Oregon expands access to solar power

OREGON, July 5, 2017 - Solar community rules adopted by Oregon’s Public Utility Commission (PUC) will make it easier for state residents to use solar power without installing rooftop panels. Gov. Kate Brown signed Senate Bill 1574 in March 2016, which directed the PUC to expand access to affordable, local clean energy. The program formed over the past year enables the development of over 150 megawatts of community solar projects throughout the state, with a capacity to serve 22,000 households. “Community solar is rapidly growing in states across the country, and with good reason – Americans want more solar, and these policies expand its benefits to those who may not have had access before,” said Sean Gallagher, vice president of state affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association. The PUC has yet to finalize the credit that customers will receive on their utility bills for participating in the community solar projects. Developers can begin construction once that step is completed.