Solar power in Oregon
Encyclopedia
Solar power in Oregon has been growing in recent years due to new technological improvements and a variety of regulatory actions and financial incentives enacted by the state government.
has taken a variety of actions in order to encourage solar energy use and manufacturing within the state.
program that allows for large installations of up to 2 MW of on-site electrical generation. A report released in 2009 by the Network for New Energy Choices and Vote Solar gave the state's net metering system an "A" grade, a rating only 9 other states received.
(RPS) in 2007 which requires that 25% of Oregon's electricity come from renewable resources by 2025. The RPS was revised in 2009 to include a separate 20 MW solar photovoltaic requirement by 2020.
with a maximum limit of $20 million per project.
is currently working on establishing a feed-in tariff
for solar power. It is modeled on the feed-in tariffs in Germany
and the pilot program for it is expected to be operating by July 1, 2010.
On May 28, 2010, the Oregon Public Utility Commission
approved the trial feed-in tariff rules. Under the approved rules, residents and businesses who install solar systems can enter a 15-year contract with investor-owned utilities in the state where they will receive guaranteed payments over the life of the contract with rates ranging from $0.55 to $0.65 per kWh. Funding will come from an estimated one half of 1% increase in electricity rates. The trial program ends after four years and the entire project's size is limited to a maximum 25 MW.
Many solar manufacturing companies have chosen to operate in Oregon because of its cheap hydroelectric power which is important for manufacturing and because of its close proximity to California's large market. The inexpensive hydroelectric power has also contributed to the high-tech manufacturing companies located in the state's Silicon Forest
as well as several data centers such as Google's Project 02.
Oregon was one of the only three states (along with Michigan and Ohio) to manufacture more than 100 MW of solar panels during 2009. SolarWorld
's plant in Hillsboro, Oregon
is the largest solar cell manufacturing factory in North America and is planned to produce 500 MW of panels annually by 2012.
, Sanyo
, PV Powered, Oregon Crystal, Grape Solar, Solaicx, and Peak Sun Silicon.
building, although they are not visible from the street.
announced the completion of a 104 kW solar panel project along the interchange of Interstate 5
and Interstate 205
near Tualatin, Oregon
. The project is the first solar highway in Oregon and the first in the United States
. The Oregon Department of Transportation
later announced that it is investigating expanding the solar highway projects including adding 150 kilowatts to the first project, installing a 1.3 megawatt project at the I-5 northbound Baldock Safety Rest Area south of Wilsonville, and installing a 3 megawatt project on the north side of I-205 at the ODOT Maintenance storage facility in West Linn.
The 3 megawatt project in West Linn, Oregon
would be the largest solar highway in the world, slightly passing the 2.8 megawatt record holder in Germany.
is one of the 25 cities in the United States Department of Energy
's Solar America Cities
program. The program's goal is to "rapidly increase the use and integration of solar energy in communities across the country."
s annually, an amount larger than the state's total electricity consumption of 46,457,000 MWh in 2005.
Government policy
The Government of OregonGovernment of Oregon
The government of the U.S. state of Oregon, as prescribed by the Oregon Constitution, is composed of three government branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial...
has taken a variety of actions in order to encourage solar energy use and manufacturing within the state.
Net metering
The state has a net meteringNet metering
Net metering is an electricity policy for consumers who own renewable energy facilities or V2G electric vehicles. "Net", in this context, is used in the sense of meaning "what remains after deductions" — in this case, the deduction of any energy outflows from metered energy inflows...
program that allows for large installations of up to 2 MW of on-site electrical generation. A report released in 2009 by the Network for New Energy Choices and Vote Solar gave the state's net metering system an "A" grade, a rating only 9 other states received.
Renewable portfolio standard
The state adopted a Renewable Portfolio StandardRenewable Portfolio Standard
A Renewable Portfolio Standard is a regulation that requires the increased production of energy from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal...
(RPS) in 2007 which requires that 25% of Oregon's electricity come from renewable resources by 2025. The RPS was revised in 2009 to include a separate 20 MW solar photovoltaic requirement by 2020.
Construction budget mandate
Passed in the 2007 legislative session, House Bill 2620, requires that public entities such as state and local governments spend 1.5% of the construction budget for new or renovated buildings on on-site solar technologies.Residential Energy Tax Credit
The Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC) program aims to encourage residents to invest in energy efficient appliances or residential-scale power producing systems such as roof-mounted solar or small wind setups by offering a tax credit that covers a certain percentage of the cost of eligible equipment.Business Energy Tax Credit
The Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) program aims to encourage private businesses to invest in renewable energy in Oregon by offering a tax credit that covers up to 50% of eligible renewable projects such as power stations or manufacturing factoriesFactory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
with a maximum limit of $20 million per project.
State Energy Loan Program
The State Energy Loan Program aims to encourage investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy production by offering long-term, fixed-rate loans to all types of organizations and individuals with a maximum cap at $20 million per loan. From the time it was first authorized by voters in 1980, the program has made over 700 loans worth a total of $335 million.Feed-in tariff
The Oregon Legislative AssemblyOregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
is currently working on establishing a feed-in tariff
Feed-in Tariff
A feed-in tariff is a policy mechanism designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies. It achieves this by offering long-term contracts to renewable energy producers, typically based on the cost of generation of each technology...
for solar power. It is modeled on the feed-in tariffs in Germany
Feed-in tariffs in Germany
Feed-in electricity tariffs have been introduced in Germany to encourage the use of new energy technologies such as wind power, biomass, hydropower, geothermal power and solar photovoltaics. Each technology is eligible for a different feed-in rate...
and the pilot program for it is expected to be operating by July 1, 2010.
On May 28, 2010, the Oregon Public Utility Commission
Oregon Public Utility Commission
The Oregon Public Utility Commission is the chief electric, gas and telephone utility regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. It sets rates and establishes rules of operation for the state's investor-owned utility companies...
approved the trial feed-in tariff rules. Under the approved rules, residents and businesses who install solar systems can enter a 15-year contract with investor-owned utilities in the state where they will receive guaranteed payments over the life of the contract with rates ranging from $0.55 to $0.65 per kWh. Funding will come from an estimated one half of 1% increase in electricity rates. The trial program ends after four years and the entire project's size is limited to a maximum 25 MW.
Manufacturing
Silicon Forest
Silicon Forest is a nickname for the cluster of high-tech companies located in the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Southwest Washington, and most frequently refers to the industrial corridor between Beaverton and Hillsboro in northwest Oregon.The name is similar to...
as well as several data centers such as Google's Project 02.
Oregon was one of the only three states (along with Michigan and Ohio) to manufacture more than 100 MW of solar panels during 2009. SolarWorld
SolarWorld
SolarWorld is a German company dedicated to the manufacture and marketing photovoltaic products worldwide by integrating all components of the solar value chain, from feedstock to module production, from trade with solar panels to the promotion and construction of turn-key solar power plants...
's plant in Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
is the largest solar cell manufacturing factory in North America and is planned to produce 500 MW of panels annually by 2012.
Companies
Solar companies with operations in Oregon include SolarWorldSolarWorld
SolarWorld is a German company dedicated to the manufacture and marketing photovoltaic products worldwide by integrating all components of the solar value chain, from feedstock to module production, from trade with solar panels to the promotion and construction of turn-key solar power plants...
, Sanyo
Sanyo
is a major electronics company and member of the Fortune 500 whose headquarters is located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo targets the middle of the market and has over 230 Subsidiaries and Affiliates....
, PV Powered, Oregon Crystal, Grape Solar, Solaicx, and Peak Sun Silicon.
Solar panels on State Capitol
In 2002 Oregon became the first state to install solar panels on its state capitol building. The solar panels were installed on the Oregon State CapitolOregon State Capitol
The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and treasurer of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in the state capital, Salem. The current building, constructed from 1936 to 1938, and expanded in 1977, is the third...
building, although they are not visible from the street.
Solar highways
In 2008, the Oregon Department of TransportationOregon Department of Transportation
The Oregon Department of Transportation is a department of the state government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for systems of transportation. It was first established in 1969. It had been preceded by the Oregon State Highway Department which, along with the Oregon State Highway...
announced the completion of a 104 kW solar panel project along the interchange of Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
and Interstate 205
Interstate 205 (Oregon-Washington)
Interstate 205 is a loop route that serves the Portland—Vancouver metropolitan area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. I-205 is officially named the War Veterans Memorial Freeway, and is also known as the East Portland Freeway...
near Tualatin, Oregon
Tualatin, Oregon
Tualatin is a city located primarily in Washington County in the U.S. state of Oregon. A small portion of the city is also located in neighboring Clackamas County. It is a southwestern suburb in the Portland Metropolitan Area that is located south of Tigard...
. The project is the first solar highway in Oregon and the first in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Oregon Department of Transportation
Oregon Department of Transportation
The Oregon Department of Transportation is a department of the state government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for systems of transportation. It was first established in 1969. It had been preceded by the Oregon State Highway Department which, along with the Oregon State Highway...
later announced that it is investigating expanding the solar highway projects including adding 150 kilowatts to the first project, installing a 1.3 megawatt project at the I-5 northbound Baldock Safety Rest Area south of Wilsonville, and installing a 3 megawatt project on the north side of I-205 at the ODOT Maintenance storage facility in West Linn.
The 3 megawatt project in West Linn, Oregon
West Linn, Oregon
West Linn is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Now a prosperous southern suburb of Portland, West Linn has a history of early development, prompted by the opportunity to harvest energy from nearby Willamette Falls. It was named after Senator Dr. Lewis Fields Linn of Ste...
would be the largest solar highway in the world, slightly passing the 2.8 megawatt record holder in Germany.
US DOE partnership
Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
is one of the 25 cities in the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
's Solar America Cities
Solar America Cities
The U.S. Department of Energy has named 25 U.S. cities as Solar America Cities which are promoting solar technology adoption at the local level....
program. The program's goal is to "rapidly increase the use and integration of solar energy in communities across the country."
Statistics
Potential generation
Solar energy is the state's most abundant energy resource and estimates have placed the state's potential electricity production from solar power at 68,000,000 MWhMWH
MWH may stand for:* International Air Transport Association airport code for Grant County International Airport* MWH Global, an international water engineering consultancy* Men Without Hats, a Canadian New Wave band...
s annually, an amount larger than the state's total electricity consumption of 46,457,000 MWh in 2005.
Installed capacity
| Oregon Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Capacity | Change | % Change |
| 2005 | 1.2 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2006 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 41.67% |
| 2007 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 64.71% |
| 2008 | 7.7 | 4.9 | 175.00% |
| 2009 | 14.0 | 6.3 | 81.82% |
| 2010 | 23.9 | 9.9 | 70.71% |
See also
- Energy in OregonEnergy in OregonThe U.S. state of Oregon is the third largest renewable energy producing state in the United States. Hydroelectric power dominates the power market in Oregon, providing nearly two-thirds of the electricity generated in the state, although it accounts for less than half of the total percentage...
- Solar power in the United StatesSolar power in the United StatesSolar power in the United States is an area of considerable activity and there are many utility-scale solar power plants. The largest solar power installation in the world is the Solar Energy Generating Systems facility in California, which has a total capacity of 354 megawatts...
- Renewable energy in the United StatesRenewable energy in the United StatesRenewable energy accounted for 14.3 percent of the domestically produced electricity in the United States in the first six months of 2011. Hydroelectricity is the largest producer of renewable power in the United States. In 2009, the U.S...
External links
- Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association Official Site - State chapter of the Solar Energy Industries AssociationSolar Energy Industries AssociationEstablished in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national nonprofit trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA is working to build a strong solar industry to power America...
- Solar Oregon Official Site - State chapter of the American Solar Energy SocietyAmerican Solar Energy SocietyThe American Solar Energy Society is an association of solar professionals and advocates in the United States. Founded in 1954, ASES is dedicated to inspiring an era of energy innovation and speeding the transition toward a sustainable energy economy...