La Conner council hears Solarize Skagit pitch; campaign to kick off April 12

A representative of the Skagit Clean Energy Alliance told the La Conner Town Council on March 1 that the Solarize Skagit campaign will launch outreach in March and hold a public kickoff at Maple Hall on April 12 at 10 a.m.

The presenter said the program negotiates a group‑purchase rate for residential solar, connects homeowners with vetted installers and offers a one‑stop process that includes permitting and financing options. “This is our third year,” the presenter said, and added that the campaign aims to support about 50 homes this year.

The presenter warned that Puget Sound Energy’s current 1:1 net‑metering arrangement is scheduled to change at the end of 2025 and said homeowners who file an interconnection application this year should be grandfathered under the existing net‑metering terms. “By the end of the year, anybody that is part of the program will be grandfathered in to net metering,” the presenter said.

Program details given at the meeting included a negotiated group price the presenter quoted as $2.45 per watt, an example payback calculation that used a 30 percent federal tax credit, and two installers selected for the county campaign: Western Solar and Truly Electric and Solar. The presenter also identified Silfab as a Washington‑made solar panel option being offered and said financing is available through a local cooperative lender.

Council members asked about timing, local outreach and risks. The presenter said the sign‑up window will run from roughly March through July, with installations continuing through the end of the year, and noted that battery backups remain substantially more expensive than panels.

Why it matters: The program reduces the up‑front price of residential solar through group buying and streamlines permitting and procurement for homeowners. The end of the current net‑metering rate could change household economics, making this year’s sign‑up window relevant to residents considering solar.

What’s next: The presenter asked the council to help promote the campaign through town communications; organizers will hold the April 12 kickoff at Maple Hall and will accept online sign‑ups through the campaign website.