Mountaineers celebrate net zero emissions in Tacoma – The Suburban Times

Posted by The Mountaineers.

TACOMA – On July 12, 2024, the Mountaineers will welcome city representatives, elected officials, partners and the broader Tacoma community to a Solar Celebration that will commemorate recent building upgrades that have made the historic Old Town Tacoma location a net-zero energy building.

Located in the heart of Old Town Tacoma, The Mountaineers Tacoma Program Center (TPC) is a 5,500 square foot facility owned and operated by The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Originally built in 1955 by Mountaineers volunteers, TPC was renovated in 2012 to enhance its capacity to host environmental and outdoor classes, seminars, and community programs, and was also upgraded for earthquake safety. Recently, gas furnaces and water heaters were replaced with electric heat pumps as part of a net zero energy project undertaken for the site.

With subsequent funding from the Tacoma Power Evergreen Options Grant and The Washington State Department of Commerce Solar plus Storage for Resilient Communities Grant, a 30.3 kW photovoltaic system and an 81 kWh battery storage system were installed, respectively, to provide solar-generated electricity in the event of a power outage or other emergency. With the installation and successful operation of the solar panels and storage walls, The Mountaineers has achieved a significant milestone of becoming a net-zero energy building.

This project was made possible by financial support from Mountaineers members and:

• Solar plus Storage for Resilient Communities Grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. CCA supports Washington’s climate efforts by using cap-and-invest money to reduce climate pollution, create jobs and improve public health. Information about CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov
• And through Evergreen Options, a Tacoma Power program funded by utility customers who support new renewable energy in the Pacific Northwest. If you buy electricity from Tacoma Power, you can support renewable energy by signing up for Evergreen Options at MyTPU.org/Evergreen. Tacoma Power’s hydropower generation portfolio is 97% carbon-free. Hydropower is a clean, renewable energy source.

Solar Celebration will be an open house-style event from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 12, at the Tacoma Program Center (2303 N. 30th Street). Guests are welcome to come and enjoy educational booths promoting local programs focused on solar energy and environmental conservation, tours of the building, a short program of speakers with officials and grant partners, and refreshments provided by Tacoma-based vegan caterer Chubby Plant. The event is free and open to the public, and RSVPs are welcome on The Mountaineers website.

ABOUT MOUNTAINEERS: We are a community built around a passion for the outdoors. For over 100 years, our volunteers have taught skills, shared adventures, created volunteers, and protected the land. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, our mission is to enrich communities by helping people explore, protect, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Learn more at www.mountaineers.org.