A leading developer of renewable energy projects in the Pacific Northwest, NewSun Energy, is calling on Oregon lawmakers to accelerate permitting for solar facilities as new federal policies pose a “massive chilling effect” for the industry.

Max Yoklic, attorney for the Bend-based company, said facility siting and permitting remains a critical barrier solar energy in recent testimony to the House Climate, Energy, and Environment Committee. The level of urgency has only increased as federal tax credits for solar projects are set to expire earlier than expected, according to an article published Oct. 5 in the Capital Press.

Although the state has taken minor, incremental steps to address permitting barriers, Yoklic said in his written testimony that a “broader and more permissive approach” will be vital to meeting new construction deadlines for developers to qualify for these federal credits.

The committee held a hearing on Sept. 29 where industry advocates discussed state-level actions for promoting low-cost clean electricity — including fast-tracking project siting, development, and use of surplus interconnection.

Without federal credits, developers may not be able to make projects pencil out financially, said Angela Crowley-Koch, Executive Director of the Oregon Solar + Storage Industries Association. Experts say this could further hamper Oregon’s ability to keep up with rising electricity demands.

“We’re very concerned about what commercial solar and utility-scale solar will look like after these deadlines,” Crowley-Koch said.

Specifically, the federal tax and spending bill passed by congressional Republicans earlier this year requires that:

• Developers must finish solar projects by the end of 2027 to qualify for tax credit covering 30% of costs — five years ahead of schedule.
• Solar panels for residential projects must be installed by end of 2025 to qualify for 30% credit, rather than 2035 under previous law.

NewSun supported a raft of legislation in the 2025 Oregon Session aimed at streamlining permitting and boosting incentives for renewable energy development. Given these strong federal headwinds, now is more important than ever that state lawmakers prioritize policies allowing projects to come online quickly and cost-effectively. Failure to do so will result in Oregon falling further behind on its decarbonization goals and commitment to building a sustainable energy future.

“We look forward to the opportunity to contribute to solution pathways in response to this unfortunate situation,” Yoklic said.

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