News Archive
Policy Update: Legislative and PUC Happenings
Legislature: With a little more than a month to go in Oregon’s 2017 legislative session, it’s budget writing time in Oregon’s State Capitol. The legislature’s first job, above all others, is to pass a balanced state budget for the next two years. That’s a daunting challenge due to this year’s $1.4 billion difference in […]
Rooftop to Blacktop ™
By Laurel Hamilton — Solar PV systems and electric cars go together like PB&J. Pair the two and you can both power that hot tub you’ve been feeling guilty about AND your daily trips around town completely with clean energy from the sun! Installing solar panels on your roof to power your electric vehicle (EV) […]
LOBBY DAY TO EXTEND OREGON’S SOLAR INCENTIVES
Solar advocates from around the state converged at the State Capitol on April 17, 2017 to advocate for a six-year extension of the Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC) and property tax exemption for on-site solar. The solar incentives were created in 1977 and 1975, respectively, to promote home energy savings and encourage the alternative […]
Oregon Solar Plan Outlines 10-year Solar Blueprint
Earlier this month the Oregon Solar Plan was released by Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association and Green Energy Institute. The plan provides a long-term vision for solar in Oregon. It outlines the bold goal to achieve 10% of Oregon’s electricity mix from solar by 2027, that’s enough solar to power over 500,000 homes across Oregon. This plan […]
New 1.02MW Solar Installation in Portland City Limits
In mid-March, Imagine Energy at last completed one of the largest solar installations Portland has yet seen: 1.02 MW on the Montgomery Park commercial complex. The 1920 building, formerly a Montgomery Ward mail-order catalog warehouse, was acquired in the 1980’s and fully renovated into what is now the second largest office building in Oregon. Since […]
Solar to Go – Powering a Home Office Away from Home
More companies are encouraging their employees to work from home a day a week or more to increase staff productivity, save space, and improve work-life balance (we hope), which leads to additional electric power usage at the house during the day. Hence, telecommuting is another argument for installing solar which allows you to take advantage […]
Top Ten Things You Can Do To Support Solar Oregon
Essentials Become a member. Annual membership dues range from $20-$60 a year. Truly committed may consider a Lifetime membership. Volunteer. There are frequently opportunities where help is needed. Your help. Engage others. Interact with the community and talk about the benefits of solar energy. Encourage others to consider investment in solar technology, and to join […]
Community Solar: An Exciting Next Step for Solar in Oregon
Community solar is a phrase that has been popping up in lots of places around the country. Essentially, community solar allows consumers who can’t put solar on their roof for some reason (too much shade, they rent, local homeowner associations are too restrictive) to buy into a larger system and see the energy benefits on […]
Central Oregon Community College Redmond Campus will be 90% Solar Powered
Installation of Central Oregon Community College’s (COCC) half megawatt solar array at the school’s Redmond campus is now complete and went live today (Thursday, Oct. 27). The College and its partners celebrated the milestone with an event that included remarks from US Senator Ron Wyden and Redmond Mayor George Endicott. The array, funded through a […]
Coos Bay nonprofit gets a major contribution from the sun
COOS BAY, Ore. – October 26, 2016 – The Nancy Devereux Center held an event today to unveil a new solar electric system that will cut operating costs and could even help expand its services to the community. The Nancy Devereux Center, 1200 Newmark Avenue, Coos Bay, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1979 to […]