Solar Oregon
Solar Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1979 that delivers free solar and battery storage workshops, webinars, and home tours to Oregon homeowners, businesses, local governments, and community groups statewide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Solar Oregon does
Solar Oregon is a member-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1979 and headquartered at 1661 SE 3rd Ave # F301 in Portland, Oregon. It operates as an educational intermediary focused on accelerating solar and battery storage adoption across Oregon, with formal alliances spanning the Pacific Northwest. The organization does not build, sell, or license any proprietary technology product; its core offering is a curated platform of consumer-facing educational programs — including monthly "How to Go Solar + Storage" webinars, the topical Green Energy Series, the annual Go Zero Tour of zero-energy homes, Solarize bulk-purchase campaigns, and an online Learning Center — combined with referral services into the Energy Trust of Oregon Trade Ally contractor network. Target audiences span Oregon homeowners (primary), businesses, local governments, community groups, and nonprofit organizations.
Operationally, Solar Oregon runs with approximately 10 paid staff (Program Managers Laura Buska and Aby Jaeger, Program Coordinator Daegan Palermo) supported by 14 board members spanning clean energy, environmental policy, and academic expertise, plus dedicated volunteers. Its revenue model is structured as a typical small education nonprofit: individual and family membership dues ($40 and $60 annually, respectively), tax-deductible community donations, and grant funding. All educational programming — including virtual webinars, in-person workshops, and home tours — is offered free to participants, with monetization occurring upstream through contractor referral economics and downstream through philanthropic support.
Strategically, the organization's value proposition centers on impartial, vendor-neutral consumer education and trusted intermediary status: by explicitly not being tied to any specific installer or product, Solar Oregon positions itself as the consumer's guide through incentive complexity, contractor selection, and installation decision-making. Its competitive position is reinforced by a 45-year operating history, deep co-marketing relationships with Energy Trust of Oregon, chapter affiliation with the American Solar Energy Society, and board-level access to EPA, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Portland General Electric, Energy Trust of Oregon, and Sustainable Northwest.
Solar Oregon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solar Oregon
- Legal name
- Solar Oregon
- Website
- https://solaroregon.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Solar Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1979 that delivers free solar and battery storage workshops, webinars, and home tours to Oregon homeowners, businesses, local governments, and community groups statewide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solar Oregon industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar Energy Education and Clean Energy Advocacy
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS) (EUAMABAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)
Keywords
Where Solar Oregon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Solar Oregon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership dues: Annual membership dues ranging from $40 (Individual) to $60 (Family). Lifetime memberships also available.
- Donations: Solar Oregon accepts tax-deductible donations from community members to support their mission of solar education and adoption.
- Grants: Solar Oregon likely receives grant funding as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, though specific grant sources are not detailed in the sources.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual membership for solar enthusiasts |
| Subscription | Annual | Family membership for households |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Lifetime membership for dedicated supporters |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Solar Oregon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solar Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that delivers impartial solar and battery storage education to Oregon homeowners, businesses, local governments, and community groups. Its core offerings include monthly educational webinars, the Green Energy Series expert panels, the Go Zero Tour of zero-energy homes, Solarize group-purchase campaigns, topical workshops, an online Learning Center, and a membership program that connects consumers with vetted Energy Trust Trade Ally contractors.
Product overview
Solar Oregon is a nonprofit educational organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs and services focused on solar energy adoption in Oregon. The organization operates as a platform of educational offerings including the monthly 'How to Go Solar + Storage' webinar, the 'Green Energy Series' webinar series covering specialized topics, the 'Go Zero Tour' showcasing zero energy homes, and 'Solarize Campaigns' for bulk-purchase programs. Additional offerings include the Learning Center with articles and guides, a monthly newsletter, membership program, and workshops on topics including solar financing, maintenance, and consumer protections. The organization partners with Energy Trust of Oregon for incentives and contractor connections but does not offer a proprietary technology product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Go Zero Tour: A tour showcasing zero energy homes and buildings in Oregon, allowing community members to see solar and storage systems in action.
- Green Energy Series
- How to Go Solar + Storage
- Solarize Campaigns
Products and services
- How to Go Solar + Storage Webinar
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 17 years teaching solar basics through workshops
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Solar Oregon
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Solar Oregon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Solar Oregon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Energy Trust of OregoncoreEnergy Trust of Oregon is a key partner providing cash incentives for solar installation and contractor connections to experienced Trade Allies. They sponsor Solar Oregon workshops and provide training and support for solar contractors. This is the primary referral partnership for connecting consumers to installers.
- American Solar Energy Society (ASES)minorASES is a national solar energy organization that Solar Oregon affiliates with as an ASES Chapter.
- Oregon Solar + Storage Industry Association (OSSIA)minorOSSIA is the state-level industry association for solar and storage in Oregon. Solar Oregon lists OSSIA as a resource partner.
- Energy Trust Trade Ally NetworkcoreNetwork of qualified solar contractors vetted by Energy Trust of Oregon. Solar Oregon recommends choosing contractors from this network who are required to stay up to date on Energy Trust standards and installation quality requirements.
- Oregon Clean Power Co-op (OCPC)minorOCPC develops commercial and community scale solar projects to bring low-cost clean energy to underserved communities. Board member Doug Rich works with OCPC.
- Sustainable NorthwestminorSustainable Northwest works on clean energy solutions for rural communities and Tribal nations. Board member Bridget Callahan is Clean Energy Director at Sustainable Northwest.
- Place to B and Kaleido StudiominorLocal partners who co-sponsor Solar Oregon workshops and events, providing venue and support for community education events.
- Northwest Solar CommunitiesminorCoalition formed with support from U.S. Department of Energy's Sunshot Initiative and Rooftop Solar Challenge to reduce soft costs of going solar in Oregon and Washington.
- Community Energy ProjectminorOregon-based nonprofit providing energy-related resources that Solar Oregon lists as a partner resource.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Solar Oregon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GRID Alternatives: National nonprofit providing no-cost solar to income-qualified households, with a strong volunteer engagement model. Comparable nonprofit mission in residential solar access and education, with a national rather than single-state footprint.
- Solar United Neighbors: National nonprofit that runs Solarize bulk-purchase campaigns and hosts educational events helping homeowners go solar — a near-mirror of Solar Oregon's GTM, just operating across multiple states instead of a single state.
- Community Energy Project: Oregon-based nonprofit providing energy efficiency and weatherization education and resources to households. Highly comparable as a regional clean energy education nonprofit serving overlapping Oregon communities.
- Solar Energy International (SEI): Nonprofit focused on solar workforce training and renewable energy education, including online courses and workshops. Comparable as a solar education nonprofit, though weighted more toward installer training than Solar Oregon's consumer-education focus.
- Sustainable Northwest: Pacific Northwest clean energy and natural resources nonprofit working on rural and Tribal clean energy solutions. Shares Solar Oregon's mission, geography, and board-level connections (Bridget Callahan sits on both).
- Vote Solar: State-focused solar advocacy nonprofit that combines consumer education with policy advocacy in multiple states. Closely comparable mission and structure to Solar Oregon, with a broader geographic footprint.
- Oregon Solar + Storage Industry Association (OSSIA): Oregon's state-level solar and storage industry trade association. A resource partner of Solar Oregon that operates in the same policy and education space, though from an industry rather than consumer-advocate perspective.
- American Solar Energy Society (ASES): National solar education and advocacy organization of which Solar Oregon is a chapter affiliate. Operates at a national level providing education, conferences, and consumer resources in the same domain as Solar Oregon.
Broad incumbents
- Energy Trust of Oregon: Oregon's statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy utility-administered organization that funds incentives and the Trade Ally network. It is Solar Oregon's primary sponsor and referral partner; comparable in mission (clean energy adoption) but vastly larger in funding scope.
- Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA): Regional nonprofit alliance that advances energy efficiency across the Pacific Northwest. Overlaps with Solar Oregon's education and consumer-awareness work in the broader clean energy category, though focused on efficiency rather than solar specifically.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Solar Oregon social profiles
Digital presenceSolar Oregon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solar Oregon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Solar Oregon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solar Oregon M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solar Oregon
What does Solar Oregon do?
Solar Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that delivers impartial solar and battery storage education to Oregon homeowners, businesses, local governments, and community groups. Its core offerings include monthly educational webinars, the Green Energy Series expert panels, the Go Zero Tour of zero-energy homes, Solarize group-purchase campaigns, topical workshops, an online Learning Center, and a membership program that connects consumers with vetted Energy Trust Trade Ally contractors.
Is Solar Oregon a public or private company?
Solar Oregon is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Solar Oregon founded?
Solar Oregon was founded in 1979. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Solar Oregon based?
Solar Oregon is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Solar Oregon make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership dues are the primary driver. The others are donations and grants.
Who are Solar Oregon's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GRID Alternatives, Solar United Neighbors, Community Energy Project, Solar Energy International (SEI), Sustainable Northwest, Vote Solar, Oregon Solar + Storage Industry Association (OSSIA) and American Solar Energy Society (ASES). Broad incumbents are Energy Trust of Oregon and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA).
Does Solar Oregon have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solar Oregon.
What industry is Solar Oregon in?
Solar Oregon's product category is Solar Energy Education and Clean Energy Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAO, Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS), with a secondary code of EUAMAJAA, Community Solar Development & Subscription Management. Its SIC code is 8300.