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 Seattle's Sustainable Energy Future Welcome to Seattle Community Solar, a new program bringing customers together to support an innovative solar project for a sustainable energy future. City Light 's initial project is coming to Seattle's Jefferson Park and will serve as a destination that educates and inspires visitors. It will convey the clear message: Solar Works in Seattle!  Community Solar at Jefferson Park City Light has partnered with Seattle Parks and Recreation to build three new picnic shelters with roofs made of solar electric panels. The shelters will be part solar power plant and part gathering place to educate and inspire visitors. The project is estimated to produce 24,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean, renewable electricity each year-enough to run 3 households or brew 146,000 pots of coffee. Map and driving directions here.  Let's put Seattle on the solar map Seattle gets more sunlight than Germany, the world leader in solar power. In 2010 alone, Germany added solar generation capacity to meet half of Seattle's electricity needs. We have the potential to be a solar model for the U.S., and Community Solar is a major step in that direction. Become a solar pioneer For a limited time, City Light is offering all customers the opportunity to participate in Community Solar at Jefferson Park. When you enroll in the program, a portion of the electricity generated by the project will be credited annually to your power bill. Your name will become a permanent part of the ground-breaking Community Solar installation. And you'll be pioneering a bright, new energy future for Seattle. Enroll to become a founding member All City Light customers are invited to become founding members in Seattle Community Solar. Space is limited to 500 solar units, and each customer may purchase a maximum of two units. Each solar unit is estimated to produce 50 kWh of electricity per year through June 2020 when the program ends. The one-time, up-front cost is $600 per solar unit. Enroll and you will receive:
The Seattle Community Solar story Seattle's Community Solar roots go back to 2008, when the U.S. Department of Energy awarded a grant to Seattle as one of 25 Solar America Cities. Despite a seemingly less-than-ideal climate for solar power, the department recognized Seattle's solar potential, forward thinking and initiative for solar energy development. Project efforts confirmed that the greatest barrier to widespread solar energy use in Seattle isn't our climate-it's awareness, planning, infrastructure and economics. Seattle City Light is working to overcome each of those hurdles, and Community Solar is a major step in that plan. In 2009, the WA State legislature created new renewable energy production incentives for Community Solar which doubled existing incentive rates. Seattle was awarded a second grant from the Department of Energy Solar America Cities Program in 2010. This special project award was specifically for the development and launch of a Seattle City Light community solar program. We're here to help To learn more about Community Solar: Email: SCLEnergyAdvisor@seattle.gov Phone: 206-684-3800 (translation services available) Seattle City Light Attn: Community Solar Program Manager PO Box 34023 MS 901-487 Seattle, WA 98124-4023 Community Solar FAQs Can solar power work here? Yes. Seattle customers are adding more solar power each year and Community Solar will demonstrate that despite our cloudy reputation, solar power has enormous potential in this region. Is Community Solar available to all customers? Yes. Community Solar is a Seattle City Light program dedicated to helping increase access to solar energy in Seattle. Whether you are a business, non-profit group, or a household who rent or own, live in the shade or the sun, have an apartment, condo or a single family home, Community Solar is available to you. Why should I sign up? If you rent or own a condo, or it's not possible to install solar power where you live, Community Solar provides an easy and affordable way to participate in a solar energy project. You'll be part of a pioneering group moving Seattle toward a cleaner, renewable energy future. And you'll be leading the way for additional Community Solar projects. Where will the Community Solar project be located? Jefferson Park, located on Beacon Hill. Solar panels will be installed as roofing on three new park picnic shelters. How much electricity will this project produce? The total project will consist of (120) 200-watt solar electric panels (also called modules) and is estimated to produce 24,000 kWh of electricity per year. Each of the 500 solar units will produce approximately 50 kWh per year. What is the financial payback? Participants will receive a billing credit at a current rate of about $0.07 for each kWh generated by their solar unit(s) (about 50 kWh per solar unit, per year), for an estimated annual credit of $3.50 per solar unit throughout the duration of the nine-year agreement. Participants are also eligible to receive the Washington State Renewable Energy Production Incentive annually through June of 2020, offering up to an additional $1.08 per kWh, and a credit of $54.00 per unit, per year. There is no guarantee, but participants will likely recoup most of their enrollment fee by program end in June 2020. How do I enroll? Starting June 21, 2011, all interested participants can obtain an application from Seattle City Light. The application can be downloaded here. To enroll, Seattle City Light will need a signed application, along with a check or credit card number to cover the enrollment fee. Can I pay with installments on my electricity bill? Sorry, no. Because of the complexities of the project, we need full payment up front. Can I take the solar electricity benefits with me if I move? Yes! If you move within the Seattle City Light service area, you can transfer the solar benefits to your new account. If you move out of the Seattle City Light service area, you can designate another SCL account to receive the benefit of your solar units. Is the $600 payment tax-deductible? No. Participation in Seattle Community Solar provides annual bill credits and is not a donation. Seattle City Light is a municipal corporation and does not qualify as a charitable organization. |
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