Sequim sustainability committee reports solar, water meter radio readers, EV chargers and waste‑reduction pilots

Megan Euker, the city's sustainability committee liaison, updated council on May 11 about a range of municipal sustainability actions and pilot projects.

Euker summarized completed and ongoing items: HVAC improvements with utility rebates in several city buildings; a civic‑center solar array that produces roughly 58,000 kilowatt‑hours annually (about 16% of that building's energy needs); the installation of 3,100 radio readers on water meters citywide to enable immediate leak detection; and a new commercial water‑rate tier intended to encourage large users to reduce consumption.

"It produces about 58,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, which is approximately 16% of the civic center's annual energy needs," Euker said, describing the solar system's contribution. She also highlighted that radio meter readers will help staff identify leaks and reduce water loss.

Euker described event and waste efforts: reusable event décor for the Sunshine Festival, collaboration with the transit interlink pilot to increase event ridership, a pilot with Waste Connections that used an AI camera to reduce recycling contamination (pilot reduced contamination by about 11%), and diversion of 68 tons of city green waste to composting facilities. She also reported public EV chargers and updated rate structures for chargers and water usage.

Councilors asked practical follow‑ups—such as the lifespan of the solar panels and whether the interlink transit service covers the full city—and Euker and staff committed to follow up on specifics and to continue integrating sustainability actions into capital and operational plans.