Thirty-eight solar panels are planted next to the vegetable garden of Gro Buer and Bruce Williams, new SNAP producers in Leavenworth.

Solar and wind power program relies on customer support

Here’s an easy way to contribute to the “greening” of our valley: Sign up to support Sustainable Natural Alternative Power (SNAP).

Customers who support SNAP agree to pay a little extra each month on their utility bills. These funds go into a pool that are divided once a year among schools, nonprofit agencies and private producers of solar, wind and small-hydro power in Chelan County.

Eight solar producers joined SNAP in the past year, helping push the program to a production record of 175,142 kilowatt hours of energy. The eight new producers, all with fixed solar systems, added 26 kW of capacity. They are:

• Vic Rasmussen, 1521 Medina Pl., Wenatchee
• Gail Mueller, 2986 Lakeshore Dr., Manson
• Gro Buer and Bruce Williams, 8050 E. Leavenworth Road, Leavenworth
• Greg and Mary Steeber, 12512 Wilson St., Leavenworth
• John Smith, 5108 Old Blewett Pass Road, Peshastin
• Harrison Mekeel, 654 Loop Ave., Manson
• Travis Fox, 6555 Pioneer Ave., Cashmere
• Chuck Fowler, 10420 North Road, Leavenworth

Three applications are pending for SNAP installations in Leavenworth, Manson and Wenatchee.

In addition to SNAP payments, producers are taking advantage of generous state-sponsored incentives. Producers using solar modules and inverters manufactured in Washington are eligible for the highest payouts available through the state’s renewable incentive program. Taking advantage of the state incentives, in addition to SNAP, brings a faster return on investment.

The state payments come from the state’s utility tax fund; SNAP payments come from PUD customers interested in renewable energy. Customers contributed $24,674 this past year for payments of 14 cents per kilowatt hour to SNAP producers.

Meet the producers and get program details for 2013 in the SNAP Annual Report.

Chelan’s Riverwalk Park will host the community’s 24th annual Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 20, while Lions Club Park in Leavenworth is the site of the Life2 Earth Day Community Fair on Sunday, April 21.

The Chelan fair runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Count on displays about composting, green building, recycling, renewable energy, land conservation, energy conservation, electric vehicles and emergency preparedness. There’s plenty to do and see, including a garden center, flea market, arts and crafts for kids, food booths, music and entertainment. The event is sponsored by the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce, KOZI Radio,  Chelan County PUD and 509 State of Mind.

Leavenworth’s event, called “Sustainability and the Pursuit of Happiness,” focuses on good food and good health.  A Farmers Market showcase will make mouths water for upcoming local harvests while local eateries satisfy on-the-spot cravings. The Leavenworth Lions will offer health screenings. Meander through the park to find many more options including hands-on activities, informational displays and live music by “Hybrid Vibe and Recycled Rhythm.”

In the event of heavy rain, the fair will take place under cover at Osborn Elementary School, 225 Central Avenue, Leavenworth. Phone (509) 548-0181 for more fair information.

Jim White talks to Wenatchee fourth-graders about how energy from the sun can power cars and more.

Chelan PUD’s Jim White earns statewide award

Around the office, we think of engineer Jim White as something of a wizard. Now the state has recognized him as a science champion.

White, an indefatigable advocate for solar power and renewable energy,  received the  Science Education Advocate Award from the state LASER program — Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform. The award recognizes outstanding individuals who have exhibited exceptional support and advocacy for science education in Washington.

White, a senior energy conservation engineer, has been with Chelan PUD for 15 years. He developed the PUD’s Sustainable Natural Alternative Power (SNAP) program which led the way for small-scale solar installations in the state. He conceived and built a zero-energy trailer used to demonstrate renewable energy and energy efficiency at public events; the trailer is now used by instructors at Shoreline College. 

White built a solar go-kart in his garage which was test-driven by his own children before White used it to visit fourth-grade classrooms as a fun teaching aid. He helped Wenatchee High School students build and race a real solar dragster, and last year led students at Cashmere Middle School in a project to build and race Barbie-doll-size solar cars. He helped a  friend, Marcelo da Luz, drive the  Xof1 solar car over the longest ice road in the world to Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, where the car was used to teach native school children about renewable energy.

He is a sought-after presenter at Earth Day celebrations and school science fairs. When he’s not busy with renewable energy, he’s busy as a Boy Scout leader and volunteer at numerous community projects.

“My hope is that science education in Washington will teach us all how to survive and thrive, without destroying the natural beauty that surrounds us,” White said. When working with children, his goal has always been to make science fun.

To that end, White built a solar popcorn popper and a solar-operated splash fountain. What kid can resist a chance to splash in a fountain on a warm summer day?

The award is given annually to individuals, organizations or projects that show enthusiastic support for science education. Four individuals and one organization received awards this year.

Each received $5,000, to be awarded to the not-for-profit public education entity of their choice. White designated his award for the North Central Educational Service District to buy about 150 reusable solar car kits for classrooms.

The  reward and recognition program are funded by Boeing.

LASER is a public/private partnership launched in 1999. The Washington State LASER partnership is led by the Strategic Programs Division of Pacific Science Center in Seattle and the Office of Science & Engineering Education at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

White talks about the importance of science education on the LASER website here.

Aerial view of Chelan PUD's Rocky Reach Dam

The incredible stories behind the development of our Northwest hydro system will be told by three notables at a Public Power Week event on Oct. 10 that will also celebrate the new Music and Arts Center at Wenatchee Valley College.

Steve Wright, longtime head of the Bonneville Power Administration, will be joined by Wilfred Woods, former Wenatchee World publisher who has written and spoken extensively about public power development in the Pacific Northwest, and by Wayne Wright, recently retired executive at Chelan County PUD who has served as the PUD historian for much of his 33 years in public power.

The three will talk about the people and the persistence that it took to build the Northwest hydro system over the past 75 years or so. BPA is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and Chelan PUD celebrated its 75th birthday last year.

The free public event titled, “Darkness to Dawn: The incredible stories behind building our Northwest hydro system,” will start Wednesday, Oct. 10, (the middle of Public Power Week) with a reception featuring light hors d’oeuvres and music at 5 p.m. at the new MAC building at Wenatchee Valley College. The three guest speakers will then share their insights from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Grove Recital Hall, followed by questions from the audience until about 7 p.m.

BPA has prepared a short video to highlight its story, which will be shown. Chelan PUD also has a short video covering its history and development titled, “Lights On III,” that will also be shown as part of Wayne Wright’s remarks, as he was one of its producers.

The public is invited to this once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear from three of the region’s best experts on public power history and development and to see the new college facility that will be home to numerous community presentations in the years ahead.

Solar modules at the home of Bruce Williams and Gro Buer, 8050 East Leavenworth Road, will be part of the Cascade Medical Center Foundation's tour on Sept. 9.

The home of SNAP producers Bruce Williams and Gro Buer is one of six featured in the Cascade Medical Foundation’s 17th Annual Home and Garden Tour on Sunday, Sept . 9, from noon to 5 p.m. in Leavenworth.

Williams and Buer have been Sustainable Natural Alternative Power producers since July. They operate a 7-kilowatt installation behind their home at 8050 East Leavenworth Road.

Information about the SNAP program will be available at the tour. SNAP links Chelan PUD customers who want to support the development of solar and wind power with customers interested in producing that power. The program includes 46 producers of solar power and two wind power generators.

Homes and gardens in the tour are among the most beautiful in the Leavenworth area, said Chris Clark, tour chairman. The tour is a fundraiser for the Family Practice Clinic. Tickets are $20 per person. Tickets are available at Cascade Medical Center’s Admitting Desk, 817 Commercial St., Leavenworth, and will be available at the individual homes on the day of the tour. Visitors can begin the tour at any of the homes.

Find more information on the Cascade Medical Foundation website, or call or email Clark at (509) 860-1963,  imbikin@gmail.com.