2. Solarize Northwest helps residents
overcome the logistical hurdles of going
solar at home.
about solarize northwest
Who to hire?
What to buy?
How much to budget?
Where to start?
3. Interested neighbors are joining forces
to find a contractor, purchase and install
process as a team. Together, we’ll
realize great cost savings through bulk-
purchasing.
about solarize northwest
4. about solarize northwest
• Convenient, local events to learn
• The best deal possible
• One or two, pre-selected contractor(s)
• Help every step of the way
• Easy, easy, easy!
solar CAN be affordable
5. the contractor
• Selected through a community led
competitive bidding process
• Will provide all equipment & installation
An energy consulting and
contracting company based
in Portland, Oregon
www.
9. How does solar work?
DC in AC out
PHOTOVOLTAIC
(PV) MODULE
INVERTER ELECTRICAL
PANEL
UTILITY
METER
ELECTRIC
GRID
10. How does solar work?
size:
space required:
power production:
watts or kilowatts
1,000 w = 1 kW
1 kW ≈ 100 ft2
kilowatt-hours (kWh)
1 kW ≈ 1,000 kWh
11. How much does it cost?
Depends on…
• System size
• Price per watt (or kilowatt)
= AMAZING $ per watt
12. The power of group pricing
$5.00
$5.50
$6.00
$6.50
$7.00
$7.50
$8.00
$8.50
$9.00
$9.50
$10.00
1 11 21 31 41 51
Homes
Priceperwatt
Solarize
2009 Retail Price
*Before incentives & tax credits
13. Incentives & tax credits
CASH INCENTIVE
Energy Trust of Oregon
75%
off
STATE TAX CREDIT
Oregon Dept. of Energy
FEDERAL TAX CREDIT
IRS
14. For example…
A 2 kilowatt system
If about 50 homes participate…
(2KW system x $6 watt - $12,000)
$12,000 Sticker price
-$3,500 Energy Trust cash incentive
$8,500 Up-front payment
-$2,550 Federal tax credit (1 year)
-$4,200 State tax credit (over 4 yrs)
$1,750 Net cost to you
15. For example…
A 4 kilowatt system
If about 50 homes participate…
(4KW system x $6 watt - $24,000)
$24,000 Sticker price
-$7,000 Energy Trust cash incentive
$17,000 Up-front payment
-$5,100 Federal tax credit (1 year)
-$6,000 State tax credit (over 4 yrs)
$5,900 Net cost to you
16. Two purchase routes
• Route 1 (solarize)
• Energy Trust
• State Tax Credit
• Federal Tax Credit
• Route 2 (VIR)
• Volumetric Incentive
Rate (VIR)
• Federal Tax Credit
(April 1st
, 2011 next lottery –
published rate tbd ~49 cents
kwh)
18. Weatherize resources
clean energy works
Portland
Make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient
without writing a big check.
1. Apply at www.CleanEnergyWorksPortland.org
2. Receive an in-depth home energy assessment.
3. Have energy-saving upgrades such as insulation, air sealing and high-
efficiency heating equipment installed by the program’s highly-qualified
contractors.
4. Pay for upgrades with our low-cost financing. Payments are made on
your monthly heating bill where energy savings offset the cost of the
loan!
19. Let’s go solar!
get
educated
get
evaluated
Learn more at Q&A sessions
Scheduled for Jan – March throughout the
community and at…..
Totally ready? schedule your site
assessment with the contractor
Unsure but interested? schedule
your Energy Trust solar energy review
20. Let’s go solar!
pledge to
install by
March 15th
Let us know you’re going solar!
www.
get others
to join
• Tell your neighbors, friends & family
• Assist your neighborhood rep
• Contact Solarize Northwest
21. Let’s go solar!
sign your
contract
Enjoy clean, free power from
the sun for years to come!
Choose your system size & sign
your contract for installation
system
installed!
Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to attend this solar seminar. I’m Lee Rahr, program coordinator at City of Portland..
-First off, I’ll explain what Energy Trust and, specifically, the solar program is trying to do
-Explain how solar energy systems work, focusing specifically the difference between solar water heating and solar electricity, and how the financials work
-Finally, wrap up by sharing some examples of solar installations across the state and telling you how to get involved in the solar revolution
The purpose of this session to provide YOU with information and answer your questions. We have several local solar contractors here that I encourage you to speak with after the session, and whom I’ll call upon to help answer some of your more technical questions. During the presentation, feel free to raise your hand and ask questions, however, if it looks like we are getting bogged down, I will defer your questions until the end of the presentation so those with tight schedules can get out of here on time. Please don’t feel any compunction about getting up to use the restrooms (which are located …) or attend to something. When all is said and done, I hope that you will leave here with a better understanding of how solar energy systems work, why the financials have never been better and a firm belief that solar does work in Oregon!
And not only does solar work in Portland, it works well. Oregon gets as much sun as the national average, and Portland gets a lot more solar energy every day than either Germany or Japan, the global leaders in solar energy installations.
Solar WORKS in Oregon.
You have probably heard this a lot, but it bears repeating
So why exactly does solar make energy sense?
It’s likely that you are all already aware of these reasons (enviro benefits)
What people often have a harder time wrapping their heads around are the financial benefits
So why exactly does solar make energy sense?
Green power and hedging against rising electric rates.
It’s likely that you are all already aware of these reasons (enviro benefits)
What people often have a harder time wrapping their heads around are the financial benefits
So why exactly does solar make energy sense?
It’s likely that you are all already aware of these reasons (enviro benefits)
What people often have a harder time wrapping their heads around are the financial benefits
New Oregon tax credit, (73%)
So why exactly does solar make energy sense?
It’s likely that you are all already aware of these reasons (enviro benefits)
What people often have a harder time wrapping their heads around are the financial benefits
ETO PGE Cash Incentive $1.75 watt
RETC basis is 50% of the Net System Cost or max $6000 (temporary rule change)
2011 $3.00 per AC watt which translates to $2.10 per DC Watt
The ODOE rule change redefines system size from DC rating to AC. The credit de-rates DC to a factor of 0.7 or 70% of DC rating.
ETO PGE Cash Incentive $1.75 watt
Federal tax credit of 30% of installed costs
RETC basis is 50% of the Net System Cost or max $6000
RETC basis is 50% of the Net System Cost or max $6000 (temporary rule change)
2011 $3.00 per AC watt which translates to $2.10 per DC Watt
The ODOE rule change redefines system size from DC rating to AC. The credit de-rates DC to a factor of 0.7 or 70% of DC rating.
ODOE $6,000 cap
So why exactly does solar make energy sense?
It’s likely that you are all already aware of these reasons (enviro benefits)
What people often have a harder time wrapping their heads around are the financial benefits
In lieu of Energy Trust & state tax credit
Incentive based on actual production
Utility writes check monthly based on output of previous month
- Pacific Power, PGE, Idaho Power (in OR)
15 years of payments
Application deposit and meter charge
Allocations of funding every 6 mo.
First-come, first-served basis
Monthly participation fee
Historic district from 17th – 24th, and Lovejoy to Burnside
No street facing solar panels in historic areas. You may be able to put solar on a backyard side of your roof, if you south or west exposure with little to no shade.
Credit is a combination of fico (590) and utility bill payment history.
Can’t be behind on your utility bill
Not have a history of not paying your bill on time.
20 year amortized loan
Standard interest rate is 5.99%; 3.99% on moderate income ($250% of fed poverty level which is a combo if income of household size).
