Power clashes cloud solar’s future in Washington

By Hal Bernton
Seattle Times

In his obsession with all things solar, Jeremy Smithson has put photovoltaic panels on top of his house, garage, and even crafted them into a patio awning.

Smithson views his home as a kind of test kitchen for Puget Sound Solar, a business that he co-founded in 2001 that installs solar systems in Western Washington. With the addition of energy-conservation investments such as power-miserly appliances and extra insulation, he has turned his century-old wood frame home into a showcase for solar’s potential. Read more