Quixote Village Solar Panel Ribbon Cutting
Olympia Community Solar
Mason Rolph (he/him), President
info@olysol.org
Office: (360) 481-4020
Quixote Communities
Ken Bailey (he/him), Program Manager
ken@quixotecommunities.org
Office: (360) 464-3712
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Quixote Communities And Olympia Community Solar Announce Quixote Village Solar Project Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
What: Quixote Village Solar Project Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
When: Friday, November 18th, 11am-12pm
Where: Quixote Village, 3350 Mottman Rd SW, Olympia, WA 98512
November 18th, 2022– Olympia, WA –– Quixote communities and Olympia Community Solar are inviting everyone to a special ribbon cutting ceremony marking the completion of the Quixote Village Solar Project. Construction of the solar array on Quixote Village’s 30 tiny homes and community building was completed on August 20th. Come by the courtyard steps in the back at 11am to hear from a handful of project partners and Quixote residents followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the beginning of the project going online! A light reception will take place afterwards.
As an integral community resource for the unhoused in Olympia, Quixote Village is an ideal location for hosting solar. The Quixote Village solar project includes four solar panels across each of the thirty tiny homes and 86 panels on the community building (206 total). South Sound Solar designed and installed the 66 kilowatt system.
“We are extremely excited to go solar at Quixote Village. We are grateful for our partners and funders for making this possible. This will not only reduce our carbon footprint, but the cost savings will let us focus more on providing services to our residents.” stated Quixote Village Associate Director Jaycie Osterberg-Brown.
The installation will reduce the village’s energy bill, saving more than $551,000 over the next forty years. Savings from the solar energy will directly benefit village residents by making more resources available for mental health programs and services. The solar energy will reduce Quixote Village’s carbon footprint by 58 thousand pounds of CO2 emissions, equivalent to planting 705 trees every year, or not driving 106,000 miles. The project’s Silfab Solar Panels were manufactured in Washington State.
"I am excited for the solar panel installation because it will be very beneficial to the Village and allow us to be more environmentally friendly and hopefully we will be able to save money to continue to benefit the Village." said Quixote Village Resident Nancy.
This project is another example of the work that Olympia Community Solar does creating clean energy opportunities for people and organizations who thought Solar was out of reach. Olympia Community Solar developed the project and secured five grants to fund the project.
Project funding came from The City of Olympia, Puget Sound Energy, the Squaxin Island Tribe, and the Tides Foundation. “The Quixote Village solar project is an example of how solar energy may be leveraged as a powerful tool for equity. Solar energy is not only a climate solution, it is a vehicle for economic justice” stated Olympia Community Solar President Mason Rolph.
On August 2nd the Village hosted Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland for a solar project tour and got a chance to hear from partners and residents directly about how remarkable it is for these community members to produce their own energy. “The Quixote Village and Olympia Community Solar partnership will increase equitable access to cleaner and more affordable energy sources,” said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10). “That’s why I was proud to support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and other legislation that will further support clean energy investments across the South Sound.”
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ABOUT QUIXOTE VILLAGE: Quixote Communities is a 501c3 nonprofit organization incorporated under the name Panza. Its mission is to provide permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. Quixote Communities creates and manages tiny home villages that foster community, encourage personal growth, and promote access to care and services. It currently owns and operates Quixote Village in Olympia, which opened in 2013, and the Orting Veterans Village, which opened in 2021.They are currently working on the Shelton Veterans Village, slated to open in 2023. Learn more at www.quixotecommunities.org
ABOUT OLYMPIA COMMUNITY SOLAR: The mission at Olympia Community Solar, a nonprofit organization, 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 has been installing residential and commercial solar systems for over 14 years, primarily focused in the six-county area of Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pierce and Kitsap. They are a Tier 1 installer in the PSE Contractor Alliance Network and were founding members of the Washington Solar Energy Industries Association. They are well known for their community contributions and dedication to equity.