Solar power in Oregon explained

Solar power has been growing in the U.S. state of Oregon in recent years due to new technological improvements and a variety of regulatory actions and financial incentives enacted by the state government.

Government policy

The Government of Oregon has taken a variety of actions to encourage solar energy use and manufacturing within the state. A 2017 law states that homeowners associations cannot ban solar panels.[1]

Net metering

The state has a net metering program that allows for large installations of up to 2 MW of on-site electrical generation.[2] A report released in 2009 by the Network for New Energy Choices and Vote Solar gave the state's net metering system an "A" grade, a rating only 9 other states received.[3]

Renewable portfolio standard

The state adopted a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in 2007 which requires that 25% of Oregon's electricity come from renewable resources by 2025.[4] The RPS was revised in 2009 to include a separate 20 MW solar photovoltaic requirement by 2020.[5]

Construction budget mandate

Passed in the 2007 legislative session, House Bill 2620, requires that public entities such as state and local governments spend 1.5% of the construction budget for new or renovated buildings on on-site solar technologies.[4] [6]

Financial incentives

Solar Within Reach

Solar Within Reach is a program through the Energy Trust of Oregon that provides incentives for income-qualified families. Adding a solar power system to your home can greatly reduce your energy bills, and this program is designed to help offset the costs of installing such a system, so you can reap the benefits without a big startup cost.[7]

Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program

In 2019, HB 2618 was passed, which created a new ODOE solar rebate program through the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE). This rebate program allows residential solar energy customers as well as low-income service providers in Oregon to receive rebates for solar energy systems, whether they are stand-alone systems or paired with a solar energy storage system.[8]

Residential Energy Tax Credit

The Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC) program aims to encourage residents to invest in energy efficient appliances or residential-scale power producing systems such as roof-mounted solar or small wind setups by offering a tax credit that covers a certain percentage of the cost of eligible equipment.[9]

Business Energy Tax Credit

The Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) program aims to encourage private businesses to invest in renewable energy in Oregon by offering a tax credit that covers up to 50% of eligible renewable projects such as power stations or manufacturing factories with a maximum limit of $20 million per project.[4]

State Energy Loan Program

The State Energy Loan Program aims to encourage investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy production by offering long-term, fixed-rate loans to all types of organizations and individuals with a maximum cap at $20 million per loan.[10] From the time it was first authorized by voters in 1980, the program has made over 700 loans worth a total of $335 million.[11]

Feed-in tariff

The Oregon Legislative Assembly established a feed-in tariff for solar power modeled on feed-in tariffs in Germany,[12] allowing owners of solar installations to be paid for the electricity they produce.[13] On May 28, 2010, the Oregon Public Utility Commission approved the trial feed-in tariff rules.[14] Under the approved rules, residents and businesses who install solar systems can enter a 15-year contract with investor-owned utilities in the state where they will receive guaranteed monthly payments over the life of the contract with rates ranging from $0.55 to $0.65 per kWh.[15] Funding will come from an estimated one half of 1% increase in electricity rates.[15] The trial program ends after four years and the entire project's size is limited to a maximum 25 MW.[14] Program applications are accepted biannually on April 1 and October 1. The final year of the pilot program is 2013.[16]

Manufacturing

Many solar manufacturing companies have chosen to operate in Oregon because of its cheap hydroelectric power which is important for manufacturing and because of its close proximity to California's large market.[17] The inexpensive hydroelectric power has also contributed to the high-tech manufacturing companies located in the state's Silicon Forest as well as several data centers such as Google's Project 02.[18]

Oregon was one of the only three states (along with Michigan and Ohio) to manufacture more than 100 MW of solar panels during 2009.[19] SolarWorld's plant in Hillsboro, Oregon is the largest solar cell manufacturing factory in North America and is planned to produce 500 MW of panels annually by 2012.[20] [21]

Companies

Solar companies with operations in Oregon include, Sunbridge Solar, Precision Solar & Heating, Energy Solutions, Avila Solar Drafting LLC, Solar Plan Sets LLC, Power Northwest, Tesla Solar, Grape Solar, and more.[22]

Notable projects

See main article: List of power stations in Oregon.

Solar panels on State Capitol

In 2002 Oregon became the first state to install solar panels on its state capitol building.[23] The solar panels were installed on the Oregon State Capitol building, although they are not visible from the street.

Solar highways

In 2008, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced the completion of a 104 kW solar panel project along the interchange of Interstate 5 and I-205 near Tualatin, Oregon.[24] The project is the first solar highway in Oregon and the first in the United States.

In January 2012, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced the completion of its second solar highway project with a 1.75 megawatt capacity at its Baldock Safety Rest Area south of Wilsonville.[25]

A 165 kW expansion to the first project is under study, as is a potential third solar highway project with a capacity of 3 megawatts at ODOT's maintenance storage facility in West Linn.[26] [27] The 3 megawatt project in West Linn, Oregon would be the largest solar highway in the world, slightly passing the 2.8 megawatt record holder in Germany.[28]

U.S. Department of Energy partnership

Portland, Oregon is one of the 25 cities in the United States Department of Energy's Solar America Cities program. The program's goal is to "rapidly increase the use and integration of solar energy in communities across the country."[29]

Statistics

Potential generation

Solar energy is the state's most abundant energy resource and estimates have placed the state's potential electricity production from solar power at 68,000,000 MWhs annually, an amount larger than the state's total electricity consumption of 46,457,000 MWh in 2005.[30] [31]

Installed capacity

Oregon Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW)[32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40]
YearCapacityChange% Change
2005 align=right 1.2 align=right 0 align=right
2006 align=right 1.7 align=right 0.5 align=right 42%
2007 align=right 2.8 align=right 1.1 align=right 65%
2008 align=right 7.7 align=right 4.9 align=right 175%
2009 align=right 14.0 align=right 6.3 align=right 82%
2010 align=right 23.9 align=right 9.9 align=right 71%
2011 align=right 35.8 align=right 11.9 align=right 50%
2012 align=right 56.4 20.6 58%
2013 align=right 62.8 6.4 11%
2014 align=right 69.2 6.4 10%
2015 align=right 90 20.8 30%
2016 align=right 215 125 138%
2017 align=right 461 246 114%
2018 align=right 591 130 28%
2019 align=right 733.4 142.4 24%
2020 align=right 966.4 233 31%
2021 align=right 1,208.2 241.8 25%
2022 align=right 1,385 176.8 %

Utility-scale generation

Utility-scale solar generation in Oregon (GWh)[41]
YearTotalJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2012 7 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0
2013 19 0 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2014 24 1 1 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 2 2 1
2015 23 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 1
2016 41 1 2 2 3 4 3 4 4 5 4 5 4
2017 194 7 8 15 16 20 22 20 18 17 23 14 14
2018 572 21 31 39 50 61 67 65 67 64 48 33 26
2019 677 30 32 55 63 69 84 82 80 63 58 36 25
2020 1,078 22 63 74 107 109 135 155 134 103 92 45 39
2021 1,258 63 79 134 163 176 176 171 154 142

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Legislature says homeowners associations can't bar rooftop solar – Portland Business Journal . April 24, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170901044651/https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2017/05/31/legislature-says-homeowners-associations-cant-bar.html . September 1, 2017 .
  2. Web site: Oregon Revises Net Metering Rules. Stoel Rives LLP. Stoel Rives LLP. RenewableEnergyWorld.com. August 8, 2007. June 19, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160130171905/http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/stoel-rives-6442/news/article/2007/08/oregon-revises-net-metering-rules-49597. January 30, 2016.
  3. Web site: Oregon Net Metering Policy Highlighted. Knutson, Ryan. Oregon Public Broadcasting. November 27, 2009. June 19, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20091203211434/http://news.opb.org/article/6282-oregon-net-metering-policy-highlighted/. December 3, 2009.
  4. Web site: Oregon Approves 50% Solar Tax Credit. RenewableEnergyWorld.com. July 3, 2007. June 19, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121002161114/http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2007/07/oregon-approves-50-solar-tax-credit-49205. October 2, 2012.
  5. Web site: Heyday for solar?. Law, Steve. Portland Tribune. August 13, 2009. November 26, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020854/http://cni.pmgnews.com/component/content/article?id=53708. December 3, 2013.
  6. Web site: 1.5% for Solar Technology in Public Buildings. Conservation Division. Oregon Department of Energy. January 14, 2009. June 19, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100527174939/http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/PublicSolar.shtml. May 27, 2010.
  7. Web site: Walters. Adam. Solar Within Reach 2020 Guide. July 11, 2020. Sunbridge Solar. en-US.
  8. Web site: Walters. Adam. New Oregon Solar Rebates for Battery Backup. July 11, 2020. Sunbridge Solar. en-US.
  9. Web site: Residential Energy Tax Credits. Conservation Division. Oregon Department of Energy. April 26, 2010. March 13, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100308180049/http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/RES/RETC.shtml. March 8, 2010.
  10. Web site: Energy Loan Program Questions & Answers. Staff. Oregon Department of Energy. August 1, 2007. June 20, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100528131647/http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/LOANS/selpqa.shtml. May 28, 2010.
  11. Web site: State of Oregon Energy Plan 2007–2009. Oregon Office of Energy. Oregon Department of Energy. March 2008. June 20, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100705031722/http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/docs/EnergyPlan07-09.pdf. July 5, 2010.
  12. Web site: Oregon's solar future could hinge on copying Germany. Hsuan, Amy. The Oregonian. February 19, 2010. March 13, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100223131314/http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/02/oregons_solar_future_could_hin.html. February 23, 2010.
  13. Web site: Oregon's Feed-in Tariff: Is This The Best Deal In Solar?. Imagine Energy. March 19, 2013. June 27, 2013. dead. https://archive.today/20130629085237/http://www.imagineenergy.net/blog/2013/03/19/oregons-feed-in-tariff-is-this-the-best-deal-in-solar/. June 29, 2013.
  14. Web site: Commission Approves Residential and Business Solar Incentives. Staff. Oregon Public Utility Commission. May 28, 2010. July 1, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110716113956/http://www.puc.state.or.us/PUC/news/2010/2010011.shtml. July 16, 2011.
  15. Web site: A pilot project starting Thursday pays customers to generate solar power. Read, Richard. The Oregonian. June 30, 2010. July 1, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100704014506/http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/06/a_pilot_project_starting_thurs.html. July 4, 2010.
  16. Web site: Oregon Readies To Reopen Feed-in Tariff Program For Commercial Solar. REC Solar Inc.. February 19, 2013. June 27, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140801205457/http://recsolar.com/trend/oregon-readies-to-reopen-feed-in-tariff-program-for-commercial-solar. August 1, 2014.
  17. Web site: Where does green business thrive?. Redell, Charles. Sustainable Industries. June 9, 2008. June 19, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100125235022/http://www.sustainableindustries.com/greenmarketing/19606599.html?viewAll=y. January 25, 2010.
  18. Web site: Hiding in Plain Sight, Google Seeks More Power. Markoff, John and Saul Hansell. The New York Times. June 14, 2006. June 19, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20080406111310/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/14/technology/14search.html . April 6, 2008.
  19. Web site: Bringing It All Back Home: PV Manufacturing in America. Mehta, Shyam. Green Tech Media. September 8, 2009. July 11, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100720201737/http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/bringing-it-all-back-home-pv-manufacturing-in-america. July 20, 2010.
  20. Web site: SolarWorld's profits, sales up. Portland Business Journal. May 5, 2009. March 13, 2010.
  21. Web site: Timbers, SolarWorld Form Landmark Jersey Partnership. Forbes. February 24, 2010. March 13, 2010.
  22. Web site: Grape Solar takes wraps off expansion plans in Eugene. Read, Richard. The Oregonian. June 2, 2010. June 19, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100606144431/http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/06/grape_solar_takes_wraps_off_ex.html. June 6, 2010.
  23. Web site: Energy Office Installs PV on Capitol. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. United States Department of Energy. August 2002. March 15, 2010.
  24. News: Oregon installs first highway solar project. Rivera, Dylan. The Oregonian. August 7, 2008. March 13, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100107050602/http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/08/oregon_installs_first_highway.html. January 7, 2010.
  25. Web site: Innovative Partnerships Program: Baldock Solar Highway. Hamilton, Allison. Oregon Department of Transportation. February 15, 2012. February 16, 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120308051241/http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/OIPP/SLR_Baldock.shtml. March 8, 2012.
  26. Web site: Innovative Partnerships Program. Hamilton, Allison. Oregon Department of Transportation. January 24, 2012. February 16, 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120110044232/http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/OIPP/inn_solarhighway.shtml. January 10, 2012.
  27. Web site: Debate begins on ODOT plan to install up to 17,000 solar panels on I-205. Zheng, Yuxing. The Oregonian. July 26, 2009. March 13, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20090831034932/http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/some_west_linn_and_oregon_city.html. August 31, 2009.
  28. Web site: Solar highway: Is it a bright idea?. Roberts, Anthony. West Linn Tidings. August 13, 2009. April 20, 2013.
  29. Web site: Solar American Cities – About. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. United States Department of Energy. November 2, 2009. August 1, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100727210457/http://www.solaramericacities.energy.gov/about/. July 27, 2010.
  30. Web site: Oregon Renewable Energy Resources. Renewable Energy Atlas. The Energy Foundation. 2002. June 19, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110726031934/http://www.energyatlas.org/PDFs/atlas_state_OR.pdf. July 26, 2011.
  31. Web site: Electric Power and Renewable Energy in Oregon. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. United States Department of Energy. June 25, 2008. June 20, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100527191727/http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/electricity.cfm/state=OR. May 27, 2010.
  32. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011. Sherwood, Larry. Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). August 2012. August 17, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120906231846/http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/IRECSolarMarketTrends-2012-web.pdf. September 6, 2012.
  33. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010. Sherwood, Larry. Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). June 2011. June 29, 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110904191629/http://irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IREC-Solar-Market-Trends-Report-June-2011-web.pdf. September 4, 2011.
  34. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009. Sherwood, Larry. Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). July 2010. July 28, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100925184512/http://irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/IREC-Solar-Market-Trends-Report-2010_7-27-10_web1.pdf. September 25, 2010.
  35. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008. Sherwood, Larry. Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). July 2009. July 24, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20091123030109/http://www.irecusa.org/fileadmin/user_upload/NationalOutreachDocs/SolarTrendsReports/IREC_Solar_Market_Trends_Report_2008.pdf. November 23, 2009.
  36. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2007. Sherwood, Larry. Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). August 2008. July 24, 2010.
  37. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008 . Sherwood . Larry . Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) . July 2009 . 16 . July 24, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091123030109/http://www.irecusa.org/fileadmin/user_upload/NationalOutreachDocs/SolarTrendsReports/IREC_Solar_Market_Trends_Report_2008.pdf . November 23, 2009 .
  38. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012 . Sherwood . Larry . Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) . July 2012 . 16 . October 11, 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131012014412/http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Solar-Report-Final-July-2013-1.pdf . October 12, 2013 .
  39. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013. Sherwood, Larry. Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). July 2014. September 26, 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20141021060145/http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Final-Solar-Report-7-3-14-W-2-8.pdf. October 21, 2014.
  40. Web site: Oregon Solar. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). May 6, 2020.
  41. Web site: Electricity Data Browser. U.S. Department of Energy. March 28, 2018. October 1, 2021.

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