The new Community Solar Program will be kicked off on San Juan Island at the Island Energy Fair on Saturday, May 17, at 95 Nichols Street (former location of Mia Casita) in Friday Harbor. Energy fair patrons can sign up to join the CSP at the fair.
Also on the schedule are a Home Energy Conservation Workshop, a solar home tour, and demonstrations of energy-related technologies – including electric vehicles. The conservation workshop and solar home tour are expected to be so popular that Lynda Lyshall, manager of the San Juan Conservation District, suggests pre-registering for one or both by calling her a 360-378-6621 or emailing her at energy@sjislandscd.org.
The fairs are co-hosted by Orcas Power and Light Company’s Member Owned Renewable Energy (MORE) Committee and Islands Energy, led by the San Juan Islands Conservation District. Additional fairs will happen on May 31 on Lopez at the community center and June 7 on Orcas at the Village Green.
These are family-friendly events that “have something for everyone: free energy saving kits, prizes, workshops, solar crafts, and live music,” according to Lyshall, who adds that participants will “save money, win prizes, and help the San Juan Islands community increase energy resilience and become an energy-saving model for the nation.”
John de Graaf, author of Affluenza and co-founder of the Happiness Initiative, will keynote the fair, providing his thoughts on how we can take charge of our energy consumption and our future. He will outline what drives our current energy use and provide thoughtful insights into how you can become part of a sustainable future.
You can also sign up for OPALCO’s eBill tool, SmartHub, and learn how to track your energy use at home. Other fair booths and sessions will feature Local Solar Energy installers with information and materials on solar projects, energy efficiency contractors will provide information about retrofits and weatherization, and Islands Energy will sponsor a free family photo booth.
For more info, visit www.sanjuanislandscd.org or call Lyshall at 378-6621.
