In the coming years, Energy Trust will help administer one of the largest ever investments to connect more people to solar energy. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it is awarding Oregon an $86.6 million Solar for All grant to help bring solar to individuals and families with lower incomes. The grant is part of the Biden Administration’s $7 billion Solar for All program created by the Inflation Reduction Act.

Oregon’s Solar for All program will be administered through Energy Trust and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation and run by the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE). While some states and organizations may be using Solar for All funds to create new solar programs, the funds in Oregon will help expand existing programs and infrastructure that have been bringing the benefits of solar to families for more than 20 years. Since 2002, Energy Trust, with support from ODOE, has helped add solar to more than 25,000 homes and businesses, offering higher incentives and additional support to individuals and families with lower incomes, as well as BIPOC, tribal, and rural communities.

“Solar energy reduces bills for Oregon families and makes our communities stronger,” said Michael Colgrove, executive director of Energy Trust in an announcement from ODOE. “This funding will strengthen and grow the work underway to bring rooftop and community solar to more people, especially to individuals and families with lower incomes who face higher energy costs relative to their earnings.”

Energy Trust, ODOE and Bonneville Environmental Foundation will use the first year of the five-year grant to plan and develop programs funded by the grant, leveraging existing solar technology incentives and supports already used in Oregon.

The funds will bolster solar in Oregon in several ways, including through:

• Solar installations at low-income single-family households with little to no upfront customer cost,
• Rebates for solar projects on multifamily buildings to benefit low-income tenants
• Financial and technical assistance to develop community solar projects that benefit low income participants under the Oregon Community Solar Program
• Financial and technical assistance to develop community solar projects that benefit low income participants in consumer-owned utility service areas
• Efforts to strengthen the state’s solar workforce

Funded by the EPA, Solar for All aims to save low- and moderate-income households around $350 million annually on energy costs, while also significantly reducing emissions.

Oregonians can sign up for email updates on Solar for All as plans develop. Visit energytrust.org/solar to learn more about the ways Energy Trust helps people and add solar to their homes and businesses.