Solar Beaverton Extends Discount Program Dates, Offers "Safe Harbor" to Ensure Oregon Homeowner Tax Savings

BEAVERTON, Ore., June 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar Beaverton partners and the City of Beaverton staff are extending the deadline for Solar Beaverton sign-ups to Monday, August 1. The extension of this community discount program for photovoltaic (PV) home systems has been restructured into a "Safe Harbor" program for Oregon state tax credits.  The new deadline accommodates unforeseen demand, to-date over 400 homeowners have applied for free site assessments, and confusion by potential participants caused by memorandums issued in May by agencies and industry associations.  These notices established a June 30 deadline for homeowner certification for state tax credits.  The August Safe Harbor sign-up date ensures homeowner qualification for the 2011 Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC). Homeowners do not need to live in Beaverton to participate in this program.  To sign-up and for a listing of free Solar Beaverton community events, visit solarbeaverton.org.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110624/LA25646)

The Solar Beaverton program uses a negotiated discount price for residential solar panel arrays from vetted City of Beaverton contractor LiveLight Energy.  Combined with Energy Trust of Oregon incentives, federal and state energy tax credits; the price for a locally made system is reduced by an average of 80 percent. Pricing models that include the RETC incentive are posted at solarbeaverton.org.

The news about state program cuts by Oregon lawmakers continuously evolves as they wrestle with the $3.2 billion budget shortfall projected for the next biennium (2012 – 2014).  The final state budget will potentially effect 2011 RETC qualifications and the future of all energy tax credit programs in Oregon. For legislative updates, visit livelightenergy.com.

Editor's note: For information about the Solar Beaverton program, please contact Rebecca Fitzsimmons, City of Beaverton Solar Program Coordinator  503.526.2413, or Solar Beaverton partners LiveLight Energy's Mara Woloshin: (503) 310-4504, [email protected]; or SolarWorld's Ben Santarris: (503) 927-9858, [email protected]. Photographs of photovoltaic homes and construction are available electronically.

SOURCE Solar Beaverton