And Solar Fest WAS Too Cool, and HOT! A Photo Essay

Solar Cooking Seranades on Solar Row

The Eighth Annual NW Solar Fest was indeed bigger and better than ever!  Latest estimates put the number of attendees in the thousands! 

Graham Kerr, the "Galloping Gourmet" Headlined

Graham Kerr shared ideas for Solar Cooking on Solar Cooker Row.

Peas cooked up by the Sun even on a "So-so" sunny day in
Shoreline, WA.

Over 80 exhibitors this year provided something for everyone. Every conceivable technology with Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living was on display.

Silicon Energy, a NW based Company, was a co-sponsor.

Thousands of Fairgoers had their choice of fun and educational
activities, Solar House in backround

The Solar Fest is an event conceived and presented by the Shoreline Solar Project beginning in 2004 when Larry Owens and Maryn Wynne and others began by taking advantage of the City Light sponsorship of a Solar Energy installation at Meridian Park Elementary School. It was then the only public building in Shoreline with a solar installation. 

Now Maryn and Larry head up this incredible effort with an amazing fair held at the Shoreline Community College. It is the largest "grass-roots" renewable energy fair in the Northwest. 

Maryn Wynne and Larry Owens celebrate that
Solar Fest is underway with the sun shining!

Kidzone was a hit as usual with lots of fun activities. The Solar Fest Kidzone is headed up by Carin Chase. Every kid received a "Solar Powered Car" to take home for FREE! 

Carin Chase helps the little solar techs with projects

Mini Solar Car Races fascinate the younger set

Musik Garden provides
fun sounds and fun for volunteers too

Solar Fest had a huge Volunteer contingent of
dozens of helpers of all ages!

Little Fellow Enjoys Solar Fountain

Solar Fest can't be beat for Education
Which is why it is co-hosted by
Shoreline Community College
and many other sponsors.

Many other pictures tell the story of the day.  Great Food!

Family run restaurant Jerseys based in Shoreline
served up their great slaw, salads, chowder and famous
homemade BBQ chips

Great Entertainment! 

Puppets Save The World with good energy
toured the site

Great Non-profits and Companies Exhibited and talked to visitors throughout the day.

Diggin' Shoreline crew for Community Gardens
l-r, Judy Greisel, Londa Jaques, and Joyce Schowalter

At Shoreline Historical Museum table
Director Vicki Stiles shows off
Peter Rabbit coloring art

Hungry-hungry Frogs Toy at Just Frogs-toads Too
in Kidzone presented by Thayer Cueter

So many folks made Solar Fest happen including SSP treasurer and Shoreline City Councilmember Chris Eggen

Chris Eggen pitches at Solar Fest
at Sustainable Shoreline booth

And so much cool tech, it was buzzin!

The Tesla! 

Solar Panels power the Solar House at the SSC Campus

And a Super Solar Time was had by all at Solar Fest!! What a great asset to our City and Region! 

Sierra Brews hosted the "After Party" at
the Beer Garden
(and thanks to Cleanscapes for
co-sponsoring the event!)

Can hardly wait till next year's Solar Fest!

Celebrating Third Month Anniversary of Paramount Importance Blog AND Sunshine and Solar Energy in Shoreline!

Sun Shines on Shoreline City Hall Solar Grand Opening

What was that bright shiny orb in the sky yesterday?  It was the Sun God blessing our Shoreline City Hall Solar Array Ribbon Cutting Celebration.

About 100 celebrants braved the "brightness" to help cut the ribbon on Shoreline City Hall's "Green" features yesterday, March 31st. Shoreline Solar Project co-sponsored and organized the event.
SSP Director Maryn Wynne said

This event was made possible by an amazing partnership of the City of Shoreline and the Shoreline Solar Project to showcase Shoreline's "Vision" as a Solar City".

We will celebrate today for April Fools Day, with no foolin' and a photo array of the event.

Solar array shown in backround above the City Hall Parking Lot.

The Ribbon Cutting event is hosted by Shoreline Solar Co-founder and Director Maryn Wynne. 

Pictured above Shoreline Solar Boardmembers (St Rep Maralyn Chase, Carin Chase, Don LaCourse, and Larry Owens AND City Councilmembers (past Former Mayor Cindy Ryu and present Mayor Keith McGlashan, Dep. Mayor Will Hall) and City Manager, Bob Olander.) (Also shown, Jeremy Wynne)

Shoreline Solar Project President and Co-founder, Larry Owens gave a short talk to tell about how the project came about, how SSP came to be and what this project means to our community.

He said that this project is now the largest Solar Installation in the City and is the fifth major installation or project sponsored by Shoreline Solar Project. SSP is sponsoring its Seventh Annual Solar Fest this summer on July 17th.

Many partners made this project possible and many were present for the Ribbon Cutting Event including

Silicon Energy, which is the first and only manufacturer of Solar Panels in WA State.  The WA State Legislature passed a bill last year giving tax incentives, making projects like this more affordable to cities, corporations and citizens.  NW Mechanical a Shoreline small business, did the actual installation of the panels and 

Seattle City Light and Bonneville Environmental Foundation provided support.

City Manager Bob Olander, attended the event and along with Project Manager Jesus Sanchez and many other staff, helped guide this project and vision to completion. He said this Solar Project, was in keeping with the City Council's Vision for the City Hall as the People's House.

St. Rep Maralyn Chase spoke and congratulated the City on this achievement. She is a SSP Boardmenber and has sponsored many pieces of legislation to promote renewable energy and environmental protection. Shown in back, is the yellow Tesla Electric Vehicle on display and also Councilmember Chris Eggen and Former Mayor Cindy Ryu.

Shoreline Solar Project Board celebrates this significant acheivement!

L to R - Don La Course, Rep Maralyn Chase, Pres Larry Owens, Marcus Wlbaum, Former Mayor Bob Ransom, Carin Chase and Maryn Wynne (not pictured Clmbr Chris Eggen, Liz Wiles, Wendy Dipeso, and Mike Nelson).

After the Ribbon Cutting, celebrants attended a reception, tours of City Hall Green Features, and Solar 101 free class given by Pres. Larry Owens. Above pictured, City Hall Roof RainGarden and Solar Hot Water  instalation in backround. The Solar Hotwater Heater provides all of the hot water for the Council Chambers restroom and kitchen. Citizens can visit this garden and see how it collects rainwater, stores and cleans it and provides many other benefits.

Sunny Day for Solar Array on Shoreline City Hall

Shoreline Celebrates New Solar Electric System March 31

Largest in City

Posted Date:3/30/2010 
City of Shoreline website article
The City of Shoreline and non-profit Shoreline Solar Project are pleased to invite the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, March 31, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., to celebrate the new 20.2 kW solar electric system -- the largest solar photovotaic (PV) system in Shoreline -- on Shoreline City Hall's parking garage. 
Shoreline based Northwest Mechanical, Inc., installed the Made-in-Washington solar modules from Arlington-based Silicon Energy. 

The solar array generates electric power while also providing 
shade for a row of cars on the upper parking level. Seattle City 
Light provided assistance for solar modules and system 
display and monitoring services in conjunction with 
the Bonneville Education Foundation.

The celebration includes a tour highlighting Shoreline 
City Hall's extensive energy saving "green" features and a free 
"Solar 101" seminar covering solar electric and solar hot 
water systems by Shoreline Solar Project's co-founder 
Larry Owens. The Shoreline Solar Project has been 
promoting solar installations in the City of Shoreline for 
the past six years.

Shoreline Deputy Mayor Will Hall will be speaking and other 
City Councilmembers will be attending. Besides City and 
Shoreline Solar Project officials, participants include 
representatives from the other organizations that 
helped make this a successful project including Northwest 
Mechanical, Seattle City Light, Bonneville Environmental 
Foundation, Silicon Energy, Rainier Industries and OPUS 
(the contractor that built City Hall).

For more information, contact Shoreline Solar Project at 
(206) 306-9233 or Shoreline Environmental Programs 
Coordinator Rika Cecil at (206) 801-2452, rcecil@shorelinewa.gov.