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Seattle, WA
October 8, 2009: Seattle receives Recovery Act funding for Solar America Cities Special Project.
Despite a climate rumored to be excessively rainy, Seattle has demonstrated that solar energy does indeed work in this Northwestern city. And while it is true that a solar cell in Seattle will not produce as much energy as a solar cell in a city like Phoenix, the fact remains that the greatest barriers to widespread solar energy use and deployment are factors related to infrastructure, awareness, economics, and planning - not geographic climate. In fact, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PV Watts calculator, solar radiation in Seattle is better than that of any city in Germany, yet Germany is one of the world’s leaders in solar energy use. With the “Seattle Solar Initiative” (the name of Seattle’s Solar America Cities effort), Seattle, too, can be a leader in solar energy use. Solar technologies will play a key role in shaping Seattle’s energy future and will allow the City to more effectively address the challenges it faces while supporting a clean energy economy.
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Credit:Puget Sound Solar
The Chief Seattle Club uses 300 evacuated tubes to heat hot water for the showers in the community center.
This solar array installed at Washington Middle School is one of 9 school solar demonstration systems in Seattle.
These thin film photovoltaic panels mounted on the windows at the Ballard Library provide shade for occupants while creating electricity.
In addition to petting goats, sheep and miniature horses, Woodland Park Zoo visitors can learn about solar energy when they visit the Family Farm exhibit.
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Activities
The objective of the Seattle Solar Initiative is to overcome the barriers to widespread deployment of solar energy technology, dramatically increasing residential, commercial, city-owned, and community-scale solar energy use. The City has assembled a strong team of partners that have proven track records in the fields of public planning, renewable energy resource mapping, financial analysis, site analysis, education and outreach, policy analysis and advocacy, community organizing, and renewable energy project development.
In order to achieve its project objective, the City of Seattle aims to:- Incorporate solar energy evaluation and deployment into City Planning efforts including:
- City Light’s (the local electric utility) Five-Year Energy Efficiency Action Plan for the Conservation Resource Division
- Seattle’s Neighborhood Plans
- Seattle’s Green Building Program
- Research and implement innovative financing mechanisms and ownership models to address the economic barriers to solar energy.
- A special focus will be devoted towards developing new opportunities for community-scale solar energy installations.
- Develop and implement education and outreach programs to Seattle City Light customers. Topics will include:
- The basics of solar energy
- Technology effectiveness in Seattle
- Available incentives and cost-effectiveness models
- Site selection
- Project development steps.
- Evaluate and overcome barriers to interconnection in Seattle by:
- Auditing and reporting on interconnection practices
- Developing an interconnection guide
- Refining interconnection practices as appropriate.
- Conduct mapping and site visits to identify the most appropriate solar sites within the city and target outreach and project development accordingly.
Partners
- Bonneville Environmental Foundation
- City of Seattle, City Light (Project Lead)
- City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development
- Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development
- Washington State Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development
Community Solar Financing through Municipal UtilityThe City will develop a sustainable financial and ownership model that addresses all legal, technical and logistical requirements to community solar, and will market the program and enroll participants.
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