Are There Still Financial Incentives for Installing Solar? Yes!

State sales tax exemption: Washington provides a sales tax exemption for solar energy systems, including rooftop solar panels, other materials and their installation. The exemption is available through 2029 and is usually provided through your contractor. You can request a refund if you were charged sales tax on eligible materials or purchased these yourself. Check out the Washington Department of Revenue application for sales tax refund form for more details.

Residential renewable energy tax credit: The federal government first enacted a solar investment tax credit (ITC) in 2006, which allows people who install solar panels on their homes or businesses to claim a reduction in the income taxes that they would normally pay to the IRS. The amount of this reduction is capped at 30% of the amount invested in the solar array. More information on the tax credit is available on the IRS Residential Clean Energy webpage. 

WA’s Community Solar Program Might Save You Money

Solarize is Olympia Community Solar’s nonprofit solar energy group purchasing model that reduces your costs and helps simplify the installation process.​ Solarize is currently open to enrollment by residents of Island, East King, Skagit, Thurston and Whatcom counties and the City of Kenmore. If you qualify and decide to enroll, we would appreciate hearing about your experience! 

What about the Tariffs on Solar Panels?

The Trump administration is imposing sky-high tariffs on solar imports from Asia but, at least for now, experts predict that the added costs are unlikely to slow the rollout of solar power in the US. Even if it becomes a little more expensive, solar remains one of the cheapest clean energy sources.

The good news is that Washington State’s solar panel manufacturing industry is growing rapidly and now supplies many local installers. Located in Bellingham, Silfab Solar is one of the largest solar panel manufacturers in North America. Another manufacturer, Itek Energy, is producing solar modules that are a popular choice for local installations.

Where Can I Learn More?

The DOE Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar is a great resource for learning the basics of residential solar installation. Olympia Community Solar’s 11-minute video, Five Steps to Solar, might also be a useful starting point, and they also have a free online resource, the SUN Solar Owner’s Manual. 

You might want to begin by estimating how much power you can generate at your house. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory offers the PVWatts tool to estimate the energy production and cost of photovoltaic (PV) systems for any address in the world. It allows homeowners, installers, and others to estimate the performance of potential PV installations and compare solar costs to utility bills. You can even estimate the amount of money you might save based on your energy consumption, using DOE’s guidance. 

These resources and tools will help you get started, but make sure to work with a solar installer for a custom estimate of how much power your system would be likely to generate. 

Getting Bids and Choosing a Contractor

Solar Washington, a non-profit organization, recommends getting at least three bids and checking references on all contractors that you decide to consider. Solar WA also recommends finding vetted, local installers through the Washington Solar Energy Industries Association (WASEIA).

The national office at Third Act is partnering with Boston-based EnergySage for installation bids, but we found that a number of reputable WA installers, regional and statewide, do not elect to provide bids through EnergySage. We think you will be able to find a wider range of reputable, local solar installers through the WASEIA online tool.

Comparing Installation Bids

Solar WA offers a detailed list of Questions for Solar Shoppers and advice on comparing bids that you may find useful. Many factors go into an installer’s bid and cost structure, including labor required, the equipment used, the amount of power generated, warranties, and financing options. 

Overhead costs: Some solar equipment suppliers have high overhead costs, resulting in higher bid amounts. However, homeowners should be wary of bids significantly lower than other bids, as this may signal that an installer is cutting corners.

Equipment costs: The number, type and quality of panels installed can be a significant factor in the estimates you receive. Different types of solar panels produce varying amounts of electricity, and some panels last longer than others.

Warranties and production guarantees: Many installers provide warranties, but what those warranties include and do not include will vary. Generally, higher solar bids may include better warranties that could save you money in the long run. Some companies provide additional guarantees, such as production guarantees and coverage for any potential damage to your roof. When reviewing your bids, you should always read through warranty information carefully and check if the information you receive is clear about its coverage, process, and coverage amounts.

Permits and policies: Your bids should include state or local permit costs for solar panel installation or usage. Be sure to review and compare these costs across all your bids.

And, if you have a credit card with one of the mega-banks, the money from transaction fees, annual fees, and interest on credit card debt is feeding into the money pipeline to finance fossil fuel companies. 

Join us to learn from Michael Richardson, co-facilitator of Third Act Upstate New York and seasoned source of knowledge and support on green investments, about how to move your money from dirty banks to climate-friendlier institutions.

You may attend in person or via Zoom. After registering you’ll receive a confirmation email with a Zoom link. For those attending in person, lunch will be served in the Fellowship Hall of First Church, 180 Denny Way, Seattle, at 11:45 a.m. A $10 donation is requested for lunch. The speaker will be introduced at 12:30 and the program will end by 1:45 p.m.

We should not be surprised or disappointed. We have made HUGE progress. Significant bills very often take a few years to pass, and this bill has already gathered unexpectedly broad and enthusiastic support during this difficult session.  It generated thousands of supportive emails to senators and developed a Coalition of ten active organizations backing it.  

Bills have a two-year life span so we will take that time, continue to build support and understanding of the need to divest from this deadly, dirty energy source that contributes to climate change throughout the world, including right here in Washington.

We are enormously thankful to Senator Noel Frame,( D36), who sponsored the Washington Coal Act with 6 co-sponsors during the current legislative session.

We are also going to use the interim to raise important issues, not the least of which is the WSIB’s characterization of the size of their investment in coal, and their movement towards investment in green energy. Frankly, we believe the information from the Board, provided to key legislators, obfuscated the real situation. 

For example, The Board provided input to Senator Frame after the bill was introduced, claiming that the WSIB had only $119 million invested in coal and had reduced its exposure to coal from 0.33% in 2012 to 0.07% in 2024. The chair of the Ways and Means Committee’s legislative assistant sent an email to some of us bill proponents saying Sen. Robinson would not be scheduling a hearing for the bill because the WSIB is reducing its coal investments and will probably continue to do so.

Unfortunately, the method used by the WSIB to classify coal holdings only takes into account companies whose primary source of revenue is thermal coal according to the MSCI Global Industry Standards Classification (GCIS).  This method eliminates huge coal operations that are parts of much larger companies that are dwarfed by their other trading businesses.  This practice  has the effect of hiding coal investments.

On the other hand, the Global Coal Exit List (GCEL) used in the proposed WA Coal Act, is internationally recognized and used by investors, banks, insurance companies, pension funds, and asset management companies around the world to get a clear view of major coal operations worldwide. Investors representing almost $20 trillion in assets use the GCEL to evaluate their investments. The GCEL turns up $2.6 billion in WSIB coal investments in public investments. That’s 24 times more than the WSIB counts in its coal holdings! 

The GCIS used by the WSIB makes it almost impossible to track substantial coal investments, while the GCEL provides a clear, annually updated status of major coal operations.

The WSIB representative also posed the argument to Senator Frame, in an email against the WA Coal Act, that some WSIB coal investments “fall in the category of “brown-to-green” investments, whereby companies are actively transitioning from greenhouse gas-intensive energy production or consumption to renewable energy sources.” WSIB’s example of such an investment, NTPC Ltd, is the largest power company in India—mainly coal! 

That’s a bit shocking. NTPC’s generating capacity of 71 gigawatts is equivalent to 92 Centralia coal plants, and while it claims to be adding 60 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2032, it is currently EXPANDING its coal production by the equivalent of 11 Centralia coal plants– not including its many subsidiaries. That certainly doesn’t sound like a brown to green investment!

The Washington legislature passed the Clean Energy Transition Act in 2019, which bans the use of coal for energy in Washington after 2025. How is it that a state agency completely stonewalls against the intentions of the legislature by refusing to even acknowledge that there are ways it could better align with climate policies and simultaneously up their game in complying with their fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of its beneficiaries?

This is not politics, this is prudence. Pensions are tasked with acting in the long-term best interest of beneficiaries, not making short-term gambles. Coal is dying out in the U.S. and is being replaced by much less expensive renewables. Coal is not a good long-term investment and the Board should take actions with that understanding. 

The long-term outlook for U.S. coal is a steady downward trend. According to the Institute for Energy and Economic Financial Analysis  IEEFA, it’s possible that all the remaining U.S. coal capacity could be shuttered by 2040.

Britain, where the first coal plant was built, has already closed its last coal plant. Coal produces more greenhouse gases than any other energy form– not to mention toxic emissions that researchers estimate have caused 460,000 premature deaths in the U.S. between 1999 and 2020. 

Moving $2.6 billion from coal over 3-5 years into other investments is not a large ask for a $200 billion portfolio. Fiduciary duty is a hallmark of the WA Coal Act. The WSIB is good at making investments with healthy returns. California and Oregon have both passed coal divestment bills. CalPERS returns increased nearly $600 million in 2022 according to Wilshire, CalPERS’ consultant.

Many thanks to all the Third Act members who wrote to your senators about this significant issue.  We ask you to continue to advocate with us as we move forward toward passage.

The Washington State Senate is considering SB5592. The bill will:

• Provide grants for technical training for zero emission vehicles and charging stations
• Authorize manufacturers to sell vehicles directly to the publi

TAWA members, please contact your legislators to support this bill! You can learn more about the bill here. Contact your state legislator here.

Reject Washington Senate Bill SB5091

Republican Senator Matt Boehnke has introduced this bill to compel Washington State to follow President Trump’s weak federal standards. (Trump is even banning federal employees from using the term “climate change.”) SB5091 would remove our state’s ability to follow rules for manufacturing clean vehicles that have been adopted by California and nine other states. Learn more about the bill here. Contact your legislator here.

The Chair of Ways and Means has announced that the Washington Coal Act will not get a hearing this session. Don’t be discouraged! SB 5439 survives and moves into the 2026 legislative session!

YOUR enthusiastic support propelled this underdog bill into view, against all odds, in spite of a very tough budget situation! That’s HUGE!

SPECIAL THANKS to organizations that joined our coalition and have made this effort their own.

Thank you!!!! As Barb’s son said to her yesterday, who works in renewable energy and strongly supports her in this work, “How can I not keep working on this? Every day it becomes more important.”

With much appreciation,

Donna, Barb, Mary Lou, Tamara and the Divest Washington Team

We also support the Fair Access to Community Solar Act (HB1598). This will provide increased and equitable access to affordable, reliable, locally generated, clean solar power. You can find more information on the bill here and here. Watch for an announcement on how Third Act members can support the community solar act.

Power UP! members also began efforts to craft a Climate Superfund bill for WA, like the one recently passed by New York state.  This bill recovers damages to the state from the largest fossil fuel companies, wherever they are. Third Act NY played a leading role in passing that bill. We met with Third Act NY members and then with WA senate majority lead Joe Fitzgibbon’s legislative assistant to explain how a Climate Superfund bill would benefit Washington.    

In our work with the Utilities and Transportation Commission to implement the Decarbonization Act, this month we began cooperation with the Northwest Energy Coalition (NWEC) to send a unified message to the UTC regarding public participation requirements the utility must provide. 

Power UP! continued discussions with Seattle Public Schools and Snohomish School District to assist with implementing their electrification programs. These programs involve students in planning unique renewable energy and storage using school buses and solar panels. 

Governor Bob Ferguson
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Dear Governor Ferguson:
Congratulations on becoming governor. We in Third Act Washington are happy and proud that we
have a governor who will continue the state’s strong support for the environment and climate action.
We are confident that the legislature will provide the same strong support.
The dramatic loss of Initiative 2117 shows that the people of Washington see global warming and
the need to act soon. They also clearly see the benefit of the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) in its
funding of major services that increase energy efficiency and are valuable in themselves.

We understand why you are concerned about the state budget. Many Third Act Washington
members are retirees on fixed incomes who must carefully plan their household budgets. We
understand why someone might suggest reducing General Fund costs by moving some of its climate
spending to CCA funding.

We think this is a bad idea. It is a step back from climate action. People in Washington voted against
I-2117 because they are willing to pay more for gas to help the environment and climate and to
provide services they want and need. This could turn it into a gas tax, exactly as some feared. It is
critical that the Climate Commitment Act continue funding the new climate actions that it made
possible.

We look forward to seeing your proposed budget and will share our opinion on this aspect of the
budget with the legislature. Thank you very much for considering this budget priority.
Sincerely,

Peter K. Harris
Third Act Washington

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/setting-the-record-straight-on-wa-clean-truck-rules/

Yet the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) holds $2.6 billion of our public investments in coal. According to the Global Coal Exit List, WSIB’s private investments in coal companies likely total an equal or greater amount. The dollar value  of private, indirect investments has not been disclosed. 

WSIB continues to hold these investments even though more and more financial data points to coal divestment as a sound financial strategy. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis reports that the fossil fuel sector has underperformed for the past decade compared to other investment opportunities. Competitive market forces now undermine growth in the fossil fuel sector, creating a negative financial outlook for this sector over the long term. Divesting from coal would be  consistent with WSIB’s fiduciary duty to maximize the value of its investments for its beneficiaries.

Coal Divestment in other Western States

Other states have directed their public pension investment boards to divest from coal. In early 2024, an Oregon coalition (including Oregon’s Third Act working group) successfully advocated for legislation to divest from coal. In 2015, California passed legislation requiring state pension funds to divest from companies that generate at least half their revenue from coal mining. 

Opportunity for Legislation in Washington

Divest Washington and Third Act Washington worked together throughout the past year to engage and educate state representatives and their staff about strategies to move divestment forward. We are excited that Senator Noel Frame of the 36th District will sponsor legislation in the 2025 Washington legislative session!

What the Washington Coal Bill will propose

The framework for the bill builds upon successful legislation in other western states. Key provisions under discussion for the bill will direct the Washington State Investment Board to:

• Eliminate certain investments in companies that mine, process or sell thermal coal, but allow WSIB to retain investments in companies that are transitioning to clean energy;
• Complete divestment from such coal funds by January 1, 2028;
• Halt new investments in coal, and
• Provide an annual report to the legislature on actions taken pursuant to this legislation. 

Can You Help Advocate for the Bill? 

Please contact tawa-policy@googlegroups.com if you can email or meet online or in-person with your state representatives to share information about the coal bill and ask them to sponsor and support this legislation. We’ll support you with tools and training to be a good advocate! You can watch a recording of our December 2024 advocacy training if you would like to get involved  in supporting this legislation.