As an island with around 1,000 residents and two bridges standing between it and the closest major city, Marrowstone Island needs to be self-reliant. If either of its bridges were to fail during a disaster, Marrowstone Island would be completely cut off from the rest of the Olympic Peninsula.
Doug Moore, a Marrowstone resident and member of the Marrowstone Island Foundation, realized how dangerous a situation like this could become. He knew the East Jefferson Fire & Rescue Volunteer Station 5 personnel would play a crucial role as the island’s first responders in this kind of emergency and to act efficiently, they would need power. If a storm or natural disaster took out the power lines, the whole island—including its emergency response team—would be in serious trouble.
The solution? A solar panel and battery storage system for the East Jefferson Fire & Rescue’s station on Flagler Road. A solar plus storage system would make the volunteer fire station self-reliant and allow it to operate effectively in a disaster. The East Jefferson Fire & Rescue is passionate about emergency preparedness—it plays a key role in the All-County Picnic—and was excited about the possibility.
Doug, the Marrowstone Island Foundation, and the East Jefferson Fire & Rescue trusted Cascadia Solar to design and install a custom solar panel and battery system. After roughly two years of persistence and determination on both sides, we completed the East Jefferson Fire & Rescue solar and storage project in July 2024. We are incredibly proud of the installation and to be helping Marrowstone Island become a more resilient, self-reliant community.
We installed a 23.1 kW solar panel system for the East Jefferson Fire & Rescue. It includes 55 Silfab SIL-420-BG solar modules (manufactured in Washington State!) and four Tesla Powerwall 3s. The system is expected to produce 23,546 kWh of energy annually and save the East Jefferson Fire & Rescue about $2,500 a year on electricity costs. It will also provide 54 kWh of reliable backup power, allowing them to provide essential services during a grid outage. They’ll be able to power radios and emergency communication devices, garage door openers for their trucks, and essentials like lights, refrigerators, and microwaves for the crew quarters.
The East Jefferson Fire & Rescue received funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce to bring this project to life. The Washington State Department of Commerce provided 70% of the funding needed for the project through its Solar plus Storage for Resilient Communities program, which funds solar plus backup projects for community buildings that provide essential services. The Marrowstone Island Foundation provided the remaining 30% and can recover 30% of its investment with the federal Investment Tax Credit’s direct pay provision.
If you’re interested in pursuing a similar project for a community building in your area, reach out to Cascadia Solar! Not only can we help determine if solar and batteries are the right option for your site, but we can also connect you with the latest grant resources and provide all of the necessary technical documents you need to submit with your application. We are committed to building community resiliency with solar and storage and would love to talk to you about your options.
Molly and Jim’s solar journey is a testament to the power of solar energy. By investing in solar and battery storage, they’ve achieved their goal of reducing their fossil fuel consumption while lowering their electricity costs and increasing their resiliency.
Everyone’s solar goals are different and Cascadia Solar is here to help you meet yours. Whether you want to reduce your environmental impact, lower your electric bill, charge an EV with clean energy, or add backup power for peace of mind, our team can help. We take the time to understand your goals so we can install a system that will serve you best.
