One of the significant challenges in bringing down the cost of residential solar is the solar permitting process of different jurisdictions. Requirements and processes vary by location and information is not always readily available, leading to inefficiencies for installers and permitting jurisdictions. Solar Oregon, in collaboration with our partners on the permitting work group of Northwest Solar Communities, had been tasked with developing a standard process that reduces permitting time and cost while ensuring system safety. One of the tools that we developed was the Oregon Permit Packet- information, examples, and checklists to support jurisdictions in implementing their respective state codes.The Oregon Permit Packet can be accessed here.

Energy Trust of Oregon recently announced that it will discontinue the Solar Water Heating program and solar water heating cash incentives for residential and commercial customers. This decision stems from the Energy Trust and the Oregon Public Utility Commission reviews of the cost-effectiveness of certain energy-efficiency measures. Given the low cost of natural gas and other factors, they determined the solar water and pool heating investments are no longer passing the cost-effectiveness tests. The final deadline for submitting residential and commercial solar water heating and solar pool heating incentive applications to Energy Trust is November 7, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. PST. This decision will have no impact on the availability of incentives for solar electric projects. While Energy Trust incentives will no longer be available for Solar Water heating, there are still two significant incentives available:

• Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit (Oregon Department of Energy): $0.60 per rated kWh savings for the first year, up to $1,500.
• Federal Income Tax Credit: 30 percent of installed cost.

Solar Oregon works hard to get solar built in Oregon. But we can't do our work without the support of people like you! For 35 years, we've been making solar happen with workshops, tours, technical support, trainings, education, outreach, research, and advocacy. But we've still got a long way yet to go until Oregon's clean energy future is secure.

We'd love to have you as a member -- please consider joining today!