The Squaxin Island Tribe is reducing its carbon footprint with solar panels that support tribal sovereignty while reducing the power bills.
Thanks to funding through the state’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA)—which auctions emission allowances and puts the resulting funds toward climate adaptation or mitigation projects—the tribe has embarked on a series of solar power projects to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
Solar panels have been installed on two tribally owned buildings in Shelton: the Squaxin Island natural resources building and tribal administration building, with a total of 300 panels between the two. The tribe’s Tumwater Trading Post business is slated to get 76 solar panels.
Funds from the CCA covered the cost of the solar panels and labor at $517,095.
The use of solar panels is expected to reduce the tribe’s dependence on the larger power grid, reduce energy bills and be another tool in its mission to battle climate change.
The efforts are paying off already with the natural resources building seeing a 39% reduction in its power bill and the tribal headquarters seeing a 34% reduction.
All three projects are expected to produce 192,088 kilowatts of energy per hour.
“It’s our first step into solar and it’s exciting,” said Leila Whitener, a brownfields coordinator and resource biologist with the tribe who helped coordinate the project. Installation of the panels on the Shelton properties began in August and were completed in October.
Whitener said the CCA—which Washington state voters preserved in 2024, rejecting an initiative to end it—also will fund tools to measure climate impacts of future projects. The solar initiative was seen as a perfect complement to the tribe’s climate efforts.
“Clean energy fit in perfectly,” she said.
The tribe also has purchased two electric vehicles, including a Chevrolet Blazer for natural resources staff and a Chevrolet Silverado to tow boats. The tribe installed an electronic-vehicle charging station in the natural resources department parking lot, which is available for community use.
South Sound Solar, Inc., was the project’s contractor for the solar panels and charging station.
The tribe is on the lookout for more opportunities to incorporate solar power, Whitener said.
As part of a Climate Commitment Act-funded project, the Squaxin Island Tribe installed solar panels on its natural resources building and two other tribally owned buildings. Story: Trevor Pyle. Photo: Noah Wine of SkyArk Media
