The Port of Bellingham has announced a partnership with Puget Sound Energy to install a community solar array on the roof of the Fisherman's Pavilion at Zuanich Point Park, bringing PSE's 14th community solar site to Whatcom County and giving area residents a way to subscribe to renewable energy without installing panels on their own homes. The 100-kilowatt AC array will feed power into the grid and credit subscribing customers proportionally for what it generates.
Community solar programs work by allowing customers to buy a share of a larger solar installation rather than requiring a home rooftop system. For renters, residents in apartments, or homeowners whose roofs are shaded or structurally unsuited for panels, community solar is often the only practical path to directly participating in renewable energy generation. Subscribers receive a credit on their monthly bill based on their share of the array's output, with the credit fluctuating seasonally as solar production changes.
The Zuanich Point location is a fitting host for this installation. The Fisherman's Pavilion at Zuanich Point Park sits on the waterfront in Squalicum Harbor, one of Bellingham's most visited public spaces. The park is a gathering place for fishing families, recreational visitors, and community events, and the pavilion's south-facing roof provides good solar exposure. Placing a renewable energy installation on a public facility roof at a high-traffic location also has an educational dimension, making clean energy tangible for people who visit the park.
"This project reflects the Port's commitment to sustainability and building a cleaner energy future for Whatcom County," said Port Executive Director Tiffany DeSimone in the announcement. The Port has been expanding its sustainability programming in recent years, aligning with broader goals across the region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from public operations and infrastructure.
Puget Sound Energy has been building out its community solar portfolio across its service territory as part of Washington's clean energy transition requirements under the Clean Energy Transformation Act. The Bellingham installation is the utility's 14th community solar site, reflecting a systematic expansion of the program to reach more customers across different geographic areas. PSE customers in the Whatcom County area who want to subscribe would sign up through PSE and receive the associated bill credits.
For Bellingham residents who have been interested in community solar but were not sure if PSE's program covered their area, this installation makes that question easier to answer. Subscription availability depends on program capacity, and PSE typically operates a waitlist when demand exceeds the generating capacity of available sites. The addition of a new local site expands that capacity meaningfully.
The Port of Bellingham oversees a significant footprint of waterfront and industrial land in Whatcom County, including Squalicum Harbor, Whatcom Waterway, and the Bellingham International Airport area. Its sustainability commitments extend across that portfolio, from stormwater management to electrification of harbor equipment. The PSE community solar partnership adds a visible renewable energy component to the Port's public-facing waterfront properties.
Whatcom County residents interested in subscribing to PSE's community solar program can get current availability details through PSE's website. The Port's full announcement, including a statement from PSE, is available on the Port of Bellingham's newsflash page.
