The Port of Bellingham approved a lease agreement with Puget Sound Energy on Oct. 21 to install a solar array on the Fisherman’s Pavilion roof at Squalicum Harbor as part of a community solar program.
By leasing the space rather than purchasing and installing the solar array itself, the port avoids spending capital and raising taxes to fund a big project during a tight budget period, said Adrienne Douglass-Scott, sustainability program manager for the Port of Bellingham.
“It sort of mixes in with our other solar program, where we're looking at how to install solar in a cost-effective way around the port,” Douglass-Scott said.
According to Douglass-Scott, the Fisherman’s Pavilion was selected because of its visibility in the community, hosting events like Seafeast and the Dockside Market, in addition to its low electricity demand.
“It's a really good building from a community storytelling point of view,” Douglass-Scott said.
Puget Sound Energy launched its community solar program in 2021, which partners with organizations like the port to construct solar within their service area. This allows people with low income or people located in areas where panels wouldn’t be feasible to access renewable energy, said Tyler Beairsto, program manager for Community Solar at Puget Sound Energy.
“The program is really designed with accessibility at the forefront,” said Beairsto.
Additionally, community solar allows people like renters to subscribe to the program and receive the benefits of solar energy, said Gerald Tracy, media engagement program manager for Puget Sound Energy.
“Doing stuff like this enables everybody to come along on that journey together. We're not just leaving behind people because they may rent a house or maybe they live with six roommates or maybe their landlord won't let them put solar on,” said Tracy.
According to a memo from the port, Puget Sound Energy will be responsible for the solar array’s installation, maintenance, repairs and removal at the end of the lease unless the port opts to purchase the solar array.
“We have a lot of roof space that still could have solar on it. But at this point, we're looking for grant funding to support the installation of those projects,” Douglass-Scott said.
Beairsto said that while a host site may not receive the benefit of the energy, the installation still gives Puget Sound Energy customers access to clean energy.
“What they're doing is they're helping the environment, they're benefiting their community and they're helping expand access to clean energy in the region,” Beairsto said.
Douglass-Scott said that the port has applied for a grant through the Department of Commerce as part of their Energy Programs in Communities unit.
“That was a very competitive round, so we'll see what happens there,” Douglass-Scott said.
Douglass-Scott said that the port has completed looking at the feasibility of installing a solar array for two other projects and has applied for grants for the design phase of those projects.
“They're always a multi-year project, and they're always a little bit slow to get going, but we're constantly doing that to try and make projects work,” Douglass-Scott said. “So if we can get the grant funding to help with any of those phases, that's a really great win for us.”
DuPree Nugent (he/him) is a city news reporter for The Front this fall quarter. He is a third-year student studying news/editorial journalism and English with a creative writing emphasis. In his free time, he enjoys long-distance running, listening to music and writing poems and short stories. He can be reached at dupreenugent.thefront@gmail.com.
