Energy Trust Home > Renewable Energy > Solar > Commercial Incentives
Energy Trust Commercial Incentives*
If you're an Oregon customer of Pacific Power or Portland General Electric (PGE), a contractor from our trade ally network can help you install a solar electric system at your business.
Energy Trust offers cash incentives for eligible commercial systems. Incentives are based on the rated power capacity of the solar array in wattsDC. The per-watt and maximum incentive amounts are listed below:
|
Systems under 30,000 watts |
Systems over 30,000 watts |
Maximum incentive (100,000 watts) |
Pacific Power |
$1.25/watt |
Varies from $1.00 to $1.25/watt |
$100,000 |
PGE |
$1.50/watt |
Varies from $1.25 to $1.50/watt |
$125,000 |
For systems up to 100 kW, businesses will own green tags during the first 2 years of operation, and Energy Trust will own green tags during years 3 through 20. Incentive levels are subject to change.
Use this incentive calculator to determine the incentive rate for your proposed project. Simply choose your utility and enter the system size in wattsDC.
Self-direction FAQ (only applies to very large commercial electricity users)
State and Federal Tax Incentives
Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC):
50% of eligible system cost
- Commercial income tax credit administered by Oregon Department of Energy
- Claimed over 5 years at 10% of eligible cost per year
- Eligible project cost may be capped
Federal Investment Tax Credit:
30% of installed system cost
- Commercial federal income tax credit
- After December 31, 2008 drops from 30% to 10%
- Not available to those subject to Alternative Minimum Tax
- IRS Form 3468
- SEIA Guide to Federal Tax Incentives for Solar Energy
Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):
5-year federal depreciation schedule
- Rapid depreciation deductions on federal tax return
- IRS Form 4562
How to participate
Eligibility requirements
- You must be an Oregon customer of Portland General Electric or Pacific Power.
- Solar electric systems must be grid-tied and net metered.
- Systems must be installed by an approved Energy Trust solar trade ally contractor.
- Incentive applications must be pre-approved by Energy Trust prior to installation.
- All system components must be new.
How to apply
- Select a contractor to install your solar electric system.
- Work with your contractor to apply to Oregon Department of Energy for a state tax credit.
- Sign an Energy Trust incentive application (Form 220C) provided by your contractor, who will submit it to us on your behalf.
- After Energy Trust pre-approves your application, your contractor installs the system.
- After the installation passes code and Energy Trust inspections, Energy Trust pays the incentive amount directly to you, or you have the option to assign payment to your contractor.
- Submit final tax credit certification documentation to the Oregon Department of Energy.
- Remember to claim your federal tax credit and depreciation.
Call today.
If you're ready to plug into the sun, call us at 1-866-368-7878.




