In 2015, PUD 3 installed Mason County’s first shared solar energy project. The 75-kilowatt project is located at PUD 3’s Johns Prairie operations center. Approximately 110 PUD customers are reaping benefits of energy produced by the solar array, a Washington State Production Incentive, and federal tax credits. Nearly 2,900 “solar units” were allocated to customers who had registered to participate and collectively pay for the project. Customers signing up for the program requested nearly twice as many units than were available.

Participants saw their investment paid off in only four years in three ways:

• An annual credit on a customer’s electric bill based on the electricity generated by their share of the project.
• An annual Washington State production incentive of $1.08/kWh that a customer’s solar units generate through 2020.
• The opportunity to use a federal tax credit for solar energy systems.

With over 100 home solar power systems installed throughout Mason County, PUD 3 customers have shown a great deal of interest in renewable energy. 

The shared solar project helps customers who for one or more reasons can’t take advantage of solar energy at their homes:

• The cost is out of their range.
• Solar panels, brackets and connectors can weigh down a roof.
• There’s not enough of a southern exposure to catch the sun.
• Nearby trees may block the sun.
• Restrictive homeowners association’s covenants.
• Adopting a lifestyle required for a home renewable energy system.