The American Solar Energy Society brings its national solar tour to Bellingham on Saturday, Oct. 6.

The tour is designed to give solar installers, manufacturers and system owners a chance to explore solar options in the region.

The day with start at 9 a.m. with a tour of Itek Energy’s solar-panel manufacturing plant in Bellingham. Attendees will have a chance to meet with representatives from local installers such as Ecotech Energy Systems, Advanced Solar Energy and Western Solar, as well as from the Community Energy Challenge, a nonprofit program—operated jointly by Sustainable Connections and the Opportunity Council—that helps home and business owners gain incentives and low-interest loans for energy-efficient projects, including solar.

The tour will then visit a variety of Whatcom County solar sites, including the North Fork Brewery and the Community Food Co-op. The event runs until 4 p.m.

For more information, visit http://solarwa.org/2012tour/sites/bellingham.