We want to update Backbone supporters, fellow Vashon Islanders and potential investors on our proposed Vashon
Community Solar (VCS) project at the King County Transfer Station
on Vashon.
Since late October we have been working with a multi-departmental team at the County. We’ve identified an empty expanse of land north of the Vashon recycling centre as ideal: excellent solar exposure, easy access to the main panel, reasonable security, and no conflicting plans for other usage. The site is large enough to permit installation of the largest size solar array permitted under the legislation, generating up
to 75 kW, and thus will have good economies of scale.
The County have a mandate to increase their use of renewable energy but they have advised that they will only put the effort into installing community solar if it has the potential to be a large-scale, multi-site program. They are in the process of identifying likely sites and devising template agreements that can:
- be executed as quickly (because of the fixed-term incentive period) as County procedures permit, and
- apply at every site.
The County must obtain approval for each specific site. The discussions are taking rather longer than we would wish, but the excellent site and the ground-breaking nature of the project keep ‘our eyes on the prize’.
Stay tuned!
with gratitude,
Carol Eggen & Bill Moyer
Vashon Community Solar
(A project of the Backbone Campaign)
