About Residential
Roof top Solar
Have you considered adding Solar Panels to your roof? Why not? On April 16, 2022 we hosted a workshop to help you understand what your options and opportunities are. You can always simply Google "Solar Panels" and your curated News feed and social media will be flooded with offers of "Free Solar" or "No Cash Required". But we suggest doing a little home work first. Unless you are planning to go off-grid in the wilderness you can start with the PGE energy choices site. That will explain both the current net-metering approach and provide an opportunity to see if your address is even eligible. You may also want to explore if it will increase the value of your home. Here is more information that you may like to peruse listed below.
If you have personal experiences, good or bad, wading into this adventure and would like to share, please let us know by emailing us at this link below. One or our Board members Elyce Hues has stepped out and is moving forward. Follow her Case Study in Solar here.
The Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program issues rebates for solar electric systems and paired solar and storage systems for residential customers and low-income service providers in Oregon. Rebates are issued to approved contractors, who pass the savings on to their customers.
Rebates may cover up to 40 percent of the net cost* for a residential system installed for a customer that is not considered low- or moderate-income, up to 60 percent of net cost for a low- or moderate-income customer, and up to 50 percent for a low-income service provider.
For residential projects, the maximum rebate is $5,000 for a solar electric system and $2,500 for an energy storage system.
The federal residential solar energy credit is a tax credit that can be claimed on federal income taxes for a percentage of the cost of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system.
The system must be placed in service during the tax year and generate electricity for a home located in the United States.
In December 2020, Congress passed an extension of the ITC, which provides a 26% tax credit for systems installed in 2020-2022, and 22% for systems installed in 2023. The tax credit expires starting in 2024 unless Congress renews it.
When disaster strikes, alternative power sources like solar can keep your power on even when the grid goes down. Solar panels alone aren’t enough: you’ll need a backup battery storage to stay powered. Let’s find out why and everything you need to know about solar when the power goes out in your neighborhood.
Solar Panels can be a wonderful addition to a home: You're saving money on your electricity bill by generating your own energy, you're helping the environment with renewable resources and you may even have the option to sell electricity back to the energy company in exchange for credits.
The question of whether to get home solar panels is no small decision. There's the issue of whether the energy savings will offset the costs. You may wonder whether you need a new roof first or how long solar panels last. There are many factors to consider
Rooftop solar is just the start, as energy storage, smart electrical panels, and EV chargers enter the mainstream for solar owners. Here’s a guide to matching your solar array with some of the most popular accessories.
Here are design tips for methods of PV system utility interconnection. The purpose of this article is to give you a basic understanding of the concepts and rules for connecting a solar panel system to the utility grid and the household electrical box or meter. The utility connection for a PV solar system is governed by the National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 690.64. Always refer to the NEC code in effect or consult a licensed electrician for safety and accuracy.
You might think that most solar power systems erected by qualified installers and inspected by local wiring inspectors would be pretty much free of major operational problems. But that hasn’t been the experience of the Cadmus Group, an energy and environmental services consulting firm based in Waltham, Mass.