(Photo | Courtesy of Oregon Solar Review)
After months of a true “solar coaster” on the solar rebate bill, the Oregon Senate passed HB 2618 on the night of June 29th, by a vote of 27-2-1. The bill now heads to the Governor for her signature.
It was a hard-fought battle to pass this bill and we did not end up with everything we wanted, but establishing the program now will allow us to ask for more funding in future sessions.
OSEIA will keep its members updated as the rulemaking process begins and more details are finalized.
HB 2618 details:
- Rebates will begin being issued in January 2020 after the next six months of rulemaking
- There will be approximately $1.5 million over two years for rebates
- 25 percent of the program is set aside for projects for low-income ratepayers or low-income service providers
- The rebate is restricted to residential projects or commercial projects for low-income service providers
- Residential low-income projects can access a rebate of up to $5,000 or 60 percent of the project, whichever is less
- Other residential projects can access a rebate of up to $5,000 or 40 percent of the project, whichever is less
- If solar is paired with storage, a low-income storage project can access a rebate of up to $2500, or 60 percent of the cost of the storage system, whichever is less
- If solar is paired with storage on other residential projects, the storage system is eligible for up to $2500 or 40 percent of the cost of the storage system, whichever is less
- A commercial project for a low-income service provider is eligible for up to $30,000 or 50 percent of the cost of the system, whichever is less; if the project is paired with storage, the project is eligible for $15,000 or 60 percent of the cost of the storage system, whichever is less
- The cost of the system is the “net cost” which subtracts other incentives – such as Energy Trust or local incentives – a project might receive. However, federal tax credits are not taken into account for the net cost of a project.
- There are a number of consumer protection provisions in the bill to ensure the funds are properly used
- The program sunsets January 2, 2024
- Click here to read the text of the bill
