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| July 30, 2020 Shelton Mason County Journal |  |
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Page A—8 Shelton-Mason County Journal Thursday, July 30, 2020
Fire officials report on Independence Dayfireworks
By Justin Johnson
just/n@ma'soncouniy.com
Despite what Central Ma—
son Fire & EMS fire chief
Mike Patti called “hot and
heavy” firework activity
throughout Mason County on
the Fourth of July weekend,
the fire district reported no
fire incidents or injuries re-
lated to fireworks during the
holiday.
“Although Central Mason
fire marshals were out both
(July 3) and (July 4), their
tasks were mainly education-
al in nature,” Patti wrote in
an email to the Shelton-‘Ma-
son County Journal. “They
ran across several folks light-
ing fireworks in the city, but
citizens were very coopera-
tive when informed that the
city had banned fireworks ac-
tivity several years ago.”
Patti said that district fire
marshals wrote no citations.
The Washington state Fire
Marshal’s Office, a division of
the Washington State Patrol,
received 265 reports of fire-
works-related incidents from
hospitals, clinics and fire
agencies statewide, according
to a news release.
Of those incidents, there
were 92 fires and 173 injuries
—~ including one fatality in
Snohomish County caused by
the premature detonation of a
mortar-style firework.
“As always, fireworks ac-
tivity was hot and heavy
throughout the county but
settled down just about
midnight each night,” Patti
wrote.
The state office reported 51
vegetation fires and nine resi—
dential fires, resulting in a
property loss of $67,790. Most
incidents occurred between
6 pm. and midnight on July
4. The report stated that legal
fireworks caused 45 percent
of the fires.
Of the injuries, which in-
cluded burns, facial and hand
injuries and vision and hear-
ing loss, 35% were due to be—
ing hit by fireworks and 32%
were from holding fireworks-
after lighting them, the re—
lease stated.
Of those injured, 21% were
children under the age of 18.
The report stated that le-
gal fireworks caused 62% of
injuries.
‘Economical and socially responsible’
PUD l launches second community solar project
By IsabellaBreda
lsabe//a@masonco_unty com
Mason County PUD 1’s second
community solar project is up
and running.
“The PNW is already renew-
able-friendly,” PUD 1 Commis—
sioner Jack Janda said. “But, we
can’t make more dams. Solar is
the power of the future.”
Community solar projects
divide a solar array’s output
among subscribers who receive
credit on their power bill based
on kilowatt output. These proj-
ects allow homes or businesses
to access renewable energy with-
out having solar arrays on their
property.
“We’ve lived here 45 years
and figured (subscribing' was)
the right thing to do,” said Dee
Spurling, Union resident. “We
thought about doing it at our
home, but it would’ve been such
a big project.”
The community solar project,
which is atop'the PUD’s vehicle
storage strucfure, includes 1,465
total units —— 965" were pur-
chased by subscribers and 500
were provided to 10 'qualifying'
low-income households drawn at
random.
Kristin Masteller, PUD 1 gen-
eral manager, said there were,
more low-income households
interested than units available.
Those who were not randomly
selected for the units this year,
however, can reapply for an op?
portunity to take part in the so-
lar project in four years.
“Every four years we will re-
solicit (low income households)
and draw again, it’s part of the
arrangement — we want to make
a meaningful impact,” Masteller
said.
Those who are at or below
200% of the federal poverty level
were eligible for a share of the
500 units paid for by a $50,000
grant from Bonneville Environ-
mental Foundation.
The power generated by the
units provided to low-income
households is slated to offset the
cost of aboutcie or two months
of electricity use.
Over the past three years,
consumers have expressed inter-
est in a second community solar
project and nearly two dozen
subscribers showed up to the
ribbon cutting July 28 for what
PUD 1 calls Community Solar 11.
The second community solar
project is 55.3 kW — nearly three '
times the size of the first 19.52
kW project in 2016.
Though state solar energy in-
centives dropped from $1.08 per
kW to 14 cents per kW generated,
Masteller said there will still be a
significant return on investment.
“For the life, of the project,
subscribers will receive credit
on their bill at the end of every
year,” Masteller said.
After 18 years, subscribers ’_
can expect a full return on in-
vestment,'Janda said. ,
According to Julie Gray PUD
1 executive assistant, the first
reading on June 30 sho'wed that
the array'produced 14,193 kW
since becoming fully functional
in mid—May. “That works out
to be $1.35 per share, so if you
purchased 50 shares your check
would be $67.50,” Gray wrote in
an email.
In the future, PUD 1 plans to
add more community s'olar ar-
rays, and has been in talks with
the Skokomish Tribe, Hood Ca-
nal IGA and Hood Canal Schools
about adding panels on their
buildings.
“This is our opportunity to get
more economical and socially re—
sponsible,” Janda said. “A lot of With solar panels overhead, Hoodsport
resident Brian Oleson cuts the ribbon as
the community wants to be part Mason County PUD No. ‘l officially
launched Community Solar‘ ll July 28. Journal
of the solution.”
photo by Isabella Breda
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