Dear Friends,
Welcome to the end of 2025. As Spark Northwest’s Program Director, I get to go to work everyday leading an inspiring team of energy innovators who are smart, compassionate and joyful. And I continue to be amazed by the resilience of Pacific Northwest communities, each meeting the moment and taking bold steps forward. To offer light in the dark season, I wanted to share a couple of standout moments from the field this Fall.
Last month we had the honor of collaborating with the Latino Education Training Institute (LETI) to help them bring energy education to their community. We learned from them how they are promoting self-sufficiency and providing a dedicated community space for the Latino and low-income residents of Snohomish County. Through bilingual Spanish and English Energy 101 workshops, attendees learned about how they can save money on their energy bills—and received free energy savings toolkits with light bulbs and home insulation equipment to take home.
New solar projects came online this year too. In the Yakima Valley St. Michael’s Episcopal Mission took an important step to becoming a climate resilience hub with 72 new solar panels and battery back up. “Spark Northwest supported us every step of the way” said Reverend David Hacker. “from grant writing to project management to hosting community workshops on clean energy.”
We are also seeing Tribal communities prioritize clean energy workforce development. This Fall, The Tulalip Tribes engaged in solar education training led by our longtime partner Remote Energy. Tribal participants learned about solar applications, wiring, racking, installing, and commissioning—on a mock roof they built themselves.
There are too many stories to count. Low-income seniors in King County got access to high efficiency heat pumps. In Oregon, the rural fishing community of Port Orford got organized to take their next steps towards energy independence. We fought for energy policies centering the experiences of those who have often been left out of the energy conversation—folks at the end of powerlines, frontline and BIPOC communities.
And I won’t sugar coat it—all this work is happening in a moment of real uncertainty. Federal and state clean energy funding is increasingly volatile. The communities we serve are often the first to feel the effects of delays or cuts. As an organization, we are financially disciplined and resilient, but unrestricted support is essential to maintaining our core capacity, staying responsive, and continuing to show up for partners who have few other options.
My tenure at Spark Northwest started over three years ago at a time when it seemed anything was possible. Every year since has been unexpected, requiring us to stay firm in our mission and values but agile in our approach. We have deep faith in what we do and are optimistic about what is ahead.
As we prepare to enter our landmark 25th year, I’m excited about what’s possible and deeply grateful to everyone who has walked alongside us. Your support ensures that frontline communities are not just included in the clean energy transition, but are shaping it.
With gratitude,
Veena Prasad
Program Director
Spark Northwest
