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El Sol al Alcance de tus Manos

South Everett Community Solar Project

Aerial photograph of El Sol Community Solar array in South Everett, Wa

The PUD partnered with the City of Everett to build El Sol al Alcance de tus Manos (The Sun at Your Fingertips), a solar project in south Everett that generates funds for the Community Energy Fund. The fund assists income-qualified PUD customers and is administered by St. Vincent de Paul. The solar array has a capacity of 400 kilowatts, generating enough electricity to power approximately 30 homes in a year.

Project Timeline

A white piece of paper used as a brainstorm during naming sesson

2022: Casino Road Community names the project

When community members gathered at the Connect Casino Road Summer Carnival, they suggested the project name El Sol al Alcance de tus Manos. The name reflects that the benefits of renewable energy should be within reach for everyone. Through the Community Energy Fund, the solar energy generated by this project helps provide assistance to customers facing energy hardship. The name would later become the centerpiece of the project’s community-centered artwork.

2023: Building the vision

As conversations continued with community partners, neighborhood leaders emphasized the importance of including artwork created by local youth. Three local artists, Luisana Hernandez, Ruben Trujillo, and Yessica Marquéz, were selected to help develop a design that could bring those community contributions together into a unified installation.

2024: Youth contributions take shape

Smiling students holding hand painted sun shapes.Every classroom at Horizon Elementary School, young people participating in community events throughout Everett, and youth impacted by the carceral system all contributed painted suns and hands to the installation. Inspired by the project name, the artwork combines symbols of solar energy and community connection.

2025 and 2026: Bringing it all together

What began as a community-selected name evolved into a shared work of art. Centered around the words El Sol al Alcance de tus Manos, the installation combines nearly 1,000 youth-created suns and hands, four large scale artwork panels, original poetry, and recycled materials sourced from Snohomish PUD. Together these elements transform individual expressions of creativity into a shared work of art that tells a story of connection, expression, and collective action.

El Sol fence featuring colorful hand created artwork

Artwork Guide

In an ever-changing and uncertain world, the last solar robot leaves the cityscape behind with one thought on his mind:
Surrender what you think you know, plant the seeds you wish to grow.
Even in our darkest hours – ours in a sea of faces kissed by the glow of a mid-morning sun – something beautiful bloomed.
We began to understand that our collective wellbeing was contingent upon collaborative dreaming.

– Words by Luisana Hernandez
Translated by Yessica Marquéz and Christopher Jay (Tritus Unity Group)

ROBOT CITYSCAPE

Hand-drawn partly color cityscape Handdrawn fully colored cityscapeProgress photos of robot cityscape by Ruben Trujillo

STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS

Stained glass window art in progress, two gothic shapes held by artist Stained glass artwork in progress with natural tones and organic shapesProgress photos of stained-glass windows by Luisana Hernandez

“This artwork is about transformation, liberation, and the process of relinquishing the myths we hold about our capabilities.” – Luisana Hernandez

NATURESCAPE

Bright purple flowers on hand created artwork Brightly colored metal nature shapesProgress photos of naturescape by Yessica Marquéz

“This artwork represents the invisible connection between all living things, the necessity for balance in nature, and the importance of renewable resources to ensure a sustainable future where we all thrive.” – Yessica Marquéz

COLLABORATION

Handpainted sun and hands Brightly painted metal artwork in the shape of a dragonfly

Progress photos of collaborative section by Luisana Hernandez, Yessica Marquéz, and Ruben Trujillo

“We wanted the art to tell a story of perseverance, collaboration, the importance of renewable resources, and how technology and nature can coincide together in harmony. The project is a small example of what we can do when we work together.” – Ruben Trujillo

Artists Luisana Hernandez, Ruben Trujillo, and Yessica Marquéz with Zip and Zap at Energy Block Party

Meet the Artists

Local artists Luisana Hernandez, Ruben Trujillo, and Yessica Marquéz partnered with the PUD and community members to help bring the artwork to life. Together, they developed the overall design, led youth art activities, and transformed hundreds of individual contributions into a unified public artwork.

Photo: Artists Luisana Hernandez, Ruben Trujillo, and Yessica Marquéz with PUD mascots Zip and Zap at the Energy Block Party

Thank you to our community partners:

  • Connect Casino Road
  • Horizon Elementary
  • Westmont Holly Neighborhood Association
  • City of Everett
  • Snohomish County Conservation District