Act now for an extra cash rebate on solar in Hillsboro

Hillsboro Solar Advantage offers the best community program for owning a SolarWorld solar system with zero down, same as cash.  Now through June 15, the City of Hillsboro is adding a $500 rebate for Hillsboro residents who sign a contract with LiveLight Energy to purchase and install a SolarWorld system.*  Washington County residents as well as those employed in Hillsboro can also enjoy Hillsboro Solar Advantage’s discounted prices until June 15.**

Free educational workshops explore the basics and benefits of solar, explain the current incentives, describe how to turn your solar investment into a 25 year savings plan, present financing options including Umpqua Bank’s Green Street lending program, and offer a personalized tour of SolarWorld’s advanced production facility (available May 6 at Solar World). Sign up at HillsboroSolarAdvantage.com or call 503-690-4366 to reserve your spot at a workshop!

Upcoming Workshops in Your Area

• Monday, April 23, 6-8 pm, Hillsboro Civic Center, 150 E Main Street, Hillsboro (conference room 113)
• Wednesday, May 2, 6-8 pm, Umpqua Bank, Tanasbourne Branch, 2870 NW Town Center Drive, Hillsboro (Upstairs room)
• Sunday, May 6, 1-3 pm, Solar World USA, 25300 NW Evergreen Road, Hillsboro (Conference room HIL)

Follow Hillsboro Solar Advantage on Facebook.

Hillsboro Solar Advantage is a collaboration between City of Hillsboro, LiveLight Energy, and SolarWorld USA to encourage citizens in Hillsboro and surrounding communities to use  locally made solar energy systems and extend education about the benefits of solar energy.

* The City of Hillsboro is providing limited funds for rebates of $500 to residents within Hillsboro city limits who participate in Hillsboro Solar Advantage.  Rebates will be reserved for the first 30 residents with a verified Hillsboro home address to sign a contract with LiveLight Energy.  Addresses will be verified by the City.  The reserved discounts will be applied to qualifying systems on a first come, first served basis.  The Hillsboro rebates are in addition to Energy Trust of Oregon incentives and state and federal tax credits.

** Hillsboro Solar Advantage discount pricing will be extended to people employed in Hillsboro, as well as residents of Washington County, for contracts signed with LiveLight Energy by June 15.  Only Hillsboro residents with a verified city address are eligible for the limited $500 rebate. 

Friends of LiveLight Energy,

It has come to our attention that the incentives for PGE customers have officially fallen from $1.75 per watt to $1.25 per watt. We had no control or knowledge at how quickly this money was going to dissipate. Thank you for bearing with us during this “Solar-coaster” of events.

There is good news; you still have an opportunity to capitalize on the remaining incentives. We know for a fact that these incentives are only going to decrease further. Please don’t delay purchasing a system if you know you want to go solar; act now and you can still receive a system at a very good price.

With this recent change, the final installation price will increase about a 1,000, however, the typical payback of a system is under eight years, and with the 25-year system guarantee, your home will only continue to increase with strong returns on investment, value and energy savings.

Once again, we thank you for your patience. We are here to answer any and all of your questions.  This drop in incentives only proves that solar is becoming increasingly more popular. You can get these incredibly low prices by acting quickly and calling LiveLight Energy at 503-690-4366.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at LiveLight Energy

Solar has become an increasingly popular choice for Oregonians for many great reasons: it insulates homeowners from energy inflation, improves our environment through clean and green energy, creates jobs, builds our economy and more.

In light of the recent decrease in PGE incentives from $1.75 a watt to $1.25 a watt, LiveLight Energy still wants to make solar affordable for you.  So, we have extended our Leap Year Special from our March 15^th deadline until March 31^st.

If you sign a contract to go solar with LiveLight Energy on or before March 31st, you’ll receive a steep discount on our All-American Solar Packages and zero down financing.

In addition to the Leap Year Special, your system will qualify for the following:

• Energy Trust of Oregon Incentives to PGE or Pacific Power customers

• Federal Tax Credit of 30% of net cost

• State Residential Energy Tax Credit, up to $6,000

Qualified customers will pay nothing up-front and have 18-months of no payments and no interest. This allows you to collect your 2012 tax credits, and 18 months of energy savings before making any payments on your system. Incentives are subject to change so act fast. There isn’t a better time to go solar than now.

Founder and President of LiveLight Energy, Keith Knowles at the 2012 Home and Garden Show.

With the latest post regarding Energy Trust of Oregon’s announcement of the anticipated reduction to the solar PV incentive in PGE territory, there was as an embedded image of the Rate Table that did not appear properly.  Click on the file to view.

If you’re a member of the Energy Trust of Oregon Trade Ally network, then you should already have received this information.

March 2, 2012

Dear Solar Electric trade allies,

Energy Trust of Oregon is implementing a stepped incentive structure for solar electric projects in Portland General Electric territory effective today. Separate blocks of funding are being allocated to residential and non-residential projects. When an allocated block of funding is fully subscribed, an incentive reduction will be triggered.

Background

When we announced the stepped incentive structure for projects in Pacific Power territory in December 2011, we stated that a similar strategy would be implemented for PGE territory in the first quarter of 2012. Significant reductions in system costs and Energy Trust budget constraints require these incentive changes. Reducing the incentives allows Energy Trust to stretch our limited budget further to support as many projects and customers as possible.

Changes to solar electric incentives for PGE customers

Step 1 funding is available at the current incentive rate. If your application for an incentive in PGE territory is received after Step 1 funding has become fully subscribed, you will be notified by email that your application will be processed using the Step 2 incentive rate. If you wish not to proceed with the project as a result, please email Pete Gibson, solar program assistant, requesting that he cancel your project application.

Updates on the amount remaining in each of the funding steps will be posted at least weekly on our website.

The amounts allocated to Step 1 are small and will be subscribed very quickly. However, trade allies have already successfully submitted a high volume of incentive applications this week after being notified Friday, February 24, 2012, to expect this announcement.

* Projects with a precertification for a 50 percent Business Energy Tax Credit are NOT eligible for an Energy Trust incentive.

Please remember that the $0.50 per watt reduction in the Energy Trust residential incentive will be offset by a $0.15 increase in the federal tax credit, resulting in a net incentive reduction for homeowners of only $0.35.

Changes to commercial project eligibility

1. Beginning with Step 2, commercial and government/nonprofit systems larger than 750 kW in PGE territory will no longer be eligible for an Energy Trust incentive. We consider the new $75,000 incentive cap too small to be a driver for larger projects.
2. Beginning with Step 2, there will no longer be a special incentive rate for projects owned by governments or nonprofits. The government/nonprofit rate will be equal to the commercial rate.
3. As announced on February 24, 2012, commercial and government/nonprofit projects (both PGE and Pacific Power) with a precertification for a 50 percent Business Energy Tax Credit are no longer eligible for an Energy Trust incentive. With the decline in system costs, the 50 percent Business Energy Tax Credit combined with federal tax incentives can now cover 100 percent of the above-market cost.

Thank you for your understanding of and cooperation with these program changes. We value your participation in Energy Trust’s Solar Electric program.

Growing Solar Clackamas County is one of the most successful community initiatives in Oregon yet. With more than 10 community events and 335 interested customers, our mission of making solar work here in Oregon has taken off.

“People are excited and talking to their neighbors and friends about our program and solar in general. The majority of people value the education of the workshops and certainly the value in having the sun help power their home,” says Zach Henkin, Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator for Sunlight Solar.

Keith Knowles, President of LiveLight Energy agrees.

“Growing Solar Clackamas County is a win-win for the community. The initiative makes solar more accessible for residents, supports economic development, and adds jobs in Oregon,” says Knowles.

Grassroots organizers from all areas of Clackamas County launched “Growing Solar Clackamas County” in January. With more than 350,000 homeowners, this community committee has decided that there is not a better time than now to learn the advantages of solar energy and what it can do for you.

Growing Solar Clackamas County has launched this initiative with free educational community workshops led by two local contractors, LiveLight Energy, LLC of Beaverton and Sunlight Solar of Oregon City.  These solar installers have been vetted by the Growing Solar Clackamas County Committee through a highly competitive bidding process.

Project Coordinator Kathy Phillips believes that the community initiative is so successful and is being welcomed by so many people because folks have been waiting for a very long time for a program like this to come along, and now that it is here, they simply cannot wait to register for a free site assessment.

“I have heard positive feedback about the workshops, most people find the Basics of Solar workshops valuable and extremely helpful in figuring out if solar is right for them and their home, “ says Phillips.  “In fact, we have had to find new locations for two of the workshops, because we had twice as many people want to come than the facilities could hold, and we wanted everyone to get a chance to hear about this great one time offer!”

Many solar experts will agree that there is no better time than now to buy or lease solar for your home. With incredible tax benefits and esteemed incentives, the prices for a solar system are at an all time low.

“The prices we offer in our program are almost unheard of, I can’t think of a time where the prices have been better,” says Phillips.

Henkin, a native to Oregon City, agrees he’s excited about the solar movement happening in his neck of the woods.

“My home and neighborhood is in Oregon City, and it is great to see so many of my neighbors considering going solar,” says Henkin.

Like any great plan, there is always a dream. For Knowles, solar has never felt more appealing than now.

“For LiveLight, this is our fourth Solarize program in Oregon. This community initiative has heightened the awareness of how solar works, even here in rainy Oregon.  The positive feedback and interest has been remarkable. I hope to see this curiosity continue to climb, making renewable energy part of everyday life,” say Knowles

“If we can get more people to use conservation measures and to help offset their electricity usage with renewables like solar, we will hopefully not have to build another hydro-electric power plant here in the next 10-30 years,” says Henkin.

Phillips uses the passion and motivation driven from a conversation when she was just 12 years old.

“Senator Tom McCall told my 7^th grade class that it was up to our generation to keep Oregon one of the most beautiful states to live in, by protecting the environment and keeping it clean from pollution.  That conversation is what continues to drive my love for renewable energies,” says Phillips.

It’s not too late to jump on the solar train. LiveLight Energy, Sunlight Solar, Solar Oregon and Clackamas County have a few more events that you can register for with just a couple of easy clicks. Go to www.growingsolar.org , click on the event that is right for you and then RSVP.  Come and join us for an hour and a half of education on how you can change your neighborhood one solar system at a time.

Written by Andrea Carlson, LiveLight Energy.

If you sign a contract to go solar with LiveLight Energy on or before February 29th, you’ll receive a steep discount on our All-American Solar Packages and zero down financing.
We’ll reduce the installation bill by 25 cents per watt*. On an example 3,000 watt PV array. That’s $750 additional savings on top of the already strong incentives available.

In addition to the Leap Year Special, your system will qualify for the following:
• Energy Trust of Oregon Incentives to PGE or Pacific Power Customers
• Federal Tax Credit of 30% of net cost
• State Residential Energy Tax Credit, up to $6,000
Read the rest of this entry »

LiveLight Energy is pleased to introduce our All-American solar packages. Two package options offer you the solar you’re looking for. And, best of all, you’re supporting American jobs while you’re saving energy.

The All-American Value Package™ creates an affordable solar system using SolarWorld’s high-quality, US made panels. This system supports the US economy, and US jobs, while being cost competitive with foreign-made solar equipment.

The All-American Premium Package™ provides the latest in solar panel technology with highest output SolarWorld PV modules. This package will maximize your energy harvest on the roof. It also includes Bluetooth-based in-home monitoring standard, so you can keep tabs on all of the energy you’ll produce.
Read the rest of this entry »

We’ll pay up to $100 per month towards your electric bill for the first 3 months

Sign a contract by December 31st and get your solar installed this winter so you can look forward to those sunny summer days and harvest energy all year! *Contract must be signed by December 31st