Campbell and Company starts offering solar as opportunities for solar energy increase

PASCO, Wash. — One local air conditioner contractor is now providing solar panel installation services. According to Washington Governor Jay Inslee this week, solar energy usage has gone up 460% in the past five years, while the cost has come down 90% in the past decade.

Campbell and Company announced this week, it is now doing solar panel installations for the Tri-Cities and Yakima. It’s one piece of the movement that’s bringing more sustainable energy solutions to the state.

Governor Inslee stated this week, Washington is receiving $159 million for residential solar energy funds through subsidies and low-cost financing through the federal Solar for All program from the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund .

“Now, on top of this $159 million of federal money, we are joining it with our over-$100 million of money from the Climate Commitment Act . Isn't it a great thing that we have made a commitment to defeat climate change in our Climate Commitment Act to get solar power for Washingtonians?” said Governor Inslee.

The Inflation Reduction Act , which provides the funding for these programs, according to Casey Sixkiller, is making the largest investment in combating climate change and supercharging America’s green energy future. According to officials, this is going to impact 900,000 households in Washington, both homeowners and renters. But Inslee said, that’s not the only thing that’s going into making it easier to get solar.

“Investments made possible by the IRA will triple wind power, increase eightfold solar power and move the power grid 81% renewable all by the end of this decade. The Inflation Reduction Act will cut carbon pollution in half over the next seven years and save consumers $27 billion on their electric bills between now and 2030,” stated Sixkiller.

Tri-Cities-based Campbell and Company is hopping on the solar train too, after taking note its customers were interested.

“It hasn't been until the last several years that we really kind of almost from Washington state's perspective or we've seen kind of an uptick in the demand here in Washington State, did we really start to feel the effects of that for ourselves and as customers were starting to make those phone calls asking us if it's something we offered,” said Isaiah Jensen, the residential sales manager with Campbell and Company. “We felt like we saw a need. And so it's been several years in the making, and we've done a lot of homework to be able to get to this point.”

An incentive Jensen mentioned, is the Residential Clean Energy Credits , which can cover up to 30% of the installation cost.

“At the end of the day, with all those incentives and benefits, it's being made easier to them and more accessible, and they can kind of power their you know, on their own power, if you will. That's a big deal, and if we can have a little bit of that and take care of our customers along the way, we want to,” said Jensen.

Washington officials said there are four main goals with the new programs. Those are affordable solar panel installations for homeowners to eliminate electricity bills, along with bringing energy efficient upgrades to multifamily housing projects, community facilities and tribal communities and nations.

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