Solar projects must meet the following timelines to qualify for both an Energy Trust cash incentive and the Oregon Department of Energy Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC). Projects that do not meet these timelines will not qualify, and the customer may not be able to claim either the cash incentive or tax credit for their project.

Tasks that must be complete on or before December 31, 2017

• Solar projects must be purchased. “Purchase Date” is the date when the contract or invoice is signed and the first down payment is made by the applicant.
• Solar projects must be submitted and have a RETC application in the “Open Application” status in PowerClerk. If you have a tax credit application in “Incomplete” status, make sure it is moved to “Open Application” status on or before December 31, 2017. For more information, refer to the Tax Credit Technician Instructions sheet.
• Solar trade allies will be able to prefill the RETC application in PowerClerk with project information from the Energy Trust incentive application as soon as the project is in “Submitted” status.

Tasks that must be complete on or before January 8, 2018

• • Solar projects pursuing the RETC must have a complete Energy Trust incentive application in the “Submitted” status in PowerClerk. Because the only solar projects that have a complete incentive application submitted by January 8, 2018 will be eligible to receive both an Energy Trust cash incentive and the RETC.

Tasks that must be complete on or before April 1, 2018

• Solar projects must be operational. The “Operational Date” is the date when final inspection is completed by a local jurisdiction and the system is operational.
• Only the jurisdictional inspection must be complete, Energy Trust installation verification does not need to occur before this date.

Tasks that must be complete on or before June 1, 2018

• The Oregon Department of Energy must receive the complete application with the homeowner’s eSignature. The solar trade ally must update the application with local jurisdictional inspection date and any design revisions in order to put the project into “Homeowner Review” status. The homeowner must complete the eSignature process on or before June, 1 2018.
• If the applicant is planning to transfer the tax credit, ODOE must receive the pass-through application and the pass through partner must complete the eSignature process on or before June 1, 2018.
• For new residential construction, the dwelling must be used as either the primary or the secondary residence at the time the application is received by ODOE. Therefore the homeowner must have a Certificate of Occupancy for the site before completing the RETC application, and the eSignature process, which must be done on or before June 1, 2018.

For more information about ODOE energy incentive programs ODOE scheduled to sunset or moving to other state agencies at the end of 2017, see this Insider article.

For more information or questions about the ODOE 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, email Robert Wyllie or call 503.546.3611.