Sunlight Solar Energy recently installed the first solar electric system in Oregon Pacific Power territory under the new solar feed-in tariff incentive program. The feed-in tariff is a pilot incentive program created by the Oregon Legislature that was launched on July 1, 2010.
The feed-in tariff incentive is released in rounds of system capacity for residential and commercial solar electric systems. Capacity for the first allotment released on July 1 sold out in less than 15 minutes. In that time, Sunlight Solar reserved 19 percent of Pacific Power’s total capacity for residential systems <10 kW in size, and 38 percent of Pacific Power’s total capacity for systems >10 kW<100 kW in size. The next enrollment period for reservations will be released October 1 for the October through March period.
The first feed-in tariff system for Pacific Power in Oregon was installed on the Jameson residence near Terrebonne, Oregon and consists of (18) Schuco 180-watt photovoltaic modules with (18) Enphase M190 microinverters. The 3.24-kW solar electric system is estimated to produce 4,516 kWh per year, saving the Jameson’s approximately 40 percent in their annual electric use.
Sunlight Solar is hosting the following free informational seminars on the feed-in tariff program in the Greater Portland and Central Oregon regions:
Wed, September 1, 6-7pm – Redmond Public Library
Wed, September 8, 6:30-7:30pm – Ecotrust Building, Downtown Portland
Wed, September 15, 6-7pm – The Environmental Center, Bend
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet current feed-in tariff customers and sign up for a free site survey at their home or business.
More information and maps to the events can be found at http://sunlightsolar.com on the ‘Local Events’ page, under the ‘Meet Us’ tab.
