Solar

Portland General Electric announces 2020 Renewable Development Fund application window and education sessions


Portland General Electric has announced the 2020 application window and available funding for the Renewable Development Fund. The RDF is a reimbursement grant program funded by Portland General Electric’s Green Future participants, and is available to all PGE customers for qualifying renewable energy systems. Over $1.8 million is available for the 2020 round and PGE will competitively select grant requests from applicants for potential projects.

The PGE Renewable Development Fund grant application window opened on June 1, 2020 and will close on August 1, 2020. Competitive projects will typically include applicant contributions amounting to a minimum of 15% of total project cost. Projects must demonstrate significant community benefit beyond electricity generation. Projects will also be required to meet a technical review and verification of the system information by PGE.

Preference will be given to systems installed on and owned by nonprofit organizations or public entities. For public projects subject to the 1.5% Green Energy Technology requirement only eligible project costs beyond the 1.5% will be considered for grant funding. PGE has made pre-recorded webinars available, one for applicants and one for developers, to help answer questions around the process and what the RDF Grant selection committee is looking for.

Starting this year PGE requires that all solar grant applications include an incentive cover letter from Energy Trust in the application packet.

As a reminder, the Solar Development Assistance (SDA) application must be submitted before design work begins and it is a requirement in order to combine utility grant funds and Energy Trust solar incentives. To receive the incentive cover letter a complete application packet, including the SDA feasibility report and all system documentation, must be submitted and pass a technical review. To provide time for technical review and ensure that any questions about the application can be answered, it is recommended that trade allies interested in pursuing the PGE RDF Grant submit a complete application package to Energy Trust by no later than July 1, 2020. The Solar Development Assistance incentive application is available in PowerClerk. For more information on the Energy Trust SDA offer contact Shayna Choulet, Solar program coordinator.

For more information about the Renewable Development fund, visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/RDF. Any questions can be directed to PGE at RenewableDevFund@pgn.com or 503.464.7826.