Bremerton Takes Steps Toward Energy Resilience with Solar Initiative

BREMERTON – As demand on the West Sound power grid rises due to population growth, extreme weather, and transit electrification, the City of Bremerton is advancing plans to ease the strain. A $100,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce will fund a feasibility study to explore installing solar panels and energy storage systems at city facilities. The Bremerton City Council approved the grant on November 6.

“This will provide us an independent energy source, which is important,” said Mayor Greg Wheeler. The study will identify three to five potential projects, with future funding available for implementation once the design phase is complete.

Kitsap County’s population has surged nearly 230% since 1960, and extreme weather events are increasing energy demand, noted Melanie Coon, spokesperson for Puget Sound Energy (PSE). Hydroelectric power—the region’s primary renewable energy source—faces capacity limits, making efforts to reduce grid demand and add resilience critical.

Read more in Kai Uyehara's story in the  Kitsap Sun