5312 NE 148th Avenue, Portland, OR 97230

A non-profit utilizes a rooftop solar PV system to help power its new facility

The Portland Habilitation Center (PHC) is a non-profit whose mission is to assist individuals with disabilities throughout Oregon and Washington by providing job training and skill development so they may obtain and maintain meaningful work. PHC delivers contracted services in custodial, landscaping, light industry and administrative services, and currently trains and employs approximately 1,000 people with disabilities.

PHC is hosting an 870 kW system atop its new 110,000 SF facility in Northeast Portland. The renewable energy generated from the system will power expansion of PHC's in-house manufacturing, assembly, order fulfillment, courier and warehousing services. The solar PV installation will eventually save PHC nearly $75,000 in annual energy costs.

United Fund Advisors structured and closed the transaction, utilizing the Federal Renewable Energy Investment Tax Credit as the primary tool to help finance the project.

Project Type: Photovoltaic crystalline

Project Timeline: Completed Winter 2008

Project Partners: Portland Habilitation Center; US Bancorp Community Development Corporation; Energy Trust of Oregon; Commercial Solar Ventures; Dynalectric

Size: 870 Kilowatts

Project Cost: $7.1 million

Greenhouse Gases Offset: 15,150 tons over the life of the system

Click here for more energy benefits information (PDF)