Island County solar installations require experience with permitting requirements and utility coordination across both Whidbey Island and Camano Island. Western Solar has been working in Island County for decades, helping homeowners navigate the practical realities of going solar in island communities.
Susan B.
Solar installation in Freeland
We had an awesome experience with Western Solar from start to finish! All the staff we interacted with for the project were friendly, professional, helpful and patient – our roofers were slow in getting our new roof done, and Western Solar was very nice even when having to reschedule twice because of the roofer’s bad business practices.
They gave us loads of information all along the way, from before we made the final decision, so we knew what choices to make, to the end, and even beyond after the installation, to continue to make sure things were working well and checking in to see if we had any questions or issues. Every staff we worked with, from sales to financial to project management were all great, and they did all the work to make sure permits and inspections were done in a timely manner. We love having solar, and our App that allows us to see how much solar is produced each day.
Thanks to Western Solar for making what felt like a daunting journey so easy for us – we highly recommend them, and highly recommend going solar!!
Going Solar in Island County
Living on either Whidbey or Camano Island means relying on energy infrastructure that must cross marine waterways to reach island communities. When major storms or transmission issues occur, outages can last longer than they do in many mainland areas, making battery storage an increasingly common part of going solar in Island County. Western Solar has worked extensively on both Whidbey Island and Camano Island, with experience designing solar and battery systems for homes located at the far end of coastal transmission networks.
Puget Sound Energy (PSE)
Puget Sound Energy serves all of Whidbey Island. This includes the cities of Oak Harbor, Coupeville, and Langley, and the communities of Freeland, Greenbank, Clinton, and all other unincorporated areas of the island.
Solar Net Metering
PSE currently offers 1:1 net metering, allowing homeowners to receive full credit for excess energy sent back to the grid, though this structure is expected to evolve in the coming years. The first step to design your system involves sizing it appropriately for your electricity needs. Our How to Download Your Puget Sound Energy Bill guide will walk you through downloading your historical electricity usage and a copy of your most recent bill, so we can get started on your system design.
Flex Batteries Program
Puget Sound Energy offers a Flex Batteries program that pays homeowners to enroll their battery systems and automatically support the grid during periods of high demand. Participants receive upfront incentives and ongoing payments, with no action required during events.
Snohomish PUD (SnoPUD)
Despite being part of Island County administratively, Camano Island receives its electricity from Snohomish PUD. SnoPUD’s service area covers all of Snohomish County and extends to Camano Island.
Solar Net Metering
Like PSE, Snohomish County PUD offers a straightforward net metering program for residential solar systems under 100 kW, allowing homeowners to offset their electricity usage with the power their system produces. When your solar panels generate more electricity than your home is using, excess energy is sent back to the grid and credited to your account at the retail electricity rate for future use. Unused credits roll forward throughout the year and reset each March 31st, which is why systems are typically designed to closely match your annual energy usage rather than significantly exceed it. Customers still pay basic utility connection charges, but net metering can substantially reduce overall electricity costs over time.
Jurisdictions & Permitting
The permitting process for residential solar projects in Island County depends on whether a property is inside or outside city limits. Western Solar handles all standard building and electrical permitting on your behalf.
Within City Limits
Projects installed in the cities of Oak Harbor, Coupeville, and Langley must meet additional requirements for the design and layout of solar arrays, which involves applying for a building permit with the city’s building department and completing a final building inspection after the installation. All electrical permitting is handled through Washington State Labor & Industries (L&I).
Outside City Limits (Unincorporated Island County)
For properties in unincorporated Island County — including Freeland, Greenbank, Clinton, and all of Camano Island — building permits are issued and inspected by the county building department, while electrical permits and inspections are handled through Washington State Labor & Industries (L&I).
Incentives & Tax Exemption
Solar installations in Washington State benefit from a significant financial advantage: systems under 100 kW are fully exempt from state and local sales tax. Depending on the local rate, this results in savings of roughly 8.5–10% or more on total system cost.
This exemption is currently in place through 2029 and requires no action from the customer. It is applied automatically at the time of purchase, meaning qualifying equipment is simply not taxed.
Grid Reliability in Island County
Communities in Island County have long embraced a culture of practicality and self-reliance shaped by island living. That mindset increasingly extends to energy, with many homeowners investing in solar and battery storage to improve reliability during outages and reduce dependence on distant grid infrastructure.
Higher resilience needs
South Whidbey & Camano Island
Both Whidbey Island and Camano Island experience outages related to storms, transmission issues, and the challenges of delivering power across marine waterways. For many homeowners, combining solar panels, battery storage, and backup generators provides a practical long-term resilience strategy.
A properly sized battery system can keep essential loads such as refrigeration, internet service, lighting, and critical appliances operating when the grid is down — regardless of weather conditions or time of day. When paired with solar, batteries can recharge during daylight hours and continue supplying backup power through extended outages.
More Grid Stability
Oak Harbor & North Whidbey
Oak Harbor generally benefits from more reliable electrical infrastructure due to its density and proximity to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island infrastructure. Compared to more rural areas of central and south Whidbey, outages here tend to be less frequent and shorter in duration.
In these areas, solar is often driven primarily by financial value rather than outage protection. For homeowners with higher electricity usage, the economics of solar alone can be especially compelling. Even so, battery storage continues to grow in popularity as homeowners look for additional energy independence and backup capability.
Island County Project Highlights
