The Olympia Farmers Market, Olympia Community Solar and South Sound Solar are excited to announce a partnership to complete the Sunflower Community Solar Project. Community solar projects such as Sunflower expand solar access to those without access to traditional residential solar – people who don’t own their home, have an unsuitable roof or property for solar or face financial barriers to incorporating solar. A group of community members participate in a single solar project and share its benefits. As a central place to gather and support local business and agriculture, the Market is ideal for providing a beautiful community solar array.

The Sunflower Project will include 200 Washington-made solar panels above the entrance of the Market. South Sound Solar will design and install a 75-kilowatt system to produce enough energy to power the entire Market by September 2021.

Ownership of the project is publicly available in $300 solar units that represent about half a solar panel. You can also support a local nonprofit by donating a solar unit. You or the nonprofit of your choice will receive an annual payment for the value of the unit’s electric generation.

The Sunflower project will bring long-term energy cost savings to the Market, significantly reduce pollution, and provide educational opportunities for all the Market’s visitors.

Sunflowers are heliotropic, meaning they turn their blossoms to face the sun. With this solar project, the Farmers Market is turning towards the sun and a clean energy future.

“South Sound Solar is Thurston County’s first solar installer, founded in 2008. They supported the Friends of the Market with the original solar project, and we are so grateful to collaborate with them as part of the Sunflower project,” says Mason Rolph, President of Olympia Community Solar.

“The Olympia Farmers Market is excited to incorporate solar energy into the daily function of our organization,” said Brett Warwick, Director of Operations at the Olympia Farmers Market. “We are constantly searching for opportunities to benefit our community, and this includes environmental consciousness. We hope to lead by example by taking steps to decrease our carbon footprint. I am confident Olympia Community Solar and South Sound Solar will provide the Market pavilion with a well-crafted array of panels for all to enjoy in the decades to come.”

The public can support the project by purchasing or donating solar units. Learn more at olysol.org/sunflower.

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ABOUT THE OLYMPIA FARMERS MARKET: In operation since 1975, The Olympia Farmers Market is home to over 100 vendors from the South Puget Sound area. Now open year-round, over 150 days a year, we see approximately 500,000 visitors a year.

We have a dedicated staff and a volunteer Board of Directors who are committed to our mission “to promote and encourage the development of local, small-scale agriculture and ensure a dynamic market balance for small, local growers and others to make available their products to residents of this community.” We are proud to be an active component of the Olympia community for 45 years. Centrally located on the waterfront of downtown Olympia, near the Hands on Children’s Museum and WET Science Center, area residents and visitors can enjoy local farm-fresh produce, artisan foods, wine, plant starts, cut flowers, fresh and cured meats, dairy, fresh baked goods, seafood, jams and preserves, confections, handcrafted gifts, local arts and more, with restaurants and plenty of covered seating, all set to daily live music. Learn more at https://www.olympiafarmersmarket.com/.

ABOUT OLYMPIA COMMUNITY SOLAR: The mission at Olympia Community Solar is to steward an equitable and accessible transition to clean energy through community solar education, policy, and project development. Learn more at https://olysol.org/.

ABOUT SOUTH SOUND SOLAR: South Sound Solar is Thurston County’s first solar installer, founded in 2008. They supported the Friends of the Market with the original solar project and are so grateful to be part of the Sunflower project. South Sound Solar is a full-service solar installer, offering high-quality installations with Made in WA solar panels and other premier products. Rather than sell solar, their mission is to educate consumers about renewable energy and encourage energy efficiency. Please join us them making the Sunflower project happen! Learn more at southsoundsolar.com.