Getting Started with Solar
Posted on August 2, 2023 by Charlie Krouse
Tags, Energy, General Interest
Oregonians continue to shift away from fossil fuel-reliant utilities. One solution to lowering your utility bills and helping the environment is investing in solar for your home.
Whether you own a house or rent one in Oregon, you can benefit from solar panels. In this blog, we’ll look at how to get solar panels, ways to save, and how renters can also enjoy the benefits of solar energy.
Getting Started: How to Get Solar Panels in Oregon
If you want solar panels for your home, the first step is to talk to a solar company. They will check how much sunlight your house gets and figure out the best solar system for you. Good solar panels can handle Oregon’s weather and increase the value of your home.
Solar companies take care of the permits and install the panels for you. A good place to start looking for installation companies is through the Energy Trust of Oregon. Their list of pre-approved installers makes it easy to find a trusted solar company. Energy Trust Trade Allies also are eligible for additional rebates, reducing the cost to you.
Rebates and Incentives
There are special discounts and tax credits in Oregon to help make solar panels more affordable. In our previous blog discussing the Inflation Reduction Act, we lay out how you can access these tax credits. You can access both state and federal tax credits when you switch to solar.
Federal Solar Tax Credit
When you install solar panels on your home, the federal government gives you a special tax credit. This credit allows you to reduce the amount of money you owe on your federal income taxes. For example, if your solar panel system costs $10,000 and the tax credit is 26%, you can subtract $2,600 from your taxes.
Oregon State Tax Credit
In addition to the federal credit, Oregon offers its own tax credit for solar panels. This means you can also reduce the amount of money you owe on your state income taxes by a certain percentage of the solar system cost.
Solar Within Reach (Income Qualified)
Solar Within Reach provides additional incentives for low-income Oregonians. You must be an Oregon customer of Portland General Electric or Pacific Power, working with an Energy Trust solar trade ally contractor participating with Solar Within Reach, and meet income qualification requirements to be eligible for incentives.
Solar + Storage Rebate Program
Low-income and moderately-income Oregonians are also eligible for a rebate through Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program. This program is run by Oregon’s Department of Energy. You could qualify for up to $5,000 for installing a solar system and an additional $2,500 for an energy storage system.
Saving on Energy Bills with Solar
With solar panels, your electricity bills can go down a lot. When you make more electricity than you need, the extra power goes back to the energy company, and they give you credits. This can drastically reduce your overall electricity bill in the long run. There are many online solar-saving calculators that show just how much money you can save on your average electricity bills. One option is Energy Sage.
With the help of the Inflation Reduction Act, the cost of solar panels is no longer inaccessible and many low-income households have access to tax credits that can cover a significant portion of the cost of the panels and installation.
Solar Energy for Renters in Oregon
Community Solar
Community Solar allows you to still enjoy the benefits of solar energy without installing panels on your property. Community solar programs are available for Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power. You’ll receive credits on your electricity bill based on the energy generated by the shared solar array. Learn more about the Oregon Community Solar Program.
Working with Your Landlord
If your landlord agrees to allow you to install solar, you can work directly with a solar company to set up a personal solar panel and access the benefits of solar just like a homeowner would.
Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues
CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.
Donate to CUB
To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
08/02/23 | 0 Comments | Getting Started with Solar