Coastal Solar Oregon has opened its doors and now serves customers from the Oregon Coast to the eastern borders.
 
Working in close collaboration with Georgia-based Coastal Solar, this new energy solutions provider brings a heavy dose of solar expertise to the beaver state, where environmental consciousness and stewardship run high. Coastal Solar also has offices in Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. 
 
Being one of only a handful of solar providers on the coast, the first question many people ask owner and military veteran Jason Traylor is, does the Oregon Coast (or the rest of the state) really have enough sunlight to make solar worthwhile?
 
Traylor admits that Oregon gets its share of clouds and rain. But when you look at the actual sunlight data, the southern Oregon Coast actually gets more sunlight than Eugene, and averages more than 100 sunny days per year.
 
Lest you chuckle at such a low number, “sunny” has a technical definition, meaning no more than 30% cloud cover for the day. That means there are many more ‘partly sunny’ days that also produce solar energy. All that adds up to a perfect blend of environmental awareness and sound financial sense.
 
Traylor has the data to show how profitable solar can be. Even his parents, who live in the North Bend/Coos Bay area where Traylor’s business is based, own a 20kW solar array on their ranch.
 
“We’re out here to solve problems for companies with renewable energy solutions,” Traylor says proudly, and he works with businesses as well as homeowners who want to save money on energy and do their part for the environment.
 
Coastal Solar Oregon is a Solar Trade Ally with the Energy Trust of Oregon, a nonprofit that works with utilities and manages the solar rebates customers can earn.
 
One of the best rebates is the residential energy tax credit, though that is currently set to expire at the end of 2017. That Oregon-only tax credit gives up to $1500 a year for four years back to any residence that installs solar panels. Combined with federal tax credits as well as renewable mandates that utilities like PG&E and Pacific Power have to meet, Traylor says there’s never been a better time in Oregon’s history to go solar.
 
“One of my favorite things is to see the data after a customer goes solar,” Traylor says. “A year into it, and they are so excited by the savings compared to the previous year.”
 
So how did Traylor go from the military to solar energy?
 
“After 11 years serving in both Special Operations and as an UH-60L Blackhawk pilot I felt a calling to serve my home community in another manner and I found no better way to do that than through empowering communities through solar power. As a region, the Oregon South Coast has for over a century exported our abundant natural resources to external and foreign entities for their enrichment. It’s now time to take ahold of and fully realize this natural resource within the businesses, communities, and homes in which solar energy systems are installed.”

If you want to reach Jason, you can contact him through the coastal solar website contact page: http://coastalsolar.com/contact/