Skagit Community Solar Program
Community solar (PV) arrays use made-in-Washington solar panels and inverters, which maximize the Washington State incentive payments to members participating in these projects. Community solar allows people to participate in renewable energy by buying a share of a larger system that is mounted on a public facility. This program is specifically targeted for people whose home is not suitable for PV installation, are renting, do not wish to invest the money needed for their own solar array, etc.
Another goal of community solar is to increase public awareness about the viability of PV technology by placing large systems on public facilities. In the summer of 2013, Skagit Community Solar started up its first community solar project on the roof of the Anacortes Middle School Gym. Since that time, Skagit Community Solar has installed four new solar arrays on the Middle School, Anacortes Library, Maple Hall in La Conner, and the Anacortes Police Station. The photovoltaic (PV) systems range in size from 16 kilowatts (16,000 watts) to 18.7 killowatts (KW) in electrical generating capacity.