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Solar Education

Solar Owners Manual

This guide serves as a support for solar homeowners whether you’ve just gone solar or you’ve had solar for years. Our goal is to provide practical information and tips to ensure you get the most out of your solar array. 

 

We’ve partnered with Solar United Neighbors (SUN) to provide this Solar Owner’s Manual to you as a complimentary resource. We hope you find it useful now and throughout the life of your array.

View the Solar Owner's Manual

Solar Education and Resources

Choosing A Solar Installer

Five Steps to Solar

Solar Funding Opportunities in Washington

Olympia Community Solar partners with Tribes, public agencies, non-profit organizations, and commercial entities to support their solar energy installations with grants. We have dozens of projects in our portfolio and have secured millions of dollars for solar projects around Washington State.

Click the button to learn about our services.

2025 WA Solar grant opportunities

Washington Applicable Solar Incentives

Solar is exempt from Washington State sales tax (6.5%)

Washington has a NET METERING law that allows you to trade your solar generation with the electric utility. Credits in most utility districts are a one-for-one kWh trade, and each month any excess credits roll forward. Watch the video for details: 

Federal Income Tax Credits

Residential customers: Your solar investment may be eligible for a Federal Income Tax Credit. Learn more about the ITC from the Department of Energy. Roofing work associated with a solar installation is not eligible for the credit. 
 
 
Nonprofits, public entities, and Tribes are eligible for the tax credits using the “Elective Pay” option. Learn more about Elective Pay from the IRS.

Solar Financing - Washington

Most customers need financing for a solar installation, tree removal, roof repair, or anything else. Here are some credit unions that offer clean energy financing.

Resource: Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing

 

Kitsap Bank C-PACER Program

C-PACER is an innovative lending solution that allows property owners to obtain low-cost, long-term loans for energy-efficiency, renewable energy, resiliency and water conservation improvements through a voluntary property tax assessment. For office, multifamily, retail and hospitality, manufacturing and industrial, institutional and not-for-profit facilities, agriculture. https://www.kitsapbank.com/business/business-loans/municipal-specialty-financing/c-pacer New Construction One-pager Retrofit One-pager

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Sustainable Energy Trust

A program of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, the Sustainable Energy Trust (SET) can finance energy-efficiency or renewable energy projects up to $1 million. https://wshfc.org/energy/ 206-254-5359 kate.decramer@wshfc.org

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Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union Logo

Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union

Our Energy-Smart Loans for Homeowners cover everything from heating and cooling, hot water tanks, gas conversions—to windows and even renewable energy like solar https://www.psccu.org/energysmart.aspx askus@psccu.org 425-283-5151

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For The KIDS

A Student's Guide To Solar Energy
A kid's Guide To Solar Energy (elevators.com)
Do-it-yourself Solar powered Toy cars

Why is Community Solar Important?

Community solar overcomes barriers to solar energy. Those who cannot put solar on their own roof or afford solar individually can participate in and benefit from community solar.  Renters, multifamily buildings, and shaded buildings are only a few of the many barriers to solar ownership.
Community solar accelerates the adoption of solar energy through collaborative investment, builds new economic opportunities and creates good paying jobs, and reduces pollution. 

Community Solar Education and Resources

Smart Electric Power Alliance

Community Solar Cost Allocation Strategies: Lessons from Six Utilities – This article gives an explanation as to why it is beneficial for utility companies to be involved with community solar

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Tools for Solar Advocacy

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