Solar Plus: Oregon State Strategies
Solar Plus stakeholders completed the first year of strategy development to build more solar energy generation in a way that maximizes the technical, social, and economic benefits. In December 2017, the Solar Plus Oregon group finalized strategies for the next two years. Partners will be working in 2018 towards implementing programs and developing projects to meet state goals and create a more sustainable and equitable solar industry.
The state-level goals developed by partners include an Equity Framework to guide the development of the state strategies. The state goals include a commitment to broaden access to solar energy to low-income households and communities of color, to engage with utilities and regulators on the complementary technologies that add value to solar deployment, and to increase the popular understanding of solar, including in the business community.
During 2018, partners in Solar Plus will work on:
- Informing and sharing information about solar incentive development, with a particular focus on ensuring that there is benefit to low-income households.
- Defining and deploying projects that increase community and grid resilience.
- Expanding equitable and inclusive workforce opportunities.
- Providing input for the deployment of low-income community solar projects
- Updating solar industry planning and incorporating broader goals
- Increasing the popular understanding of solar opportunities, including education and outreach to communities and businesses that have been historically underserved.
- Deploying solar as part of neighborhood energy planning, starting with a community in northeast Portland
The Solar Plus teams will convene in January and continue outreach and engagement to implement Solar Plus strategies. Some of these efforts will include public outreach, education, and community listening sessions. More information regarding content and resources related to Solar Plus are available at : http://solarplusnw.org/