Deadline Extended For “Solar Beaverton” Discount, Tax Credit

Beaverton homeowners who are interested in switching to solar power but were afraid the deadline passed, worry not; you may still be able to make the switch and qualify for tax credits. The Solar Beaverton program has extended until August their deadline to receive discounted solar panels systems and be eligible for an Oregon tax credit. 

Solar Beaverton is a joint project between LiveLight Energy and the City of Beaverton, offering homeowners in Beaverton a 15% discount on solar panels. LiveLight initially set the final sign-up day for the program as June 30th because that was the last day they thought that Solar Beaverton participants would be assured eligibility for a state residential tax credit.

LiveLight is now guaranteeing that participants who sign up for free assessments by August 1st and have a system installed and paperwork submitted to the Oregon Department of Energy by October 15th will be eligible for the state tax credit, which can be up to $6,000 for an average 3-kilowatt solar panel system.

Such a system would typically cost $16,500, and in addition to the $6,000 state credit, buyers could receive another $8,000 or more in the form of a federal tax credit and an incentive from the Energy Trust of Oregon, a local nonprofit.

The $6,000 state tax credit is set to expire on January 1st, 2012, although the state legislature could pass House Bill 3672, currently being discusses in the Senate, which would renew the credit until the same day in 2018.

If you’d rather make sure you’re eligible for the credit by locking in a system this year, visit the Solar Beaverton website for further details.