New solar panel install at Red Mill Farm Preserve on San Juan Island.
The San Juan Preservation Trust Goes Solar!
We are harnessing the power of the sun at our Red Mill Farm Preserve, generating clean energy and earning credits from the local power cooperative.
A few years ago, the San Juan Preservation Trust embarked on a project to install solar panels at our Red Mill Farm Preserve on San Juan Island. The goal was to generate as much power annually as the property consumes.
Working with Rainshadow Solar, we installed a 28-kW direct, grid-tied photovoltaic system in two phases. The first phase passed electrical inspection in the fall of 2021, and the final installation was completed in the fall of 2024. Because it’s a grid-tied system, any excess power that isn’t used on the preserve is fed back into the grid rather than stored in on-site batteries.
The Impact: Clean Energy and Community Benefits
It’s our first summer with the solar panels at Red Mill Farm, and rather than paying electric bills, we’re receiving credits from Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO) for the power we’re generating. In other words, we’re producing more electricity than we use during these sunny summer months!
Electric utilities in Washington State rely heavily on hydropower from dams along regional waterways. However, there is growing pressure to remove some of these structures—such as the four lower Snake River dams—to support salmon and orca recovery. Installing grid-tied solar systems helps utilities meet the demand for clean, local energy while reducing dependence on other sources.
The full system cost SJPT about $90,000, but over its 30-year lifespan, we expect to recoup those costs. By harnessing the sun’s energy to cover our own usage, we’re also contributing to a sustainable power supply for our community.
SJPT volunteer Thom Pence standing next to the new solar panel installation at Red Mill Farm Preserve.
Red Mill Farm Preserve | Photo: Jane Fox
About Red Mill Farm Preserve
Red Mill Farm Preserve spans 748 acres in the heart of the Lower San Juan Valley, blending active farmland with conservation. In addition to being a hub for Preservation Trust community gatherings, it also hosts the Salish Seeds Project, a joint program between SJPT and the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank which enables restoration of native wildflowers and grasses.