The panels are installed, solar energy is flowing and the ribbon is ready to be cut at Fishline Food Bank & Comprehensive Services' new solar array, funded through Puget Sound Energy's Green Power and Solar Choice programs.
The $100,000 granted to Fishline earlier this year was used to purchase the 29kW solar array, which not only reduces Fishline's carbon footprint, but also reduces its operating costs. This installation will generate an estimated 31,000-kilowatt hours annually, replacing an estimated 35 percent of Fishline's annual electricity use with solar energy.
"More than 81,000 PSE customers have chosen to support renewable energy by taking part in these programs, which have funded 58 projects with more than $4.6 million in grant funds throughout our service area," said Josh Jacobs, Vice President of Clean Energy Strategy and Planning at PSE. "Solar energy projects like this are part of our community's transition to clean energy. It's gratifying to see Kitsap County continue to lead the way."
Fishline is one of the oldest food banks in the United States, having served the North Kitsap community for over 55 years. Projects like this enable Fishline to continue its mission of providing food and access to resources that offer stability, improve health and well-being, and help create a path to self-sustainability.
"At Fishline, we work with our neighbors in need to provide a pathway to sustainability," said Executive Director, Charlie Thompson. "Thanks to the Green Power Solar Grant from Puget Sound Energy, we can now add that our operations are on a pathway to sustainability too. Thank you, PSE, for helping us achieve our mission."
Nine other organizations were awarded a total of $753,620 this year. In Kitsap County, nearly $500,000 has been awarded historically through the Green Power Solar Grant program. Two grants were awarded to the Suquamish Tribe the past two years, while other past Kitsap County grant awardees include the Salvation Army Bremerton Corps, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, Friends of Manchester Library and Kitsap Community Resources.
Media Contact:
Gerald Tracy, 888-831-7250, psenewsroom@pse.com
Puget Sound Energy is proud to serve our neighbors and communities in 10 Washington counties. We're the state's largest utility, supporting more than 1.2 million electric customers and nearly 900,000 natural gas customers. We aspire to be a beyond net zero carbon energy company by 2045.
