Energy Trust is sponsoring a new educational series called Power Hour, a project of The Environmental Center in Bend, OR.

Oregonians overwhelmingly support solar energy, but many face insurmountable obstacles to installing solar on their own rooftop, such as shading, roof capacity, financing, and not owning a home or living in an apartment. Community solar is an emerging model that reduces or eliminates many of these barriers. Community solar is defined as one or more solar photovoltaic energy systems that provide owners and subscribers the opportunity to share the costs and benefits associated with the generation of electricity.

In 2016, the Oregon legislature passed Senate Bill 1547, “Coal-to-Clean”, placing Oregon among the few states with a community solar program. While some elements of the program are waiting to be defined, community champions can and have begun to get predevelopment and feasibility studies underway.

Join us for this informative panel discussion and Q&A session to hear about community solar success stories in other states, learn how the program is shaping up in Oregon, and hear about projects that are getting started in other communities.

This will be an informative session for those who are interested in participating in the program whether for their residence, business, nonprofit or government building, community members who want to help build momentum for a local project, and/or those who are just curious to learn more!

Panelists will include:

• Jon Miller, Executive Director, OSEIA (Oregon Solar Energy Industry Association)
• Jaimes Valdez, Policy Manager, Spark Northwest
• Bridget Callahan, Energy Program Associate, Sustainable Northwest