CAMANO ISLAND — The Snohomish County Public Utility District’s newest Planet Power solar project, and the first on the island, is being installed this week at the Camano Center.
Fire Mountain Solar of Mount Vernon is placing 35 solar panels on the southwest end of the center’s roof. They are scheduled to wrap up the project by the end of the week.
The panels hook up to a monitoring system that local elementary school teachers plan to use to teach students about science and technology, including lessons on solar power and renewable energy.
The Camano Center project is funded by a $39,359 grant from the PUD’s Planet Power program. It is one of four solar installations to win funding this year, totaling about $120,000 in grants. The other recipients are the Marysville YMCA, Work Opportunities in Lynnwood and Valley View Middle School in Snohomish.
Since the program started in 2009, Planet Power has paid for 29 solar-panel projects. Past projects include high schools, senior housing and a transit center. In all, the program has awarded more than $900,000 in grants.
The money comes from optional customer contributions to the PUD. People can choose to pay extra each bill, or make a one-time payment. About 2,400 people participate in Planet Power, program manager Leslie Moynihan said.
At this point, grant recipients must be nonprofits, public facilities or schools, she said. However, the program has been open to commercial projects in the past and could be again.
“We look not only for sites where solar energy will work — which has to do with how much exposure they have to the sun — but also what they can contribute to us as a partner to educate people or promote solar and renewable energy,” Moynihan said. “The Camano Center does all kinds of outreach with all ages.”
The nonprofit community center hosts educational and recreational events on Camano Island, with a focus on senior activities. It is next to the elementary school that will base lesson plans on the new solar power system.
“The Camano Center is going to benefit because they’ll have lower energy bills, but the ripple effects of this project are really education and working with the kids and people on Camano Island,” Moynihan said.
This year’s grant recipients are gaining 10-kilowatt systems — each to produce 10,000 kilowatt hours per year. That’s almost enough to power the average Snohomish County home, or about $800 worth of energy annually, Moynihan said.
The Planet Power program originally funded demonstration projects that produced about a fifth of the power they do now, she said. In the past six years, the program has grown and solar energy has become more affordable and efficient.
“Now these projects are doing more than just showing people what solar panels look like, they’re really contributing to renewable energy and cost savings,” she said.
Organizations can submit applications for the next round of solar grants in early 2015. PEmail planetpower@snopud.com for more information.
Kari Bray: kbray@heraldnet.com, 425-339-3439.
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