Oregon: Small Wind Incentive Program

The Energy Trust of Oregon’s Small Wind Incentive program provides resources and cash incentives for customers of Portland General Electric and Pacific Power that are installing turbines up to 50 kilowatts (kW).  Larger systems are allowed to participate, but must contact Energy Trust for approval. Incentive levels are as follows:

• $5.00 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for systems with estimated annual energy output of 9,500 kWh or less


• $47,500 (equivalent to $5/kWh for the first 9,500 kWh of estimated annual energy output) plus $1.75/kWh for systems with estimated annual energy output over 9,500 kWh



 

If a project owner installs more than one system on a single property, the systems will be considered as one turbine, and their estimated annual energy output will be added together to calculate the incentive. Incentives for additional turbines on that property built one or more years later after the initial installation will be calculated separately. All systems must be installed by an approved Energy Trust Small Wind Trade Ally contractor. After the Energy Trust approves the customer's small wind system, the buy-down incentive will be paid to the contractor and deducted from the final cost. Currently, the program has 10 Trade Ally contractors.

Other available incentives include a residential tax credit through the Oregon Department of Energy of $2.00/kilowatt-hour produced in the first year of operation, up to $6,000 (up to $1,500 may be claimed per year).