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 based on a project’s cost in comparison to the market value of the energy produced, called above-market cost.

If a project owner installs more than one system on a single property at the same time, 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. 

To qualify for incentives, the installation site must be at least one acre, have average yearly wind speeds of 10 mph or higher, be connected to an electric utility, and be located within approximately 1,500 of a utility electrical meter. The tower must be between 70 - 180 feet high. 

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) and the federal tax credit of 30%. Energy Trust may also provide up to 50 percent or a maximum of $200,000 of the cost of hiring an outside consultant to provide expert assistance on project development activities.