Solarize Skagit has 129 considering solar around La Conner

By Ken Stern

This corrects the July 19 story headlined: “Solarize Skagit will power 129 homes.” That headline is incorrect. As the cooperative’s Vice President Mary Wohleb states in her letter on page 2 today: “A sign up’ means the homeowner filled out an on-line form. … A sign up is not a commitment to go solar.”

Wohleb also clarifies she did not provide information about the 30% federal tax or that it is applied to the $2.81/wt negotiated rate, in paragraph four.

This is the complete story, as corrected:

The Skagit Valley Clean Energy Cooperative-op reached its July Fourth goal with a bang, signing up 129 households in the county for solar electrical systems by that deadline. The La Conner-based start-up created Solarize Skagit at the start of the year, partnering with Olympia Community Solar to offer a group purchasing program to help Skagitonians save money on advanced energy systems.

Forty-three households in the La Conner School District are interested in the discounted group rate. Countywide, 36 households in Mount Vernon, 21 in Anacortes, 10 in Sedro-Woolley, seven in Bow, five in Burlington and one in Bellingham committed to estimates for installations. In Thurston County, with almost 300,000 people, 129 households signed up in 2022. This year 221 sign-ups were made in the Thurston County effort.

The first installation was actually in March, in La Conner, with two others in the county. Mary Wohleb, the co-op’s board vice president, estimated all projects will be finished the end of the year, if the households commit. Over 25%, 35 households, joined the last 30 days of the campaign. Each still needs a site evaluation.

The families gained a negotiated rate of $2.81 per watt, Wohleb said, or about $1.97 after the 30% federal tax credit. That compares to the $3 to $5 per watt for fully installed solar system before incentives, according to Solar.com.

Olympia Community Solar is also a nonprofit. It promotes helping communities save money on solar power by leveraging their cumulative purchasing power for better prices. Solar equipment is purchased in bulk and well-qualified installers are contracted to make the process of installing solar power simple, affordable and secure.

The Clean Energy Co-op will repeat the campaign next year. Homeowners can reach out to solar installers, but there is no guaranteed reduced price.

Wohleb notes that many who signed up for an estimate have not yet committed to an installation.

The co-op is also encouraging participation in a Community Energy Challenge for reducing home energy consumption starting with a home energy audit. Information: sustainableconnections.org/community-energy-challenge/

Information from the co-op: skagitvce.coop.

This corrects the July 12 edition. Corrections are:

Headline: Solarize Skagit signs up 129 for solar panels around La Conner. Not 129 homes powered by solar.

Forty-three households in the La Conner school district have not committed but are interested in the discounted group rate. Countywide the municipal totals are for forms signed expressing interest in receiving estimates for installations.