SustainableCreekside.org

The purpose of this post is to ‘Let the Sun Shine’ on the process of getting solar projects (photovoltaic (PV) and hot water) approved at Creekside.

First some facts:

• In mid-October the HOA Board acknowledged Oregon law prevents an HOA from banning solar energy projects.
• We agreed with the Board that reasonable guidelines should be developed and adopted for the purpose of governing such installations.
• Within 2 weeks a set of proposed guidelines was delivered to the Board and CMI.  Click here to view proposed Creekside Solar Guidelines
• At the 11/11 Board meeting we were informed the new Board would first begin consideration and discussion of the guidelines at the 12/9 Board meeting.
• The 12/9 Board meeting resulted in the creation of an ad hoc committee.  This committee is comprised of the current and former ARC chairs, a current ARC member and two of the Creekside residents involved with this website.  It is charged with forwarding a set of solar guidelines for Board approval.   To date, the first meeting of this committee has not been scheduled……..stay tuned for updates.
• It is now New Year’s Eve and still no word from the committee’s Board member scheduling the first meeting of the ad hoc committee.
• We are six days into 2010 and still no communication……wondering if this committee will ever meet
• On 1/14/10 the ad hoc committee on solar guidelines finally met…..one day after the January HOA Board meeting. The guidelines we proposed back in October were reviewed and several changes were discussed. We agreed to continue discussions via e-mail as several committee members had travel plans in the coming week.
• On 1/22/10 the committee met again and agreed on a set of guidelines to be submitted for Board review.  We have been advised these guidelines will be presented to the Board at its meeting on 2/10/10.

Approval and circulation of the guidelines is THE roadblock to Creekside residents submitting plans for solar energy installations and gaining approval of such plans.  While we support the Board’s intention to carefully review and consider these proposed guidelines we also believe time is of the essence because unnecessary delays in moving forward place Creekside residents interested in pursuing investments in solar energy projects at a potential disadvantage. Specifically:

• Energy Trust of Oregon provides cash incentives that have already been reduced this year by $1000 (for a 2 kW system)
• There are no Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO) Solar Ally residential contractors in Salem, consequently, we must depend on contractors from other communities where the local demand for solar energy installations might also be increasing
• The State of Oregon could be forced to consider reducing or eliminating its tax credit to help balance the State’s budget - potentially costing the homeowner up to $6000 over 4 years.
• Other communities in Salem are embracing solar, including an adjacent development, creating a potential comparative loss of property values at Creekside as new buyers look for sustainable communities.
• PV systems installed before the summer heat will help reduce electric bills and assist PGE in managing peak loads during the hottest days.  The only way to get PV systems installed before the summer heat is for the light to turn green on solar energy projects at Creekside very very soon.

What you can do to help:

1. Take the SOLAR POLL on, the side-bar to the left, so we can guage interest and support for solar among Creekside residents.
2. Sign up for e-mail updates by SUBSCRIBING on the left side-bar.