{"id":7580,"date":"2025-05-05T15:12:51","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T22:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olysol.org\/?p=7580"},"modified":"2025-05-05T15:12:51","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T22:12:51","slug":"solarize-thurston-is-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/olysol.org\/es\/solarize-thurston-is-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Replace Those Electric Bills with Solar Power: Solarize Thurston is Open for Enrollment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our current economic climate is stressful. It seems like the cost of everything keeps going up. One example? In January 2025, Puget Sound Energy implemented a 12% rate increase this year. Most of us try to be more energy efficient but that can be difficult\u2014especially with home offices and kids using more electronics than ever. That\u2019s where the nonprofit Olympia Community Solar<\/a>\u00a0comes in. Their\u00a0Solarize Thurston<\/a>\u00a0program helps residents navigate the solar purchasing experience and offers discounted installation prices.\u00a0Sign up for a free home assessment<\/a>\u00a0before the program ends on July 4th!<\/p>\n

\u201cWe identified this gap in the clean energy industry of customers needing educational support and access to resources,\u201d shares Mason Rolph, executive director for Olympia Community Solar.<\/p>\n

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The Solarize Thurston program helps residents navigate the solar purchasing experience and offers discounted installation prices. Photo credit: South Sound Solar<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Nonprofit Solar Organization Guides You Through Solar Power for Your Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We all see the \u201csolarize your home,\u201d \u201cno more electric bills,\u201d and other ads on the internet. But for first-time solar users, the idea can be intimidating. Most of us have a basic understanding of our electric grid at best, so adding another component can be confusing. Solar energy has rapidly grown in popularity for its economic and environmental benefits, but installing solar on your home can feel like a daunting process: from perceived costs and complicated technical details to selecting an installer.<\/p>\n

With a mission to make solar power more accessible, the nonprofit does the legwork for you\u2014including providing education and helping navigate the ins and outs of how solar works. \u201cOur role with Solarize is to support homeowners through that process by providing them with education and support,\u201d shares Ben Silesky, program director for Olympia Community Solar.<\/p>\n

To do this, Olympia Community Solar partners with other nonprofits and cities, and contract vetted local solar installers. The vetting process ensures the solar companies provide quality equipment, are experienced and have a stable business, have good product and workmanship warranties, and offer a discount to Solarize Thurston program customers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe system will be on your roof for decades,\u201d adds Ben. \u201cWe want it to be durable and efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Solarize Thurston partners with vetted installers so you know your solar panels will last. Photo credit: Western Solar<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Get a Free Home Assessment and Solar Power Estimate During Solarize Thurston<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When you\u00a0sign up on the Solarize Thurston website<\/a>, Olympia Community Solar will connect you with their local, vetted solar companies. Have questions? Feel free to ask Olympia Community Solar!<\/p>\n

Another frequently asked question is, \u201cDoes Washington even get enough sun to have solar power?\u201d The answer is a resounding yes. \u201cPanels today are more than twice as efficient at collecting sunlight as they were a decade ago,\u201d shares Ben. \u201cAnd we actually get more sun than Germany, which is one of the leading solar energy countries in the world. To inform a customer\u2019s choice to invest, a solar installer provides measurements of the cumulative sunlight that you\u2019re going to get over the course of a year, and how much energy that will generate.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reason for this is a policy called net metering. With net metering, you earn bill credits for excess energy that your home does not consume during the sunnier summer months. This excess energy flows into the electric grid and your utility company provides a credit on your bill. Then, when winter comes and there is less sunlight, that credit keeps your bill low. \u201cNet Metering is the key mechanism that makes rooftop solar worth it to homeowners in Washington,\u201d shares Mason.<\/p>\n

Investing in solar power can help safeguard you from future energy price hikes. It\u2019s one of the few ways we can protect ourselves from the constant cost of living increases.<\/p>\n

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Let the Solarize Thurston program help you navigate the cost-saving power of solar energy in your home. Photo credit: SunPath Electric<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe main reason we see folks investing in solar is for long term energy savings,\u201d says Mason. \u201cIf they\u2019re generating their own energy, they\u2019re independent and insulated from any changes in the price of electricity on the market\u2014they don\u2019t have to worry about future utility rate hikes.\u201d<\/p>\n

As an example, solar panels can last 45-50 years and have 25-year warranties. Just during that 25-year warrantied life, a typical electric bill for a household in Washington will total $66,000. \u201cWith solar, you can wipe almost all of that away,\u201d adds Ben. Olympia Community Solar partners with Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union for financing\u2014 the only credit union in Washington that specializes in solar loans.<\/p>\n

The Solarize program is also offering additional services such as Electric Vehicle chargers, Battery backup for those that experience frequent power outages, and electric Heat Pumps through the\u00a0Energize Thurston<\/a>\u00a0program.<\/p>\n

The Solarize program has already supported over 350 homeowners to install solar power. Will yours be next? Sign up today on the\u00a0Solarize website.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Published by Thurston Talk on April 29th, 2025: https:\/\/www.thurstontalk.com\/2025\/04\/29\/replace-those-electric-bills-with-solar-power-solarize-thurston-is-open-for-enrollment\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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