As expected, the Oregon solar market experienced incredibly high demand to close out 2017. The high volume of sales was largely driven by the sunset of the Residential Energy Tax Credit. Given the Oregon Department of Energy’s December 31, 2017, deadline to submit RETC applications, Energy Trust delayed the launch of 2018 incentives until January 9, 2018, to allow last-minute RETC projects to apply for 2017 incentive rates.

While Energy Trust saw submission volume gradually increase from late summer through the fall, the volume of submissions peaked at year-end. Between December 1, 2017, and January 8, 2018, more than 700 solar incentive applications were submitted to Energy Trust, breaking all previous records.

Read about the remaining deadlines that projects must meet to be eligible for a Residential Energy Tax Credit.

For more information or questions about the Oregon Department of Energy PowerClerk process or tax credit requirements, refer to the Tax Credit Technician Instructions sheet, email askRETC@oregon.gov or call 1.800.221.8035.

For more information or questions about Energy Trust cash incentives, contact Robert Wyllie at 503.546.3611.