Feature Article: 
Installing Solar can be Better than Expected,

Even in Washington!

The common refrain in Washington is that it’s too dark and dreary for solar to make sense. However, Maine and Vermont show that solar can work in northern climates. And with electricity prices now rising, the payback period for many households can be far shorter than expected.

Solar is Rare in Washington, Plentiful in Maine and Vermont

Solar energy provides barely more than 1 percent of the electricity in Washington state. The abundance of cheap hydropower leads to it having a 63 percent share of electricity, and even wind provides four times as much electricity as solar. 

Many people assume that Washington is too cloudy to generate much solar energy. Yet that argument fades away when we look at the weather and usage of solar in some other northern states.

Keep Reading

If you started the solar progress, or even have a complete installation- the company going out of business can cause lots of confusion and frustration.

In this webinar:

• Dever Haffner-Ratliffe of Solar Quote Check LLC and,
  
• Anders Alexander of Meta Electric LLC

will walk through options and potential remedies, resources, and how to screen your next solar contractor.

When: Wednesday July 15th | 12:00 PM

Where: Zoom (Link provided upon registration)

Cost: Free

Register Here

Homeowners and businesses considering installing a solar energy system are often concerned about the cost. While the solar panels can pay for themselves before long, there is a significant upfront cost that can seem daunting. Fortunately, there are alternatives to large cash outlays.

Businesses and homeowners can both take advantage of loans and other financing solutions. Join this webinar with experts from the financial services industry to learn about alternatives for financing a solar energy system

When: Tuesday August 11th | 12:00 PM

Where: Zoom (Link provided upon registration)

Cost: Free

Register Here

Join Solar Washington for PNW Climate Week as we discuss the changing landscape of solar in our state. This is a great opportunity for both novices to the solar field and experts to gather and learn about the future of the industry.

When: Wednesday July 18th | 11:30 AM

Where: Green Lake Branch - The Seattle Public Library, 
7364 East Green Lake Dr N, Seattle

Cost: Free

Upcoming Events

• July 2, Virtual, Holistic Design: Ending the Relay Race in Utility-Scale PV Projects This webinar will focus on projects where the isolated excellence of these teams has led to systemic failure later on, which could have been avoided with an earlier look at the project’s big picture. It will discuss how this feeds into a “Holistic Design” approach, and the advantages that come with looking at the big picture and evaluating trade-offs across disciplines, simultaneously rather than sequentially.

• July 13-19, Bellingham/Seattle/Tacoma/Vancouver, PNW Climate Week, PNW Climate Week is a week of community-powered events happening across 7 cities from Vancouver, BC, Canada, to Bend, Oregon, USA. The mission is to transition to an equitable, climate-positive bioregion - that gives back more than it takes. The events spark new ideas, forge lasting partnerships, and shorten the journey from awareness to action.

• July 15, Virtual, Webinar: What To Do When Your Solar Contractor Ghosts You, If you started the solar progress, or even have a complete installation- the company going out of business can cause lots of confusion and frustration. In this webinar, Dever Haffner-Ratliffe of Solar Quote Check LLC and Anders Alexander of Meta Electric LLC will walk through options and potential remedies, resources, and how to screen your next solar contractor.
  
• Aug 11, Virtual, Webinar: What To Do When Your Solar Contractor Ghosts You, Homeowners and businesses considering solar energy systems often worry about the upfront cost. Fortunately, there are alternatives to large cash outlays. Businesses and homeowners can use loans and other financing solutions. Join this webinar with financial industry experts to learn about financing options for solar energy systems.

• ☀️ October 9, Seattle, Washington State Solar Summit 2026. 
  SAVE THE DATE.

Clean Energy Jobs

Solar Washington is changing up how we present job listings, in the meantime, take a look at these job boards:

• American Clean Power Institute Clean Energy Jobs
• Climate Base
• Environmental Defense Fund Green Jobs Hub
• Indeed - Renewable Energy Jobs in Washington State
• Solar Farm Summit Job Boards
• Washington Solar Energy Industries Association (WASEIA) Job Board

Send us your job listings!

Visit the job page on the Solar Washington website for more information and the newest listings