On a cold, wet January night, the La Conner Town Council embraced a sunny outlook.

The panel last Tuesday approved payment for a $100 membership fee and joined the Skagit Valley Clean Energy Co-Operative, organizer of the new Solarize Skagit program, whose goal is to make it easy and cost-effective to install solar panels.

The commitment includes providing Co-op and program information on the Town website and perhaps monthly water bills.

Solarize Skagit is the main initiative of the co-op, which incorporated last year in La Conner. Its founders include Councilmembers MaryLee Chamberlain...