Article: Solar Parking Canopy

Over the last several months the Port of Friday Harbor, under the direction of the Port Commission and its Director, has embarked on a new capital project to enhance and expand the power grid for the Port and its customers.

The project which will receive final construction permits this week will enable the Port to construct an overhead solar canopy in the Friday Harbor Marina’s upper parking lot. The canopy will be constructed as covered parking, allowing for dual function, a covered car port and a permanent addition to the Ports electrical grid. The solar canopy can produce 200kw of power, generating clean, renewable energy for Port operations and supporting the Port’s sustainability and electrification goals.

The structure is a metal-frame canopy measuring 207 feet long, 47 feet wide with a 14-foot clearance. The construction material has been gathered over the last several months and construction is set to begin at the end of February. The construction time is believed to be approximately 3-4 months and will impact parking in the upper lot during that period. The Port’s Capitol Protects Team will be building the structure in 2 phases starting with the northern half of the parking lot where building materials will be staged and distributed. Signage will be placed directing displaced parking to the southern half of the parking area and along the perimeter. After phase one is completed the staging area will move to the southern half of the parking lot and construction will begin there.

The construction project is the result of the Port competing for and receiving a 7 .5-million-dollar grant under the Washington State Climate Commitment Act (CCA) for the development of environmentally safe infrastructures and equipment such as electric powered maintenance support vessels and an electric travel lift. The solar canopy project is estimated to cost approximately one million dollars.

No Parking in Red Zone
Long Term Parking in Green Zone
Vehicles parking in Phase 2 will need to move to Phase 1 once work is completed.