Solar installation in the San Juan Islands requires experience navigating ferry logistics, occasional flights, island permitting, and utility coordination across remote communities. In addition to residential solar and battery projects, our work includes installations at Orcas Recycling Services, Friday Harbor Marketplace, and upcoming systems for Lopez Island Schools.
David L.
Solar installation and battery storage in Eastsound
Western Solar did great work! I have dealt with office staff, project coordinators, and installation techs, all very professional! I have zero complaints.
I contacted 3 companies and Western Solar replied! Great communication throughout the whole process!!
Going Solar in San Juan County
Solar and battery storage have become increasingly practical in San Juan County, where island communities rely on submarine cables and long-distance transmission infrastructure to receive power from the mainland. When storms or equipment issues disrupt service, outages can last longer than in many mainland communities, making energy resilience an important consideration for homeowners. Modern solar systems can now seamlessly combine solar panels, battery storage, and backup generators to provide reliable power and greater energy independence during extended outages.
Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO)
Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) provides electric service throughout the San Juan Islands. As a member-owned cooperative, OPALCO supplies power to 20 islands through a network of 25 submarine cables connecting the county to the mainland grid.
OPALCO’s net metering structure differs from utilities like Puget Sound Energy or Snohomish PUD, making system design especially important.
Self-Consumed Solar Power
Electricity your solar system produces and uses directly within your home delivers the greatest financial value, offsetting electricity at the full retail rate.
Exported Solar Power
Energy sent back to the grid beyond your home’s real-time usage receives a separate export credit. In 2025, OPALCO’s export rate was set at approximately $0.086/kWh — above the cooperative’s wholesale power cost, but below the full retail electricity rate.
Jurisdictions & Permitting
Permitting for residential solar projects in San Juan County depends on whether a property is inside or outside Friday Harbor city limits. Western Solar handles all standard building and electrical permitting on your behalf.
Friday Harbor (Incorporated)
Projects installed in Friday Harbor must meet additional requirements for the design and layout of solar arrays, which involves applying for a building permit and completing a final building inspection after the installation. All electrical permitting is handled through Washington State’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).
Outside City Limits (Unincorporated San Juan County)
For properties in unincorporated San Juan County, building permits are required and are applied for and inspected by the county’s building department. Electrical permits are purchased and inspected through 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 San Juan County
Grid reliability in San Juan County is shaped by geography more than almost anywhere else in Washington. Every island on the Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) grid depends on submarine cables connecting the islands to mainland power infrastructure, creating a system that is inherently more vulnerable to storms, equipment maintenance, and transmission disruptions.
High Vulnerability
Island-Wide Grid Vulnerability
Because power must travel across underwater infrastructure and long distribution lines, outages in San Juan County can last for hours or even days depending on weather conditions and the location of the disruption.
OPALCO has responded by developing community-scale resilience projects, including local microgrids like the one on Decatur Island, which combine solar generation and battery storage to maintain critical power when mainland connections are interrupted.
For homeowners, a solar-plus-battery system follows the same basic logic: generate energy locally, store backup power on-site, and reduce dependence on infrastructure outside your control.
More Grid Stability
Areas with More Concentrated Infrastructure
Communities such as Friday Harbor on San Juan Island and Eastsound on Orcas Island generally benefit from more concentrated grid infrastructure and somewhat faster restoration times than more remote island locations.
Even in these areas, battery storage remains financially valuable because of OPALCO’s rate structure. A battery system allows homeowners to store and use more of their own solar production at full retail value rather than exporting excess energy back to the grid at the lower export credit rate.
San Juan County Project Highlights
