Join the Solar Trade Ally Network
In order to pass Energy Trust’s solar incentives to your clients, contractors must become solar trade allies. Trade allies are an essential part of Energy Trust’s solar programs. More than 60 experienced contractors and solar professionals are active in the Solar Trade Ally Network. Our trade allies bring in all of the projects for which we provide incentives and are often the first, last and only representatives of Energy Trust to their customers.
Benefits of Being a Solar Trade Ally
- Cash Incentives that you can pass onto your customers for installing solar electric, water heating or pool heating systems.
- Training designed to improve your understanding of emerging technologies, connect you with other solar professionals and share techniques to improve your business and increase sales
- Promotional Materials including program literature and other marketing collateral
- Publicity through the Energy Trust website, program case studies, news releases and events
- Cooperative Advertising Funding to help you promote solar by sharing the cost of advertising, websites, business cards and other marketing pieces and opportunities
What We Ask
Promote the Energy Trust’s programs to your customers and support the sales and installation of approved solar energy systems and equipment.
Provide excellent customer service.
Support the long term growth of the solar industry by installing and warranting high-performance, long-life solar energy systems in Oregon.
Maintain current contractor’s license and insurance coverage, and use appropriately licensed installers according to Oregon law.
Attend required Energy Trust program trainings and follow the policies defined in the following documents:
- Solar Electric Program Guide
- Solar Electric System Requirements
- Solar Water Heating Program Guide
- Solar Water Heating System Requirements
How to Apply
- Determine whether you are interested in becoming a solar electric trade ally, solar water heating trade ally (including solar pool/spa heating) or both.
- Review the appropriate Program Guide(s) and System Requirements documents to familiarize yourself with our program requirements and processes.
- Register to attend the next free Energy Trust Solar Electric or Solar Water Heating training session. Visit the Training tab for more information.
- Make sure that your insurance meets the requirement defined in the Program Guide, and fax this Request Form for Certificate of Insurance to your Commercial General Liability, Automobile and Workers’ Compensation Insurance carriers. If you are exempt from Workers’ Compensation Insurance requirements, you will need to sign and submit a Workers’ Compensation Exemption Form.
- Submit a completed Substitute W-9 to Energy Trust, attention Solar Program, at 851 SW 6th Ave., Suite 1200, Portland, OR 97204.
- Complete the Solar Contractor Application ( PDF | Word) and mail it to the address above.
The steps above do not need to be performed in the order given, but all items must be completed before your application will be considered for approval. Once you have attended the appropriate training and submitted the necessary paperwork, we will review your application and, if approved, send you a welcome packet with a copy of your contract with your trade ally number, copies of our promotional materials and other trade ally goodies. Please give up to three weeks for application review and approval.
More information
To learn more, call us at 1-866-368-7878.
Photos at top: 114-kilowatt photovoltaic system at Kettle Foods in Salem; 2,970 watt photovoltaic system on a house in SW Portland; 182,000 watt photovoltaic system at Pepsi in Klamath Falls