Both of the Solar Initiative Demonstration Installations are now complete and in full-time operation.

Sustainable Vashon's Solar Initiative project has installed solar arrays and collection equipment at both the Vashon Maury Island Land Trust building and at Vashon Household's JG Commons apartment building.   These PV solar systems are in operation today and are saving both organizations money while at the same time demonstrating the viability of solar power here on Vashon/Maury island and helping to educate all of us on the advantages of implementing solar power generation. 

Purpose: Create partnerships between Sustainable Vashon and key non-profit organizations to promote energy conservation and reduction of the island’s carbon footprint by setting up model small-scale solar installations and using them to educate and motivate the community-at-large.

These installations will do more than generate electricity. The solar panels will introduce students and community members to renewable energy technology and provide them with an opportunity to explore local and global energy issues in an interactive, hands-on way, and thereby set the stage for larger, more extensive projects in the future.

Sustainable Vashon’s role: Serve as umbrella (501(c) (3) organization; raise project funds; provide design and installation expertise, curriculum development, signage, and publicity.  

Partners’ role: Provide a location, enthusiastic endorsement, and additional fundraising input where feasible in return for a state-of-the-art solar system.

Project Details: Install 2 1.8kW photovoltaic (PV) systems, which will generate approximately 1560 kW of electricity each, per year, with a total estimated budget of $28,000. Permanent educational signage will be on-site along with real time energy production information available on the web.  The two initial sites are the Vashon Maury Land Trust and VashonHousehold.

Site analysis for solar potential will encourage an energy audit and recommendations to make the building more energy efficient.  Suggested improvements might include changing out light bulbs or adding insulation.

Funding Sources: Puget Sound Energy, Hendrix Foundation, Vashon Island Lavender Growers Association, IBEW Local 46, Artisan Electric Inc., Ted Alumbaugh Roofing, the Northwest Solar Center, and material donations from Focused Energy.

Project Coordinators:

Janie Starr Jennifer Williams

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Current Status: The opening ceremony of the Landtrust Solar Array was held on June 16th, 2009. The opening ceremony for the JG Commons Array was held on October 1st, 2009.

Click here to read the one page document outlining Sustainable Vashon's Solar Initiative.

Click the thumbnail at the right to view a slideshow of the installation of the Landtrust solar panels.

Video of the installation at the Vashon Maury Island Land Trust building is now available.  While the video may be a little on the hyper side, it does show how hard Jason and Phil worked while installing the panels on a very warm day.

Project Coordinators:
Janie Starr - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jennifer Williams - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it