Solarize 2025 is now open for enrollment!
There's never been a better time for Washington residents and businesses to invest in Solar Energy.
Solar made simple, secure & affordable
What is Solarize?
Solarize is a nonprofit-sponsored solar energy group purchasing model used to reduce costs and simplify the solar installation process.
Ready to save money with Solar?
Join Solarize Now!
A Growing Solar Campaign
Initially launched in Thurston County by Olympia Community Solar, Solarize now partners with municipal and non-profit sponsors across Washington State.
Curious about Solar Energy in 2025?
Solar energy has become very popular in the last few years due to its economic and environmental benefits. But it can also feel like a daunting process: from perceived costs, to technical details, to figuring out which installers to choose. To address these challenges and to support homeowners,the nonprofit Olympia Community Solar is sponsoring Solarize, a solar group purchasing program used to reduce costs and simplify the installation process. By aggregating demand across multiple communities, facilitating a competitive contractor selection, and hosting free educational workshops, the Solarize program is making solar easy, secure, and accessible.
Over the last five years Olympia Community Solar and their community and municipal partners have sponsored Solarize programs across the Puget Sound, helping over 350 homeowners go solar! This year we’re proud to offer Solarize programs in the following regions:
- Thurston, Mason, and Lewis County
- The city of Bellevue, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Redmond, Sammamish, Kirkland, and Kenmore
- Skagit County
- Island County
- Whatcom County
Sign up and schedule your free home assessment before the July 4th deadline!
RSVP to one of our upcoming workshops where you can learn more about the program and get all your questions answered!
Email Ben at Solarize@olysol.org for more information or check out our FAQ section below!
FAQ & Additional Resources
What is Solarize?
A non-profit sponsored limited-time residential solar group purchasing program that offers residents discounted prices, vetted installers, community education, and special financing.
What is meant by "group purchasing"? Do I still get the discount if there aren’t enough people who sign up?
It doesn’t matter how many people sign up for an assessment or contract. Solar Group Purchasing (or Bulk Purchasing) is simply the term used to describe programs that buy a large amount of solar in order to drive down the price and motivate whole communities of people to put it on their roofs at once. Everyone receives the Solarize discount regardless of how many total people sign up. The Solarize group purchasing model started in a Portland neighborhood over a decade ago and has since spread across the country.
Why should I go with Solarize?
Residential solar is more popular than ever and growing fast, but too often the burden of research and risk is placed on individuals acting alone. With lots of (mis)information about solar floating around and over 60 installers across the state, it can be overwhelming to find accurate and trustworthy resources. The Solarize program solves these issues and supports residential customers in a few ways:
- Security: In preparation to launch the campaign, Olympia Community Solar and local municipal and non-profit partners organized a competitive bidding process to secure solar installers. They vetted contractors for locality, equipment quality, business practices, and negotiated special reduced pricing. Solarize creates safety in numbers by having many people under the same program with a non-profit organization overseeing the installers and being a customer liaison. Olympia Community Solar has regular check-ins with the installers to ensure that projects are being completed on time and participants are satisfied. You can reach out to Olympia Community Solar with questions anytime by emailing Ben@olysol.org.
- Accessibility: By going with Solarize, participants get access to solar at a reduced cost compared to installers outside the program. Solarize also prioritizes free community education about all the ways to electrify your home, (not just solar). Whether you choose to sign a solar contract or not, you know you’re getting clear and accurate information on how solar works, its costs and payback, state/local incentives, net metering, equipment type, warranties, and more! Solarize participants also get access to special financing through Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union.
How do I know if my roof is good for solar?
The first factor is your roof’s orientation. Ideally, you should have a south-facing roof, if your roof faces due east or west, it is still possible to go solar, but the panels will produce less energy (about 75% of what a south-facing roof would produce). If you have a flat roof, the panels can be installed to face due south no matter how your roof is oriented. The portions of the roof where solar will be installed should be free of shade for most of the day, as shade can significantly reduce electricity production. Trees, chimneys and dormers are factors that can cause shading on a roof. Finally, if your roof is more than 15 years old or you plan on replacing the roof, you may want to consider replacing it before you purchase the system. The best way to determine whether your roof is good for solar is to get a free assessment and quote by signing up for Solarize!
Does solar really work in the Pacific Northwest?
Yes. While Washington is known for rainy weather, we still get an average of 152 days of sun per year, which is more than enough to generate significant amounts of solar power. While it’s true that direct sunlight provides optimal conditions for solar energy generation, today’s panels are incredibly efficient and designed to capture both direct and indirect sunlight. This means that even on cloudy days, when the sun’s rays are diffused, your panels can still generate a significant amount of electricity. Washington State gets more sunlight than Germany, a country with one of the highest percentages of solar energy use in the world.
Are there costs associated with Solarize?
Costs will only be incurred if you choose to sign a contract with a solar installer. The Solarize program provides free assessments and quotes from vetted local installers. The program sponsors at Olympia Community Solar can review your quote, answer any questions, or find you another installer. The cost of a solar installation can vary widely depending on size, but a simple metric to determine cost is the unit price reflected as “cost per watt”.
The cost of a solar installation can vary widely depending on a few factors including system size, equipment type, your home’s energy consumption, and state/federal incentives. A simple metric to determine cost is the unit price reflected as “cost per watt”. For reference, the average cost per watt for solar in the United States in February 2025 is between $2.50-$3.50 (or $2,500-$3,500 per Kilowatt). The average American home needs a system size of about 8-12 kilowatts. Every system and home is unique and the easiest way to figure out how much you’ll pay and how much you’ll save with solar is by signing up for a free home assessment!
Is this only a residential program, or can I apply this to my business?
Solarize is open to small businesses.
Can I choose my installation company?
People are encouraged to get as many quotes as they want but we exclusively partner with vetted installers that we assign based on service area and capacity. If you are reaching out to a different Solarize installer than was originally assigned to you please be sure to let them know you are a Solarize participant! (The installer will assume you’re reaching out to them organically without knowing you’re part of Solarize and will offer you their market-rate price instead).
How long does the process take?
Once you sign up on our website, we send that information to one of our Solarize installers assigned to your service region. We do not sell your information or share it with anyone outside that installer. Within 5 business days that installer will reach out to you to schedule a free home assessment. After that you’ll receive a quote for a system. This quote will include among other things, the total system size, total cost (with state/local incentives), payback period, total energy savings over the system’s lifetime, information on all the equipment used (panels, inverters, racking, monitoring software, ect), and information about equipment and workmanship warranties.
What is the average payback period for Solar and how much money will I save on energy costs?
The average payback period for residential solar is between 8-12 years, but you’ll see savings on your electricity bill immediately. Here’s a video by EnergySage on how to calculate how much money you’ll save by going solar.
In the 25 year warrantied life of a solar system, the average person will pay about 3 times as much on electricity as they would going solar.
Do I need a Battery?
No. The majority of rooftop solar systems are connected to the grid and do not include a battery backup. If you have solar without a battery that means you’ll lose power when the electric grid goes down. Batteries are a great tool for households that experience frequent outages or are financially or medically dependent on electricity. If you would like a quote for a battery in addition to solar just select “Battery Backup” on the Solarize enrollment form (at the top of the page).
Are there any financing and incentive options available?
- Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union energy smart loans
- 30% Federal Income Tax
- No sales tax
EnergySage has a great resource for learning more about qualifying for rebates and incentives but we strongly recommend checking with your financial advisor to confirm
What if I produce more energy than I can use?
The excess energy you produce will be sent back to the grid, and your utility company will give you credits on your electric bill, this is called Net Metering. Here’s a video on how net metering works.
How much maintenance is required for my panels?
Solar panels generally require very little maintenance in order to function so you can usually just let them be. The only thing solar panels need is a periodic light cleaning to make sure dirt, leaves, and other debris aren’t obstructing the sun’s rays.
What happens if my solar panels don’t perform as expected?
Solar panels usually come with two warranties; the product warranty covers the equipment and typically guarantees at least 20-25 years without fail, and the power or performance warranty often guarantees at least 90% production at 10 years and 80% at 25 years.
I can’t put solar on my roof, what should I do now?
Solar on your roof is only one of many things you can do to make your home more energy efficient. Heat Pumps, Electric vehicles, induction stoves, and weatherization services are other ways you can reduce or eliminate your fossil fuel use in your home, save money on energy bills, and reduce toxic chemicals in your immediate environment. If you live in Thurston County or any of the Eastside Climate Partnership Cities (Issaquah, Mercer Island, Sammamish, Kirkland, or Bellevue), you’re eligible for a reduced cost Heat Pump through local Energize initiatives.
- Click here for Thurston County
- Click here for Eastside Climate Partnership Cities (Issaquah, Mercer Island, Redmond, Bellevue, Sammamish, & Kirkland)
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