Oregon Resources

General resources regarding state clean energy policies, incentives, and utilities.

• PGE Renewable Development Fund: The PGE Renewable Development Fund (RDF) provides grants for schools and nonprofits to install solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, small hydro, and other renewable energy projects within Portland General Electric’s (PGE) service area. Schools may receive funding for “steel in the ground” renewable projects, energy storage, and educational initiatives that promote clean energy awareness. Projects must provide educational, environmental, and economic benefits to the community. Applications are reviewed competitively, with funding varying by project. READ MORE →
• Blue Sky Community Project Funding – Oregon: The Blue Sky Community Project Fund, administered by Pacific Power, provides grants to support renewable energy installations at schools, nonprofits, and government facilities. Schools in Pacific Power’s service area can apply for funding to install solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, or small-scale hydro systems, covering up to 100% of capital costs. Projects must include an educational component and a monitoring system for tracking energy production. Applications are reviewed annually through a competitive process, with funding limited. READ MORE →
• Oregon Custom Renewable Energy Projects Grant: The Custom Renewable Energy Projects Grant, administered by the Energy Trust of Oregon, provides funding for schools and other entities to develop solar, hydropower, biopower, biomass, and geothermal energy projects. Schools may receive up to 50% of eligible costs (up to $200,000) to install commercial-scale renewable energy systems that reduce energy costs and support a cleaner grid. Projects must be located within or deliver power to Portland General Electric or Pacific Power service territories. READ MORE →
• Energy Loan Program: Oregon’s Small-Scale Local Energy Loan Program has made more than 860 loans since we began lending in 1980. SELP loans – totaling more than $600 million – have gone to tribes, businesses, local governments, state agencies, nonprofits, schools, and farms. Projects financed by SELP loans have, together, saved enough electricity, natural gas, and oil to heat more than 150,000 Oregon homes each year. READ MORE →
• Portland and CE Bright Futures: The Portland Public Schools PGE Solar Roofs Partnership STEAM Education project is a large effort over several years with a variety of partners in both energy and education sectors to expand solar production and augment STEM/STEAM education. In 2015, the Portland General Electric Renewable Development Fund, comprised of contributions from PGE Renewable Power customers, in partnership with Portland Public Schools and Energy Trust of Oregon, installed over 1.2 MW of solar. READ MORE →
• Commercial Solar Financing: Businesses have three basic options for financing a solar project: purchasing it with cash or a loan, leasing, or purchasing the electricity through a solar power purchase agreement. Other financing solutions such as community solar funding or Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs are still evolving and aren’t readily available in Oregon. READ MORE →
• Net Zero with Energy Trust of Oregon: Energy Trust’s Path to Net Zero supports the entire design and construction process, from project kick-off through completion and occupancy. To design and construct a Path to Net Zero building, project teams first establish a clear energy-efficiency target and a plan of approach. We make this goal-setting process as simple as possible by focusing on two key areas: the Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of the building and initial design strategies for fundamental building systems. Energy Trust’s Path to Net Zero supports the entire design and construction process, from project kick-off through completion and occupancy. READ MORE →
• Financial Incentives: The Oregon Department of Energy periodically releases Opportunity Announcements for tax credits for energy conservation projects. Energy conservation projects include projects with investments for which the first-year energy savings yields a simple payback period of greater than three years. Projects with a total cost of less than $20,000 may qualify for the Small Premium Projects program; larger projects can apply for the Competitively-Selected Projects program. READ MORE →
  Last Updated: 6/17/2020