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It was stated on air that the winning bidders on the Solarize Portland projects are forced to hire inexperienced people effecting lower installation quality.  This is not true.  Mr. Sun has hired six new electricians, all of whom have solar experience, and our installation quality is higher than ever.  The very rigorous Energy Trust inspection dictates that all installations in the region fully meet and exceed the National Electric Code.  What Portlanders are getting, really, is a “Nordstrom” product at a Wal-Mart price.  Solarize Portland is the most significant development I have seen in my 30 years in the solar industry.  As a result hundred of residential homeowners are able to put solar on their roofs.  What use to be a technology only available to the wealthy has now become mainstream.  These programs need to continue unbridled throughout every community in Oregon and beyond.  They drive prices down making it more universally affordable. This is what we've needed all along. 

posted 1 year, 10 months ago
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Those responsible for the sudden tax credit rule change at Oregon Department of Energy have issued a blow that is uncalled for and serves no constructive purpose except to eliminate a significant part of the market of for those who heretofore could not afford solar.  Since the residential solar tax credit program has long been considered revenue neutral there is no net budgetary effect to the state. It was stated that a million dollars would be saved, well, there will be a million dollars less income tax paid by Oregon solar companies and Oregon workers who will have to be laid off because installations will drop dramatically.

posted 1 year, 10 months ago
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