Welcome to the Energy Trust solar trade ally website. These pages are your resource for training dates and materials, program updates, forms and Energy Trust sun charts. If you are a contractor or solar professional interested in participating in our programs, information on joining the solar network is provided below. To access the program materials and information, select the appropriate topic from the bar above. To visit the solar consumer pages, select Renewable Energy from the bar at the top of the page.

Join the Solar Trade Ally Network

In order to pass Energy Trust's solar incentives to your clients, contractors must become solar trade allies. Trade allies are an essential part of Energy Trust's solar programs. More than 60 experienced contractors and solar professionals are active in Solar Trade Ally Network. Our trade allies bring in all the projects for which we provide incentives and are often the first, last and only representatives of Energy Trust to their customers.

Benefits of Being a Solar Trade Ally

Cash Incentives that you pass onto your customers for installing solar electric, water heating or pool heating systems

Training designed to improve your understanding of emerging technologies, connect you with other solar professionals and share techniques to improve your business and increase sales

Promotional Materials including program literature and other marketing collateral

Publicity through the Energy Trust website, program case studies, news releases and events

Cooperative Advertising Funding to help you promote solar by sharing the cost of advertising, websites, business cards and other marketing pieces and opportunities.

What We Ask

Promote the Energy Trust's programs to your customers and support the sales and installation of approved solar energy systems and equipment

Provide excellent customer service

Support the long term growth of the solar industry by installing and warranting high-performance, long-life solar energy systems in Oregon

Maintain current contractor's license and insurance coverage, and use appropriately licensed installers according to Oregon law

Attend required Energy Trust program trainings and follow the policies defined in the following documents:

 

Solar Electric Program Guide	Solar Water Heating Program Guide
Solar Electric System Requirements	Solar Water Heating System Requirements

How To Apply

• Determine weather you are interested in becoming a solar electric trade ally, solar water heating trade ally (including solar pool/spa heating) or both.
• Review the appropriate Program Guide(s) and System Requirements documents to familiarize yourself with our program requirements and processes.
• Register to attend the next free Energy Trust Solar Electric or Solar Water Heating training session. Visit the Training tab for more information.
• Make sure that your insurance meets the requirements defines in the Program Guide, and fax this Request Form for Certificate of Insurance to your Commercial General Liability, Automobile and Workers' Compensation Insurance carriers. If you are exempt from Workers' Compensation Insurance requirements, you will need to sign and submit a Workers' Compensation Exemption Form.
• Submit a completed W-9 to Energy Trust, attention Solar Program, at 851 SW 6th Ave., Suite 1200, Portland, OR 97239.
• Complete the Solar Contractor Application (PDF | WORD) and mail it to the address above.

The steps above do not need to be performed in the order given, but all items must be completed before you application will be considered for approval. Once you have attended the appropriate training and submitted the necessary paperwork, we will review your application and, if approved, send you a welcome packet with a copy of your contract with your trade ally number, copies of our promotional materials and other trade ally goodies. Please give up to three weeks for application review and approval.

More information

To learn more, contact us by e-mail at solar@energytrust.org, or call 1-866-ENTRUST.