Shoreline’s Clean Energy Tech Program Looks to the Future of Solar, Hosts the 2015 Washington State Solar Summit

Multiple legislators and over 170 solar industry stakeholders visited Shoreline’s campus Oct. 9-10 as the college hosted the 2015 Washington State Solar Summit. The theme of this year’s event was “The Future of Solar in Washington State: Caution: Curves Ahead.”

This was the first year Shoreline Community College was tapped to host the annual industry event. “It’s fitting that the theme of this year’s summit was all about the future of solar,” said Shoreline’s Clean Energy Tech Program Director, Louise Petruzzella. “Shoreline is very much helping to create the future of solar in Washington in that ours is the only two-year program involved in educating future clean energy workers and leaders in the state.”

As several solar incentives are set to expire in 2016, a highlight of the summit was a discussion with several key legislators on the future of solar in our state. The panel included Sen. John McCoy and Sen. Cyrus Habib of the Senate Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committee, Rep. Chad Magendanz of the House Technology & Economic Development Committee and Rep. Gerry Pollett of the House Finance Committee.

“Hosting this event was definitely a win for our campus and helped highlight our CET program at the state level,” said Petruzzella. “Our program is an already well respected and important component of the Washington state solar industry and this summit helped solidify us as a center for thought about the industry and as a place where innovation happens.”

The Solar Summit is an annual information gathering and networking event for all industry stakeholders including manufacturers, installers, utilities, municipalities, legislators, educators, students, advocacy organizations/nonprofits, distributors and consultants. By bringing the summit to our campus, Shoreline stays at the forefront of important conversations shaping the solar energy for the future.