Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregonians who have wanted to put solar panels on their roofs, but couldn’t afford it, now have a new option.

Oregon’s Department of Energy has finalized new rules for residential energy tax credits that offer up to $6000 to lease solar panels.

The tax credit had been based on the costs of buying a system. Now the credits depend on how much energy is produced.

Rob Lavigne is with California-based Solar City. Lavigne says his company has installed hundreds of leased systems in other states.

He says the change in Oregon will remove upfront costs that have kept people from putting panels on their homes.

Rob Lavigne: “Let’s just say, for example, if a system costs $25,000, after all the incentives came through, their net costs was probably $5000 or $6000. But they had to have the money to get it. With a lease, they don’t have to come up with as much, or with one option, any money up front.”

Solar City is just one of a number of companies in Oregon expected to field calls this month from interested homeowners.

The Residential Energy Tax Credit can be combined with other subsidies, but it requires property owners to use a qualified solar installer.