Puget Sound Energy Gives Nearly $1M in New Solar Grants

Puget Sound Energy’s Solar Grants program — which seeks to help community-based organizations, government agencies, and tribal entities reduce their energy costs — has awarded 12 new organizations a total of $914,689 in grants.

PSE, who’s been offering the program for nine years, said in a release that the funding reflects their ongoing commitment to the program, which has provided an average of more than $691,000 annually since its launch.

Among the awardees is Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank, which plans to use the grant money to help cover a significant portion of its expected electrical bill with the addition of solar installations on its buildings.

“This solar installation will defray up to 80% of our expected electrical expenses, a significant savings for the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank, particularly as the new site has increased power demands (more coolers and freezers to safely store food) over our current location,” Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank Board President Terry Pottmeyer said in the release.

Puget Sound Energy said that the project’s annual generation is expected to be about 550,000 kWh, equivalent to powering nearly 52 homes, with an additional 3,133,000 kWh of annual generation over the last eight years of the solar grants.

Puget Sound Energy also said that it will release another competitive funding cycle this summer. To see the full list of recipients and to learn more about the solar grant, head here.