Fantastic news for Oregon businesses that have yet to transition to LED Lighting. The Energy Trust of Oregon has informed its trade allies that there will be a 2025 energy incentive program offered for lighting projects.
What we currently know about the 2025 Energy Trust of Oregon Lighting Program:
- The program will open on January 16th, 2025, and close on June 30th, 2025 to comply with the HB 2531 fluorescent ban.
- The per-project cap will be $250,000.
- 2025 projects must be reserved by June 30th and completed by December 1st, 2025 to qualify.
- The budget will be limited, and segmented by utility and “subsector.” This means even if the overall program still has budget, it may run out for individual subsectors. Here are the current subsectors in place:
- Industrial PGE
- Industrial Pac Power
- Within Industrial, there will be a Horticulture and Non-Horticulture lighting budget
- Commercial PGE
- Commercial Pac Power
Getting in Compliance with Oregon’s Fluorescent Lighting Ban
In June 2023, Oregon lawmakers passed HB 2531, which began phasing out fluorescent lighting technologies — mandating the adoption of energy-efficient LED.
As of January 1, 2025, the sale or distribution of screw-base, bayonet-base, or pin-base compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), as well as linear fluorescent tubes (T8, T5, and T12), is prohibited across the state.
As the fluorescent bans have taken effect, the Energy Trust of Oregon (the state’s top administrator of LED lighting rebates), has begun its process of phasing out incentives that are offered for LED lighting retrofits.
Acting Fast is Essential
Incentives for LED lighting retrofits can help businesses tap state funding to cover a substantial portion of their projects. These programs are offered to help businesses reduce their overall energy consumption and lessen the demand placed on the overall energy grid — creating a win-win opportunity for both businesses and their utility providers.
However, since funding for the 2025 ETO incentive program will be limited, the program could burn through budget quickly. Businesses that wish to seize the opportunity should aim to get their projects in motion as fast as possible.
Beginning in July 2025, most downstream LED lighting measures will either be significantly reduced or eliminated. No details on those reductions have been shared yet.
Learn How 0% Financing Can Solve Budget Obstacles
There is likely one concern that comes to mind when facing an unplanned lighting project — what if our business doesn’t have the budget?
One of the major advantages of an investment in LED lighting is that the project offers a significant and predictable reduction to your monthly energy bill. These savings can be calculated through an energy audit of your existing system, which compares the energy consumption of your existing lighting compared to an LED system.
These predictable savings have allowed funding options to enter the market using a Pay-As-You-Save model, including our own in-house offering, PEC Capital.
Through these funding programs, your business can bypass any budgetary roadblocks by funding your project through a cashflow-positive financing plan that best meets the needs of your business — including options with 0% interest and $0 capital required.
Energy savings are calculated upfront, and your monthly payment never exceeds that amount — giving your building a state-of-the-art system that meets compliance, produces long-term savings, and makes the home of your business the best that it can be.
How to Get Started: Connect With Our Team
Learn how we can help turn your LED lighting transition from a mandate into an opportunity.
Connect with us by sharing some initial details about your business at the link below:
We will follow up to schedule a 30-min introductory call between you and a Sales Engineer to discuss your project and learn about your business.
From there, we will schedule a no-charge audit of your facility and lighting system, if you decide to move forward!
Here’s what you get when working with us:
- A full turn-key partner to help you bring your project from audit to implementation.
- Seamless installations that minimize disruptions.
- An advanced, data-driven approach to your lighting upgrade that’s tailored for your operations — ensuring OSHA-compliant light levels and maximized energy savings.
- Designated incentive specialists that help you manage and maximize energy incentives secured for your project.
- An experienced partner with over 8,000 completed LED lighting projects to ensure your upgrade is done right, on budget, and is built to last.
