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Resilience, Education and Innovation: A Spark Northwest Summer
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Our hearts are with many communities across the Pacific Northwest where wildfires are burning, impacting millions. Even in the midst of this intense wildfire season, we are encouraged to see Spokane taking proactive, long-term action to protect the city’s most vulnerable from exposure to wildfire smoke and extreme heat with a “right to cooling” law, which passed the Spokane City Council on July 29. Learn more about this new law here.
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“With wildfire smoke making it unsafe to open windows, reliable indoor cooling is essential. I’m optimistic about Spokane’s decision to plan for these overlapping hazards now, rather than wait for the next crisis. It shows a commitment to saving lives and sets an important precedent for communities across the state.”
—Johanna Rohde, Spark Northwest Program Manager, Spokane
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Read on to learn more about recent Spark Northwest projects, a new team member, an exciting application opportunity, and our Energy Innovation fund!
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Makah Reservation, Neah Bay, WA— Makah Youth Summer Camp: Last month we partnered with Natives in Tech, AGE UP, and the Makah Tribe to deliver a multi-day School-to-Work Pathway experience centered on clean energy, electrical engineering, STEM education, and Indigenous workforce development. Over 30 youth and several elders participated in hands-on learning and cultural exchange, including designing illuminated lanterns using LED lighting and witnessing a traditional Canoe Journey landing of the Hoh Tribe on Makah’s shores. We are grateful to the Makah Tribe for hosting us and to our partners for collaborating to make this program a success!
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Carnation, WA—Oxbow Farm Discovery Day: On August 8, Spark Northwest and Puget Sound Energy joined the Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center Discovery Day, a two-day event with hands-on workshops for all ages, celebrating outdoor learning and community connection. Attendees toured Oxbow’s recently installed solar photovoltaic system, explored how solar energy works through interactive activities, and built their own solar mason jar lanterns decorated with Oxbow farms pressed flowers to take home.
Oxbow’s solar panel system has been up and running since May 2026 and is already making a real impact, generating 12,900kWh of clean energy with an estimated cost savings of $1,700. Congratulations to Oxbow Farm on this milestone and thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn, build, and celebrate clean energy together!
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Apply for the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project
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Applications are open for coastal, remote, and island communities looking to improve the affordability, reliability, and security of their energy systems through the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP). This program helps local leaders pursue local energy goals through technical analysis and planning from energy experts at national laboratories, paired with support from regional partner organizations that understand the local energy landscape. Spark Northwest supports ETIPP communities in the Pacific Northwest, and we can help you understand whether this program is a good fit for your energy needs. Applications for ETIPP are open through Nov. 18. We invite you to fill out this brief form if you’re interested in applying, and visit the ETIPP website to learn more.
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We are thrilled to welcome Ally Ang as our new Communications and Development Manager! With over a decade of experience in development and communications for reproductive justice, literary arts, and social services organizations, Ally is excited to join the Spark Northwest team to support the movement for equitable clean energy and a just transition. Ally believes in the power of community-centric fundraising and storytelling to advance social justice. Meet the rest of the Spark Northwest team here.
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Introducing the Energy Innovation Fund
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We’re so excited to announce Spark Northwest’s Energy Innovation Fund to support community-driven clean energy projects, whether it’s installing solar and heat pumps or a new idea needing incubation. Last summer, we pitched our “incubator” fund and pooled $100k in startup funds. We used these funds to deepen our engagement with clean energy champions in frontline communities and translate their clean energy vision into fundable proposals. This work resulted in over four million dollars in public grants awarded! Now, we need your help to keep the momentum going: Learn more about the Fund and how to support it here.
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Read: Washington’s portable cooling access law, ESSB 6200 is now in effect! The law protects renters’ and mobile home residents’ ability to install and use qualifying portable cooling devices. With a hot summer underway, this new law is designed to help households stay safer during extreme heat events and improve access to healthy indoor living conditions. Learn more at safeandcoolwa.org, and check out the Seattle Times article about the new law.
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Spark Northwest pushes for equitable, clean energy solutions in our region. We couldn’t do this without the generosity of you and all our supporters.To join us in powering this work, you can click on the link below to make a gift. Every gift, large or small, fuels the work of building a clean, just energy future.
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