Snoqualmie Elementary to get solar power

By Dylan Chaffin

VIA http://www.eastofseattle.news

Snoqualmie Elementary School is the recipient of a new solar power system thanks to the "Solarize Snoqualmie" initiative's success.

As part of the initiative, the City of Snoqualmie and Northwest Wind and Solar agreed that the company would donate 1-kilowatt per 10 contracts signed for residential solar panel installation.
To date, 38 households have signed up, meaning the proposed system is 3-kilowatts, but has the potential to expand to 4-kilowatts if two more contracts are signed by March 31, wrote Associate Planner Nicole Sanders in an email.

A 4-kilowatt system would offset more than 104,000 pounds of carbon dioxide during its first 25 years of operation, according to a city press release.
“We appreciate the solar power system donation and look forward to it providing an educational opportunity for students to learn more about solar energy options. In addition, we welcome any savings in operating costs associated with power that the system may provide our school,” said Kerstin Kramer, Snoqualmie Elementary School principal in the release.
SES was chosen for the upgrades by school district Superintendent Joel Aune and staff, Sanders said.Participants in the Solarize Snoqualmie campaign save 5 to 10 percent compared to buying solar independently and can earn back 35 percent of their investment in the first year, the press release said. The program is a group purchase, or “bulk buy” making solar power for homes more affordable.