Solar Energy
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Solar energy systems turn sunlight into electricity to power your home, business or community.

Benefits of solar

  • Lower your electric bills.
  • Use clean, renewable energy.
  • Stay powered during outages with battery storage.
  • Increase your property value.
  • Steps to Go Solar
  • Solar Options
  • Resources
Steps to Go Solar

Get started

  1. Find a contractor. Get help finding a contractor at Electrify PDX. 
  2. Contact a solar company to assess your property. 
  3. Your contractor will create a custom solar plan showing estimated energy savings and total costs after incentives.
  4. Your contractor submits the required permit forms before work begins, including:
    • Permit application 
    • Site plan
    • Solar layout
    • Electrical diagrams
    • Equipment specification sheets
    • Engineer letter or prescriptive document
  5. The City reviews the submitted forms and documents.
  6. Once approved, installation can be scheduled. The work typically takes a few days.
  7. The City and PGE will inspect the completed system.
Solar Options
  • Rooftop solar: A good option for many homeowners and
  • Community solar: If you rent or your roof isn’t suitable, community solar lets you share electricity from a nearby solar project and receive credits on your electric bill.
Resources

Programs and funding

Why Solar?

Solar is a clean, renewable energy source that helps reduce our carbon footprint. Installing solar is a long-term investment that can lower energy costs over time. As electricity prices rise, solar can help you save money and provide more reliable power during severe weather.

How solar works

  • Sunlight hits solar panels.
  • Solar panels convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
  • An inverter converts DC electricity into alternating current (AC).
  • The AC electricity powers your home or business.
  • A meter tracks energy used from the electric grid and excess energy produced from your solar system.
  • When paired with battery storage, solar can provide temporary backup power during outages.
Local Projects

We are committed to prioritizing renewable energy and addressing impacts of climate change. Supporting renewable energy projects is part of our Climate Action Plan.

Local projects

  • Gresham public safety building at City Hall. 
    • The City installed a solar array on the roof of the public safety building in September 2024. Funded with grants and support from Portland General Electric (PGE) and the Energy Trust of Oregon. The panels will pay for themselves by 2027, saving the City over one million dollars over the lifetime of the panels.
  • City Hall solar array. 
  • Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant.
    • The City's Wastewater Treatment plant produces more energy than it uses, saving the City money on electricity costs.
Questions?
  • Solar questions? Call Denise Lopez at 503-618-2694.
  • Permit questions? Call Permit Services at 503-618-2845.

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  • Solar panels are designed to work in all kinds of weather. A solar expert can help you decide if solar power is a good fit for your home.

  • The City installed a solar array on the roof of the public safety building in September 2024. Grant funded, and support by Portland General Electric (PGE) and the Energy Trust of Oregon, the panels will pay for themselves by 2027. The City will save over one million dollars over the lifetime of the panels.