is helping our community make sustainable energy choices,” City Councilmember Mike O’Brien said. “It eliminates some of the barriers for people who want solar energy but can’t install panels at their home or business.”

City Light customers can buy a portion of the output from the project for $600 each. These Founding Members also receive all state incentives for the solar energy production. The project’s 500 portions are nearly sold out. Details and an application are available online at http://sclpandevo/light/Solar/community.asp

“Even with our Rain City reputation, solar works in Seattle,” City Light Conservation Resources Director Glenn Atwood said. “This project is estimated to produce 24,000 kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable electricity each year. That’s enough to run three households.”

The Community Solar project was developed with the help of a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Money invested in the project by Founding Member customers will help fund a second project in the future. Equipment for the project was purchased from Silicon Energy in Marysville, supporting green jobs in Washington.

“I’m very happy to be a part of this program,” said Robert Hinrix of Beacon Hill, one of the project’s founding members. “I’ve been a longtime supporter of alternative energy, going back 30 years almost. This is a way I can put my money where my beliefs are and make something happen. I encourage all of my neighbors and fellow citizens of Seattle to consider it.”

An added bonus the project provides to visitors at Jefferson Park comes from its innovative design.

Rather than attaching solar panels on an existing structure, Seattle City Light designed the Community Solar project so the panels are the roofs of three new picnic shelters. This is the first installation of its kind that City Light is aware of. Jefferson Park users have sought covered picnic areas for more than a decade, but tight budgets had kept the Seattle Parks Department from providing them until now.

“By working together, Parks and City Light were able to create a project with multiple benefits for program participants and the community at large,” O’Brien said. “I congratulate them and the hundreds of people who invested in this project to make it happen.”

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.

Council Approves Positive Changes to City Light Green Programs

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Today, the Seattle City Council approved legislation that helps expand Seattle’s reputation as a socially inclusive green city. Council Bill 117243 supports efforts to encourage all Seattle City Light customers to participate in the utility’s Community Solar program.  This program aligns with the City’s Race and Social Justice goals and encourages City Light to provide the widest possible access to its solar programs. Community Solar gives customers the opportunity to receive credits on energy produced from a solar voltaic array owned and operated by City Light.  

“As an advocate for social justice and inclusion, I am pleased to pass this legislation,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee.  “It opens the Community Solar program up to people who may not have participated otherwise and spreads awareness of solar photovoltaic technology.”

In other Council action related to green energy programs, Council Bill 117242, retires City Light’s Green Power program because it has achieved its program goals. However, the City will continue on with the Utility’s Green Up program. 

Since 2002, Green Power funded 30 solar projects, 13 of those were located at schools. The goal of Green Power was to support the development of smaller scale, local renewable energy projects that increase awareness, improve operations, and create demand through demonstration and education.

City Light will continue to offer the Green Up program, established in 2005.  Green Up supports development of larger scale renewable energy projects like wind, geothermal and biomass.  Customers voluntarily participate in the program by paying an increased rate for green resources.

“Some of the projects that have been supported by Green Up funds in the past six years include geothermal, dairy biogas, and small canal hydro projects,” said City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco. “Green Up is an excellent way for customers to directly support new, renewable energy alternatives.

“Since 2002, customers have contributed $1.8 million into the Green Power program and since 2005, $7.5 million into the Green Up program. These programs and participation levels show our city’s commitment to sustainable practices,” added Councilmember Harrell.