Solar Energy made Simple, Safe, and Affordable
There's never been a better time for Washington residents and businesses to invest in Solar Energy.
What is Solarize Island County?
Solarize is a nonprofit-sponsored solar energy group purchasing model used to reduce costs and simplify the solar installation process. In 2025, this program is available to residents in Island County, WA.
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.
Island County Solarize Sponsor
About Kicking Gas: Kicking Gas is a grassroots, Whidbey Island-based climate justice organization working to help electrify homes and improve the health of our communities by increasing affordability and awareness of the health and environmental impacts of fossil fuel combustion and usage. In 2024-2025 our campaign is committed to helping 150 homes moves closer to “All-Electric Home” status!
Installation Partners
Why join Solarize 2025?
- FREE solar assessments and quotes!
- Group purchasing = lower cost of supplies and installation!
- Panels manufactured locally in Washington State!
- Access Federal tax credits!
Interest in Solar is at an All-Time High
That's why the Solarize program exists to secure discounted prices, vetted installers, and an easy customer experience all at once!
In preparation for Solarize 2024, Olympia Community Solar held a competitive bidding process to secure solar installers, and partnerships with local financial institutions for optional financing.
Our team vetted and negotiated special pricing with our installer partners and developed educational materials and seminars. Solarize is helping to make the Solar purchasing experience simple, secure, and affordable!
Solarize 2024 is now closed! Thank you to our community partners and installers for making 2024 the biggest Solarize year yet! If you signed up already, haven’t heard from an installer, or have any questions please contact Ben at Ben@olysol.org or call (360) 481-4020.
Additional Resources
How does Net Metering work?
What did Solarize look like in 2023?
Solarize 2023 Webinar (18 Minutes)
FAQ
Solarize, Purchasing Solar, and Owning Solar
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”. For reference, the average cost per watt for solar in the United States right now is around $2.85 per watt (or $2,850 per kilowatt). The Solarize cost per watt is (___) (____ per kilowatt). The average size of a residential solar system is between 5-15 kilowatts.
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.
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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