Our current economic climate is stressful. It seems like the cost of everything keeps going up. One example? In January 2025, Puget Sound Energy implemented a 12% rate increase this year. Most of us try to be more energy efficient but that can be difficult—especially with home offices and kids using more electronics than ever. That’s where Solarize Whatcom comes in, a program sponsored by two nonprofits, Sustainable Connections & Olympia Community Solar. Their goal is to help residents navigate the solar purchasing experience and provide discounts on the installation. Sign up for a free home assessment before the program ends on July 4th!
“We identified this gap in the clean energy industry of customers needing educational support and access to resources,” shares Mason Rolph, executive director for Olympia Community Solar.
Nonprofit Solar Organization Guides You Through Solar Power for Your Home
We all see the “solarize your home,” “no more electric bills,” and other ads on the internet. But for first-time solar users, the idea can be intimidating. Most of us have a basic understanding of our electric grid at best, so adding another component can be confusing. Solar energy has rapidly grown in popularity for its economic and environmental benefits, but installing solar on your home can feel like a daunting process: from perceived costs and complicated technical details, to selecting a reputable installer.
With a mission to make solar power more accessible, the nonprofit does the legwork for you—including providing education and helping navigate the ins and outs of how solar works. “Our role with Solarize is to support homeowners through that process by providing them with education and support,” shares Ben Silesky, program director for Olympia Community Solar.
To do this, Sustainable Connections & Olympia Community Solar contracts vetted local solar installers. The vetting process ensures the solar companies provide quality equipment, are experienced and have a stable business, have good product and workmanship warranties, and offer a discount to Solarize Whatcom program customers.
“The system will be on your roof for decades,” adds Ben. “We want it to be durable and efficient.”
Get a Free Home Assessment and Solar Power Estimate During Solarize Whatcom
When you sign up on the Solarize Whatcom website, Olympia Community Solar will connect you with their local, vetted solar companies. Have questions? Feel free to ask Olympia Community Solar or Sustainable Connections!
Another frequently asked question is, “Does Washington even get enough sun to have solar power?” The answer is a resounding yes. “Panels today are more than twice as efficient at collecting sunlight as they were a decade ago,” shares Ben. “And we actually get more sun than Germany, which is one of the leading solar energy countries in the world. To inform a customer’s choice to invest, a solar installer provides measurements of the cumulative sunlight that you’re going to get over the course of a year, and how much energy that will generate.”
The reason for this is a policy called net metering. With net metering, you earn bill credits for excess energy that your home does not consume during the sunnier summer months. This excess energy flows into the electric grid and your utility company provides a credit on your bill. Then, when winter comes and there is less sunlight, that credit keeps your bill low. “Net Metering is the key mechanism that makes rooftop solar worth it to homeowners in Washington,” shares Mason.
Investing in solar power can help safeguard you from future energy price hikes. It’s one of the few ways we can protect ourselves from the constant cost of living increases.
“The main reason we see folks investing in solar is for long term energy savings,” says Mason. “If they’re generating their own energy, they’re independent and insulated from any changes in the price of electricity on the market—they don’t have to worry about future utility rate hikes.”
As an example, solar panels can last 45-50 years and have 25-year warranties. Just during that 25-year warrantied life, a typical electric bill for a household in Washington will total $66,000. “With solar, you can wipe almost all of that away,” adds Ben. Solarize Whatcom also partners with Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union for financing— the only credit union in Washington that specializes in solar loans.
The Solarize Whatcom program is also offering additional services such as Electric Vehicle chargers, Battery backup for those who experience frequent power outages, and Home Energy Audits through the Community Energy Challenge.
The Solarize Whatcom program has already supported over 350 homeowners to install solar power. Will yours be next? Sign up today on the Solarize website.
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