When Scott and I think back on our year with Social Venture Partners both of us would wholeheartedly agree that SVP inspired us to step out and take a risk to follow our heart and taught us how to do that effectively.

There were two specific SVP events that have had a lasting impact on us. At the 2007 SVP International Conference we attended a break-out session called “Accelerating your Impact” with PLAN founders Al Etmanski and Vickie Cammack. They shared that “To achieve sustainability, one needs to get its principles, concepts and values into the ‘water supply.’ We kept coming around to that question. What does it mean to get solar power education into to everyday lives of those around us and “into the water” ?

The second event was a breakout session by Randy Ottinger who spoke about leaving a legacy. His question was what do I/we want to make last for our family and our community? As Scott and I mulled this question we felt called to do what we could to accelerate the adoption of safe, clean renewable solar energy. We believe that solar energy is right on three levels:

Safe, Clean and Infinite Source of Power for the future
Good for the Environment
Good for National Security

Thanks SVP for informing and empowering us to take the next step. Willow Russell and Eric Becker from the SVP staff made a video of our story. We are so grateful to SVP for the opportunity to tell the story of
how SVP taught us to step out and take action. Our story is your story too.

The readerboard on PEMCO’s headquarters along Interstate 5 in downtown Seattle has been a convenient source for current time and temperature for years. Beginning September 2nd, the readerboard will also start providing information about the future, as well.

Thanks to PEMCO’s generous support of Solar Pie, the readerboard will also show the amount of electricity being generated by a home-sized solar panel installation on the PEMCO roof.

During daylight hours, the PEMCO readerboard will show actual kilowatts being generated; at night, the readout will indicate reductions in carbon emissions made possible by the solar panels.

Starting September 2nd, Web surfers will also be able to track the data via the Internet and Solar Pie widget.

Solar Pie plans to launch similar projects in major cities across the United States to clearly demonstrate the benefits of solar power, and to inspire people everywhere to consider solar power as a source for safe, clean, sustainable energy.

The Solar Pie Seattle demonstration project was made possible with the generous support from PEMCO. Seattle-based contractors McKinstry served as project managers, and regulatory oversight was provided by Seattle City Light and the Seattle Department of Planning and Development.

The Seattle Sketcher drew this sketch of the "Iconic PEMCO Clock" July 29th, 2009. as the PEMCO sign hit 100 degrees for the first time. Thanks to Seattle Times artist Gabriel Campanario.