New Cash Incentives for Homeowners to Add Solar Battery Storage announced
Homeowners can now receive incentives up to $3,000 for battery storage or up to $10,000 if they meet income guidelines for Energy Trust’s Solar Within Reach program. Learn more here about this latest incentive.
From Energy Trust of Oregon:
PORTLAND, Ore. — Energy Trust of Oregon announced new solar battery storage incentives that can help Oregon homeowners save about one-third or more on the cost of adding battery storage to solar panels. Homeowners can receive incentives up to $3,000 for battery storage or up to $10,000 if they meet income guidelines for Energy Trust’s Solar Within Reach program.
Energy Trust incentives can be combined with a 30% federal tax credit and rebates from the State of Oregon to further reduce costs. These new Energy Trust incentives and the federal tax credit are available to people installing battery storage with new solar panels and to those adding battery storage to existing solar.
More than 25,000 Oregonians have added solar over the past 20 years, allowing them to shrink their energy bills and reduce their overall impact on the environment.
“Adding battery storage to a solar system provides peace of mind, supplying emergency backup power during outages or disasters,” said Dave McClelland, senior program manager for Energy Trust. “During outages, solar energy saved to your battery can keep your lights on and the refrigerator running, which can be really important for families who need to keep medication and other supplies cool. And battery storage offers all this without the noise and exhaust of a gas or diesel generator.”
With solar + storage, solar panels generate clean, renewable energy that can be used to immediately power essential needs – like keeping well pumps running for the roughly 1 million Oregonians who rely on well water – or can be saved for later in the battery storage system. Plus, solar power helps lower electric bills so homeowners can benefit from their system every day, not just during power outages.
Homeowners interested in exploring if solar + storage is right for them can request a free bid at www.energytrust.org/solarbid. From there, a contractor pre-qualified by Energy Trust, called a solar trade ally, will perform a custom analysis of the home, explain the available incentives and answer any questions.
For more information on solar + storage visit:
Solar + Storage Means Peace of Mind
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Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping utility customers benefit from saving energy and generating renewable power. Our services, cash incentives and energy solutions have helped participating customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista save $6.3 billion on energy bills. Our work helps keep energy costs as low as possible, creates jobs and builds a sustainable energy future. Learn more at www.energytrust.org or call 1-866-368-7878.
Check out this Data: You can get paid to make your home more comfortable
The new tax credits, together with cash incentives already offered by Energy Trust of Oregon for both electric and natural gas upgrades, mean utility customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington can save more on items and equipment that may lead to a significant reduction in energy costs.
From Energy Trust of Oregon:
PORTLAND, Ore. – Starting this year, more resources are available to help people cut their energy use and lower their energy bills. New federal tax credits became available as of Jan. 1st for energy upgrades that could make homes more energy efficient and comfortable.
Check below for rebates and tax credits
The credits are part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which makes it easier for people to cut their energy use. The new tax credits, together with cash incentives already offered by Energy Trust of Oregon for both electric and natural gas upgrades, mean utility customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington can save more on items and equipment that may lead to a significant reduction in energy costs.
“We’ve been helping people save energy for more than 20 years, and we know that using less energy does more than save money. It makes our communities more resilient,” said Michael Colgrove, executive director of Energy Trust of Oregon. “We’re glad to see this historic investment in energy efficiency that benefits families and communities here in the Pacific Northwest.”
In addition to the energy efficiency tax credits, the Inflation Reduction Act also updated and extended tax credits for investments in renewable energy and battery storage systems.
As of January 1, federal tax credits are available for the following upgrades, which can also be combined with incentives from Energy Trust for customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista.
Up to $700 instant discount on select models of heat pump water heater at participating retailers
Solar incentives vary. Find the most up-to-date incentive criteria here.
Requirements for federal tax credits and Energy Trust incentives may differ.
*There is an annual cap on federal tax credits of $1,200, with sub-caps on individual items. Homeowners can also receive up to $2,000 (not under the $1,200 cap) for a heat pump or a heat pump water heater.
*Some solar projects may also quality for state rebates. here to enlarge data box above. P.S. Data Box was a character in Star Treck, Second Gen… Not ;)
Customers making these upgrades in 2023 can receive Energy Trust incentives when purchasing qualified equipment from a retailer or through an Energy Trust trade ally – trusted, qualified contractors in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Customers can then claim the corresponding tax credits when filing their 2023 tax return in 2024.
To determine which energy upgrades may be most helpful for your home, Energy Trust provides a free online home assessment. You can also connect with a home energy advisor who can answer questions about specific upgrades or can talk through how to prioritize which upgrades to make. Energy Trust can also connect you to its network of experienced contractors who can guide you through the installation process.
Rebates, greater support for families with lower incomes
In addition to these tax credits, the Inflation Reduction Act includes the development of rebate programs for energy-efficient products and investments. In Oregon, these rebates will be developed and administered by the Oregon Department of Energy. Several of those rebates will go toward greater support for households with low to moderate incomes.
The rebates, which will become available later this year or in 2024, may include up to $8,000 toward heat pumps, which can reduce energy costs by as much as 50% depending on the home’s current heating system and can also cool spaces during warmer weather. Families with lower incomes will also be eligible to receive higher rebates for heat pump water heaters and installing insulation.
"On top of earning less money, families with lower incomes end up spending a higher share of their income on energy bills,” said Tracy Scott, director of energy programs at Energy Trust. “By reducing the cost of upgrades, these investments will help bring the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy to far more people.”
Energy Trust also offers greater support for people and families with lower to moderate incomes including larger cash incentives for home energy upgrades including solar installations.
5 tips improve indoor air quality, energy efficiency during wildfires
While fire season is an anxiety-inducing time, Energy Trust of Oregon is offering tips for improving indoor air quality and reducing energy use now, which can help reduce stress later.
From Energy Trust of Oregon:
With wildfires burning across Oregon, including the nearby Bootleg fire, and above-normal fire activity predicted for the western U.S., communities across Oregon and Washington are facing the threat of another smoke-filled summer.
Wildfires can pose health threats due to the microscopic particles from smoke. And that smoke can also make your heating and air condition systems work harder, contributing to increased energy use and higher bills.
While fire season is an anxiety-inducing time, Energy Trust of Oregon is offering tips for improving indoor air quality and reducing energy use now, which can help reduce stress later.
“Sadly, many Oregonians are again coping with smoke and other impacts of devastating wildfires,” said Scott Leonard, residential spokesperson for Energy Trust. “With these dry, hot conditions expected to continue through the summer, we want to make sure everyone has information on how to improve their indoor air quality while keeping energy costs low.
Here are Energy Trust of Oregon’s top five tips for keeping your loved ones healthy, maintaining the comfort of your home and saving on energy costs during wildfire season.
Replace your air filter frequently
Replace that air filter.
Clogged air filters are both hard on equipment and hard on breathing. This filter on the right, no doubt, was pushing particulate matter into a home while using extra energy. Replacement is a win-win - better efficiency, better breathing.
Typically, you should replace your filter every three months. During smoke events, your filter may need to be replaced every six weeks to maintain healthy indoor air quality and avoid extra energy use. Check your filter for dust and debris buildup at least once a month during heavy use and more often in heavy smoke conditions.
Filters with a high minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) have a much finer weave that catches far more particles compared with standard filters.
High-rated MERV filters can also make some HVAC systems work harder, which can increase energy use. Consult the manufacturer’s manual or website for the best advice on the filters you should be using.
Make sure to switch back to a standard filter after wildfire season. If your HVAC system is designed to work with a high-rated MERV filter, this isn’t an issue, but you should still replace the filter regularly.
Switch to “fan only” mode temporarily
It is a good idea to use your HVAC system in “fan only” or “on” mode during wildfire season. This ensures your system is operating continuously to run your indoor air through the filter.
Remember to go back to “auto” mode before cold weather returns and heating season starts, so that the system kicks on only when needed. That way, you will avoid increasing your energy use and raising your costs.
Tighten seals around windows, doors and window air conditioners
If you have a window air conditioner, close the outdoor air damper. If you cannot close the damper, do not use the window air conditioner. Make sure the seal between the air conditioner and the window is as tight as possible.
If you have a portable air conditioner with a single hose, typically vented out of a window, do not use it in smoky conditions. If you have a portable air conditioner with two hoses, make sure that the seal between the window vent kit and the window is as tight as possible.
Avoid creating more fine particles & air out your home after a smoke event
Avoid activities that create more fine particles indoors: smoking cigarettes; using gas, propane or wood-burning stoves and furnaces; spraying aerosol products; frying or broiling food; burning candles or incense; vacuuming, unless you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
When air quality improves, air out your home by opening windows or the fresh air intake on your HVAC system.
Use a portable air cleaner or high-efficiency filter to remove fine particles from the air
Run it as often as possible on the highest fan speed.
For more information on indoor air quality during wildfires, check out these resources from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
You can also find low- and no-cost ways to save energy and money any time from Energy Trust of Oregon.
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