Flipping the Switch on Clean Energy in Toppenish

Clean energy came to Toppenish—and the whole community showed up to turn it on.

Last Thursday, the Toppenish community gathered at Valley View Elementary School to celebrate the completion of a new solar and battery storage system. The Flip the Switch event marked the official energization of a 128-kW DC rooftop solar array paired with a 1,376 kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a major milestone in a $1.7 million clean energy project funded through the Washington State Department of Commerce Community Decarbonization Grant. Säzän Group served as the Owner’s Representative, providing engineering oversight and system commissioning support throughout the project. Säzän Group project team members Natalia Winfield and Scott Hollis attended and joined project partners, district leadership, and community members in recognizing this important milestone.

COST SAVINGS THROUGH ENERGY COMPLIANCE

Beyond generating clean energy, the project delivers significant financial, resilience, and operational benefits for Toppenish School District. The system is expected to save the district approximately $22,600 annually in electricity costs, helping direct resources back into student programs and services. During grid outages, the battery storage system can provide at least 12 hours of backup power, allowing the school to serve as a community resilience hub with access to lighting, communications, and power for essential equipment. The project also supports compliance with Washington’s Clean Buildings Act by reducing the school’s Energy Use Intensity below the required threshold.

PARTNERSHIPS POWERING A BRIGHTER FUTURE

The celebration brought together district leadership, community partners, students, and the project team to recognize this achievement. Throughout the event, attendees learned about the project’s impact and the benefits of renewable energy for the school district.

The day culminated with the official “Flip the Switch” ceremony, where Valley View Elementary student volunteers and Superintendent Dr. Wooldridge gathered around a larger-than-life light switch created by the District’s Career and Technical Education department. Accompanied by a burst of confetti, they flipped the switch to the “on” position, officially energizing the microgrid system and marking the project’s completion.

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CLEAN ENERGY LEADERS

The event also featured hands-on STEM activities and renewable energy demonstrations for students and families. Attendees built solar-powered robots, explored hydropower demonstrations, and participated in renewable energy games and activities. Our team hosted a workforce development sticker activity at the Säzän Group table, introducing students to careers in clean energy and encouraging them to explore opportunities in STEM and the growing renewable energy industry. Each student also received a free book focused on renewable energy and conservation.

A COLLABORATIVE MODEL FOR CLEAN ENERGY

The project was made possible through a strong team effort. High-performance solar modules from Silfab Solar were paired with an advanced battery storage solution from ELM and installed by Sulis Energy, Mills Electric, and Norwest Renewables. Additional project partners included Cascadia Renewables, Spark Northwest, MZ Solar Consulting, Pacific Power, and Brittany Kaple, Toppenish School District’s Director of Public Relations, all of whom helped make the project and event a success.

This project began with early feasibility studies and planning efforts and has now become a long-term investment in the Toppenish community. By combining renewable energy generation, battery storage, and educational opportunities, the project serves as a model for how clean energy investments can deliver lasting benefits for schools and the communities they serve.