Volume 41 - February 2026 | | Meet Solar Washington's New Board Members | | |
We invite you to take a moment to connect with our new board members by clicking on their pictures or names, allowing you to get to know the passionate individuals dedicated to advancing solar energy in Washington State.
We are also pleased to announce the reelection of our esteemed current board members, Richard Hartung and Chris Muench, who will continue to serve on the Board in 2026, ensuring stability and continuity in our leadership.
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Our board members serve two-year terms and can be re-elected up to twice, reflecting our commitment to fostering dedicated leadership.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our retiring board members—Chris Brown, Dever Haffner-Ratliffe, Alex Nephew, and Charlee Thompson—for your invaluable contributions and unwavering support; your service has truly made a difference in our community.
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Nora Hawkins Steps Down From Board and Up at Department of Commerce.
We’re excited to share that Solar Washington Board Member Nora Hawkins has been appointed Interim Energy Policy Director at the Washington State Department of Commerce’s State Energy Office, effective January 1. In this role, Nora will lead 2026 legislative priorities and guide policy operations during the upcoming session. As she steps into this important statewide leadership position, Nora is stepping down from our Board. We are deeply grateful for her service, insight, and commitment to clean energy, and we know she will do an exceptional job advancing Washington’s energy future. We wish her all the best in this next chapter.
| | | New Membership Rates and Structure | |
New Membership Rates & Structure
Starting February 1st, 2026, Solar Washington is pleased to introduce a revamped membership structure and updated rates designed to enhance the value we provide to our community.
Individual memberships will remain largely unchanged; however, we encourage those who wish to contribute further to consider our Professional membership level, which is open to anyone with an interest in solar energy, not just industry professionals.
We are also excited to announce the transition from our annual sponsor program to a new model of annual business memberships. This new structure features three distinct levels, each tailored to meet the diverse needs of businesses within the solar sector, offering unique benefits that enhance engagement and collaboration.
We invite you to explore these new membership options and join us in fostering a sustainable energy future.
| | | | Featured Article: Robots Make Solar Installation Faster and Easier | | |
Amidst a shortage of installers, increasingly heavy panels that can weigh 80 pounds and solar farms with hundreds of thousands of panels, robots are cutting labor costs and increasing speed. While they started out on solar farms, they’re now even going onto rooftops...
*Image Source: https://www.kuka.com/en-us/industries/solutions-database/2025/12/automating-solar-panel-installation
Keep Reading
| | Introducing Solar Coffee Chat | | |
The coffee chat is an opportunity for discussion around all things solar. You’ll have a chance to share your ideas, ask questions, learn and contribute.
Board member Richard Hartung will kick off the discussion with a short overview of key trends in solar and what homeowners as well as industry professionals can look forward to in the year ahead. We’ll then open up the session for discussion among all participants.
Feb 25, 2026 12:00 PM, Zoom
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Feb 11, Virtual, Plug-In Solar: What States Need to Know is a webinar from Clean Energy States Alliance for government officials will be presented in clear, plain-language information about plug-in solar technology and policy issues for state energy agencies and their legislative counterparts.
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Feb 24, Spokane and online, Holding to our Values in a Changing Climate. Commissioner of Public Lands, Washington Department of Natural Resources Dave Upthegrove will discuss ways that the Department of Natural Resources is working to defend Washington's public lands, waters, and forests in the face of climate change and new threats from the other Washington.
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Feb 25, Zoom, Solar Washington Presents Solar Coffee Chat is an opportunity for discussion around all things solar. You’ll have a chance to share your ideas, ask questions, learn and contribute. Registration required.
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March 2-4, Seattle, Washington Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference. Join us in the heart of the Evergreen State for three days of inspiring keynotes, collaborative sessions, and meaningful dialogue as we shape a more sustainable and just future in higher education. Through thought-provoking discussions and action-driven programming, we’ll explore how to cultivate just, inclusive solutions for a more sustainable future -- on campuses, in communities, and across the systems shaping our world.
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March 3, Spokane, Environmental and Climate Law and Policy in the Inland Northwest will cover to how the next generation of legal advocates can utilize the full spectrum of legal and advocacy tools—ranging from litigation and administrative law to community-based strategies and policy development—to protect the environment and public health.
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April 20, Spokane and online, AI, Climate Change, and Energy Demand a public panel discussion of the challenges and opportunities of addressing climate change in an era of rapid development and deployment of artificial intelligence.
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April 28-30, Vancouver, PNW Solar+Storage Conference is a partnership between OSSIA and WASEIA, this premier regional event brings together the Pacific Northwest’s solar and storage community for interactive sessions on technical training, business development, policy, utility-scale PV, energy storage, and more.
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Clean Energy Jobs
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Cascadia Renewables, Bellingham, Various
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Climate Solutions, Seattle/Hybrid, Washington Clean Energy Policy Manager
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Ecotech Solar, Bellingham, Various
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Silfab Solar, Burlington, Various
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Sunergy Systems, Seattle, Solar Design Consultant
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SunPower, Everett, Solar Installer
Send us your job listings!
Visit the job page on the Solar Washington website for more information and the newest listings
| | Help Us Advance Solar Energy in Washington | | | | |
Become a member and help us move Washington towards our vision of 100% clean energy
We rely on the financial support from individuals and companies to help us provide solar educational resources to the public and industry personnel.
| Your support goes directly to our ability to offer the programs and resources that are important to you as a homeowner, industry professional, business owner, and solar advocate. | | | | |
