Business development funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-approval is required for all marketing projects, equipment and trainings. Pre-approval qualifies projects for reimbursement but does not reserve funds. Funds will not be distributed until final invoices for qualified, pre-approved projects are submitted.

Steps for Reimbursement

1. Request pre-approval before releasing your marketing project, purchasing equipment or attending training. Email completed Solar BDF form  and draft versions of your marketing piece or training/event description to solarfund@energytrust.org.After receiving Energy Trust’s written approval, you may proceed to produce your materials or attend your class.
2. Produce your marketing materials or attend your training.
3. Submit for payment.

Submit an invoice for print and production or training costs within 15 days of the release of your project or the date of training.

Energy Trust cannot pay designers, printers or other suppliers directly. In addition to the invoice, each project also requires proof of completion. A certificate of completion is required for trainings.

Energy Trust will issue reimbursement checks within 60 business days of receiving all required materials. Funds are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding and project eligibility are subject to change. Energy Trust reserves the right to decline reimbursement for any project.

¹ Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) designate minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses. If you want to learn whether your business qualifies as a minority, women, service-disabled veteran-owned or rural trade ally, please reach out to your account manager to learn more.

² Rural businesses are designated as businesses that serve rural customers.

• Project must promote Energy Trust Solar Offers
• Pre-approval is required
• Project must meet logo and text requirements

If you are a trade ally enrolled in more than one Energy Trust program, you may receive business development funds from only one program for an individual marketing piece or training; no piece or training shall receive funding from more than one program. A trade ally participating in more than one business development program is eligible for the maximum yearly cap from each program.

Eligible Expenses

***To request reimbursement for other business-related expenses not listed above, submit the  for consideration.

Marketing pieces, products, services or other activities that support your company’s ability to serve customers whose primary language is not English are eligible for reimbursement.

Although press releases are not eligible for reimbursement, Energy Trust requests that all press releases receive our approval to ensure that content follows Energy Trust marketing guidelines. Please allow five business days for review and approval.

Trade Ally Logo

The Energy Trust Trade Ally logo must be included on all pieces and must be used in black and white against a solid color background. Space surrounding the Energy Trust Trade Ally logo must be at least the size of the “burst” as shown below.

Download the Energy Trust Trade Ally logo from the Logo Resources page.

Language and messaging requirements

Do not refer to Energy Trust cash incentives as “rebates.” They are “incentives” or “cash incentives.”

Do not refer to tax credits as “cash incentives.” If advertising or promotion refers to tax credits in combination with Energy Trust cash incentives, it must refer to them as “tax credits” and “incentives” or “cash incentives.” Example: “Solar electric installations may qualify for tax credits and incentives totaling $9,000.”

If advertising or promotion refers to the percentage of cost savings available through tax credits and incentives, it must include the words “up to.” Example: “Up to 75 percent of system cost can be covered by tax credits and incentives.”

Refer to Energy Trust of Oregon as “Energy Trust of Oregon” in the first use and “Energy Trust” thereafter. Do not refer to Energy Trust as ETO.

Do not use “partner,” “partnership” or “partnering” when associating Energy Trust with your business. Use “trade ally contractor of” or “or working with” or “in collaboration with.”

Training, Continuing Education and Memberships: The following pre-approved expenses are eligible for business development funds:

• Trainings and workshops listed on the Training & Education Calendar
• External trainings or courses related to business or professional development
• Classes offering continuing education units for Construction Contractors Board (CCB), Building Codes Division (BCC), and North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
• Industry certifications (NABCEP Entry Level Exam, NABCEP PV Installation Professional, NABCEP PV Technical Sales Professional, NABCEP Company Accreditation)
• Industry conference registrations including the Oregon Solar Energy Conference (OSEC)
• Membership dues for trade organizations (i.e., National Association of Minority Contractors, Professional Business Development Group, LatinoBuilt, Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, Oregon Solar + Storage Industries Association, Southwest Contractor’s Association, etc.)

To request reimbursement for other trainings not listed above, submit the pre-approval application for consideration.

Equipment:

Energy Trust will support purchases of equipment designed to help safely move heavy battery energy storage systems and related equipment for installation.

Email solarfund@energytrust.org to receive pre-approval.