Valerie Eiselein gives careful attention to her house and her finances. As an educator and grandmother, she also cares about leaving a clean environment for future generations. That’s why she was thrilled she could install solar panels thanks to Solar Within Reach cash incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon.
Solar Within Reach incentives, higher than Energy Trust’s regular solar incentives, help make solar or solar plus battery storage more affordable for income-qualified households.
“Had it not been for the incentive I received, I would not have been able to even consider solar,” she said. “This has helped me and my family so much! It added value to my home and has been a huge help in reducing my carbon footprint.”
Valerie has lived in her Coos Bay home for 23 years. It’s where she raised her four children, and the household still bustles with one of her sons and several grandchildren, who live with her part time, as well as two dogs.
“I really enjoy my home. It’s simple, clean and easy,” said Valerie. “And I want it to be as energy efficient and green as possible.”
A paraprofessional who works for the Coos Bay School District helping children with special needs, Valerie has made many energy upgrades through the years as she could work them into her budget. Her 1962-era house now has new windows and LED lighting. Energy Trust incentives previously helped with a variety of improvements, including a ductless heat pump to replace baseboard heating.
Solar was a natural next goal in her energy journey, and Valerie said rising power costs were “another big push” for moving forward.
Energy Trust solar trade ally shows the way
When Valerie connected with Energy Trust solar trade ally A&R Solar, she learned the substantial Solar Within Reach incentives and a 30 percent federal tax credit could help make her solar dreams a reality. The project was completed at the end of December 2024, and she is anticipating her solar energy production and bill savings to ramp up as the days get longer and sunnier.
The installation is projected to produce more than 9,000 kilowatt hours of energy over the course of a year and is estimated to save $1,360 annually on energy bills, which is close to the average for most Solar Within Reach projects.
Valerie felt confident working with an Energy Trust trade ally. “It feels good that you can make an energy upgrade and you’re not going to be scammed,” she said. “The A&R team was really professional, kind and efficient. They answered every question.”
The company posted a sign in her yard to highlight Valerie’s new installation, and she’s hoping neighbors will inquire about her solar journey. She said she would encourage them to ask lots of questions to understand how much they can expect to save on their bills over the course of the year and how any available tax credits work.
“I think everyone should be excited about going solar. I talk about it with all my kids,” she said. “I want to keep our planet growing. I want my children and grandchildren to have fresh air and have a world free of pollution.”
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