Town advances solar grant application for fire station; contractor selected for Puget Sound Energy program

La Conner staff updated the council on a solar project application for the town’s fire station and the selection of a contractor for grant submission under a Puget Sound Energy program. Staff said the town submitted technical information from a chosen contractor — identified in the packet as Westwind Solar — as part of a grant application that, if awarded, would fund installation. The council was told that Puget Sound Energy (PSE) would pay the contractor directly; town funds would not pass through municipal accounts for the award phase. Staff said PSE’s funding structure relaxes certain procurement and regulatory requirements because the payments would not be deposited to town accounts. Council discussion described the selection as part of the application process: the contractor’s site visit and technical details needed to be included in the application, and signing a contract would follow an award. Staff explained the award process: 50% of program funds would be released upon contract signing and the remainder at project completion, should La Conner secure the award (anticipated in late November). Council members and staff noted the project’s community benefits, including potential reinvestment of energy savings into a school-based workforce program. Staff also said they had consulted municipal resource and legal advisors (MRSC and Labor & Industries) to confirm regulatory compliance for the arrangement. No formal contract signing with Westwind Solar occurred at the meeting; the council received the update and discussed next steps pending award.