SEQUIM — A larger flock of sun lovers will show off their power during a free tour of solar arrays across Clallam County on Saturday.
And Clallam’s fourth annual Solar Tour isn’t only for those flush with money to put in costly solar panels, its organizers and site owners say.
Financial incentives are available for people who want to solarize a home or office and for those seeking other ways to weatherize their space to save money and energy, said Mattias Jarvegren, utility services adviser with the Clallam County Public Utilities District.
“With the variety of incentive programs available now,” he added, “the economics of maximizing home energy efficiency and going solar are better than they have ever been — not only for homeowners, but also for businesses, schools, hospitals and local government.”
Workshops
This year for the first time, the Clallam tour includes free workshops and information on ways to become more energy-efficient, said coordinator Shoshanah Wright.
The workshops will be offered at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the Sequim High cafeteria and will include refreshments.
The solar event enjoyed a good turnout last year, Wright said, so organizers decided to broaden it — and found more homeowners and business people wanted to put their places on the tour.
Solar tourists are invited to start their self-guided circuit at Sequim High School, 601 N. Sequim Ave., where they can see the PUD’s energy efficiency demonstration house, also known as the house on wheels. Its electricity, which powers lights, a fan and a radio, is provided by the sun.
Participants can also pick up maps to the tour sites in and around Port Angeles and Sequim.
Twenty-two sites
“Last year, we had 15 or 16; this year we have 22,” Wright said. “We’ve had more people come on board with solar in the past year.”
Laurie and Todd Yarnes’ place at 481 Riverside Road west of Sequim is a new stop on the tour.
Their home and their Riverside House bed-and-breakfast have been solar-powered since February, and Laurie Yarnes said they’ve already seen a drop in their electricity bills — and received a check for the electricity they have poured back into the grid.
The Yarneses borrowed $15,000 to install their six-panel solar system; the PUD guaranteed the loan as an incentive.
“People are discouraged when they find out how much it costs,” Laurie said.
“Maybe you don’t have the cash in your pocket, but there are options out there,” such as loans and incentives from the PUD and the federal government.
“It’s worth it to us. It’s exciting,” she added, “to know you’re doing something. In order to save the planet, you’ve got to pay sometimes, and to us, the benefits outweigh the costs.”
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.