A Sunny Day for a Solar Tour

Solar panels on City Hall Parking Garage
installed by NW Mechanical

By Wendy DiPeso

The weather was perfect and the barbecued salmon delicious for the 17th Annual National Solar Tour at Northwest Mechanical in Shoreline Saturday October 6th. Naknek Seafood provided the Salmon.

Between 40 and 50 people came through Northwest Mechanical to look at solar electric and solar hot water systems. Buzz Burgett, founder of Northwest Mechanical, and David Nicol, one of the solar technicians, were there to answer questions.

Representatives from Puget Sound Energy Green Power Program were also on hand to provide information on how the public can support the creation of green energy sources.

"When you sign up for Green Power, PSE—on your behalf—will buy clean energy from independent organizations in the West using resources such as "cow power" digesters, solar and wind. And thanks to our commitment to these types of projects, these energy innovators are able to plan and grow their businesses, secure funding and create jobs—making a brighter cleaner future for everyone."

Solar has become more affordable. It is possible to put the savings on your electric bill plus Federal Energy Tax Credit and Renewable Energy Credits towards the payments for a solar electric system.

"By purchasing a Solar system, you are essentially paying for your future energy up front. The benefit of this is that you don't have to worry about energy rates increasing. In fact, increasing energy rates mean that the assessed value of your solar system goes up. This is great in the event that you move because you now have a unique, valuable feature that will increase the price of your home."

The Solar Tour is promoted by the American Solar Energy Society, Solar Washington and by regional coordinators like Northwest Mechanical.