Snohomish County PUD Solar Project Ribbon-Cutting, Everett 2026

Key Points

• The Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) has scheduled a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its south Everett solar facility on September 19, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m.
• Located just east of the skate park at Walter E. Hall Park along Casino Road, the facility occupies a previously underutilized patch of land near a city reservoir and a golf practice area.
• The solar project has been operational since December 2024, but its formal celebration was delayed until the completion of perimeter public art installations and an adjacent ADA-accessible city pathway.
• The installation produces approximately 400,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, with financial proceeds directed into the PUD’s Community Energy Fund to assist lower-income customers with their energy bills.
• Since beginning operations, the site has generated roughly $40,000 for the relief fund and is projected to bring in about $25,000 annually, as reported by Will Geschke of The Herald.
• The project features extensive community art called “El Sol al Alcance de tus Manos” (“The sun at your fingertips”), featuring 1,000 hand-painted wooden suns and hands created by Horizon Elementary School students alongside works by local artists Ruben Trujullo, Yessica Marquez, and Luisana Hernandez.
• The newly built, 1,900-foot-long paved pathway cost just under $600,000 and connects Walter E. Hall Park to 90th Street Southwest.
• While solar energy constitutes a modest 2.2% of the PUD’s overall energy mix—with the majority originating from hydroelectric power—the utility’s integrated resource plan outlines goals to expand local solar capacity.

Everett (Evening Washington News) September 1, 2026 — What was once a neglected and overgrown patch of grass near a community park in south Everett has transformed into a functioning clean energy hub and public art display, with utility officials preparing to mark the milestone with a formal celebration later this month.

As reported by Will Geschke of The Herald, the Snohomish County Public Utility District’s (PUD) solar facility situated east of the skate park at Walter E. Hall Park along Casino Road is officially up and running, prompting organizers to arrange a ribbon-cutting party for September 19.

Although the solar array has quietly supplied power to the local grid since December 2024, the utility purposefully postponed its grand opening festivities until complementary infrastructure—including a surrounding public art exhibition and a city-built walking trail—was fully established.

Why Was the Grand Opening Delayed?

As detailed by Will Geschke of The Herald, the PUD held back on hosting an official ribbon-cutting event to ensure that the site’s aesthetic and accessibility components were complete. Utility leadership wanted the community art installation along the project’s perimeter fence and the city of Everett’s new pathway running between 90th Street Southwest and Walter E. Hall Park to be finished first.

The land itself sits on a previously underutilized plot adjacent to a parking lot, squeezed between a city reservoir to the east and a golf practice area to the west. In 2022, the city of Everett entered into a 15-year lease agreement with the PUD to dedicate the space to clean energy production, with provisions allowing both parties to extend the lease in the future.

How Does the Solar Project Help Low-Income Households?

According to reporting by Will Geschke of The Herald, the installation generates roughly 400,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The PUD purchases this power, directing the resulting financial proceeds straight into its Community Energy Fund, which extends utility bill assistance to energy customers facing financial hardship.

As noted by Suzy Oversvee, a senior program manager at the PUD, and highlighted by Will Geschke of The Herald, the facility has already supplied about $40,000 to the Community Energy Fund since it commenced operations. Moving forward, the site is expected to continuously yield roughly $25,000 every year for the assistance program.

This initiative mirrors earlier PUD efforts, such as a 2019 solar project built in the Arlington area that relied on upfront community investments in exchange for future energy credits. However, the south Everett array focuses directly on bolstering non-profit-administered bill relief while diversifying the district’s energy portfolio.

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What is the Significance of the Local Public Art?

As documented by Will Geschke of The Herald, the utility district collaborated extensively with local artists and regional non-profits to integrate creative works into the security fencing of the energy station. The installation was given the official title

“El Sol al Alcance de tus Manos,”

which translates from Spanish as

“The sun at your fingertips”.

As reported by Will Geschke of The Herald, students attending Horizon Elementary School painted a combined total of 1,000 wooden suns and hands that are now mounted across the facility’s perimeter fence. Furthermore, three regional artists—Ruben Trujullo, Yessica Marquez, and Luisana Hernandez—contributed additional creative elements, including wire dragonflies fashioned from recycled PUD materials.

Expressing her admiration for the collaborative community outcome, Suzy Oversvee stated as reported by Will Geschke of The Herald:

“This totally exceeded my expectations. When we were talking about a community art project, I had no idea this was what would come of it. It’s just incredible.”

How Does the New Pathway Improve Park Access?

According to information covered by Will Geschke of The Herald, the solar project coincides with the construction of a brand-new, ADA-accessible paved trail spanning approximately 1,900 feet. Costing just under $600,000, the path was constructed through a collaborative effort between city officials and the PUD.

City representative Phillips explained the coordination behind the pathway, noting as reported by Will Geschke of The Herald that officials ensured the trail design avoided interfering with the functional components of the solar array while remaining close enough for pedestrians to view and appreciate the perimeter art. Previously, Walter E. Hall Park featured only a single main entrance accessible via Casino Road, but the new pathway successfully opens up connectivity to communities situated to the southeast.

Where Does Solar Fit Into the PUD’s Broader Energy Plan?

As pointed out in The Herald coverage by Will Geschke, solar power currently accounts for a minor slice of the overall energy mix utilized by the PUD, registering at approximately 2.2% of the district’s total consumption. The vast majority of electricity delivered to PUD customers continues to be derived from reliable hydroelectric generation.

Even so, the utility district’s long-term strategic policy document, known as the integrated resource plan, outlines a clear intent to foster and develop additional local solar generation assets across Snohomish County in the coming years.

What Can Attendees Expect at the September 19 Celebration?

As detailed by Will Geschke of The Herald, the upcoming grand opening event is slated to kick off at 10:00 a.m. on September 19, 2026. The itinerary features formal remarks from civic and utility leaders, alongside family-friendly activities designed to engage the local community.

Outlining the specific family-oriented attractions, PUD spokesperson Kellie Stickney stated as reported by Will Geschke of The Herald, that solar ovens will be set up to allow families to prepare s’mores, alongside complimentary servings of shaved ice. Additionally, the event will feature appearances by the local artists and solar engineering experts who brought the project to life, offering attendees an opportunity to discuss the nuances of the new installation located at 1226 West Casino Road.