Community Solar Project Begins Construction on 82nd Avenue
The site will offer 130 spots to low-income residents when it opens in February 2027.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Utilities
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Residents in the 82nd Avenue corridor will soon have access to a new community solar project as construction crews begin clearing a former landfill site. This project, funded by the Portland Clean Energy Fund, aims to lower utility costs for 140 low-income households.
Why it matters
The project is part of a larger effort to transform the 82nd Avenue corridor into a safer and more climate-resilient space. It serves as an alternative for renters and those who cannot install private rooftop solar panels to participate in clean energy savings.
The initiative offers 130 spots to residents, promising an estimated $300 in annual energy bill savings per household compared to standard utility costs. Over its 20-year lifetime, the project is expected to generate a total of $900,000 in combined energy savings.
The players
Portland Clean Energy Fund
A city initiative providing financial backing for community-led solar and climate-resilience projects.
Bird Alliance of Oregon
The environmental nonprofit organization that purchased the former landfill site in 2024.
Portland Bureau of Transportation
The city agency that took over management of the 82nd Avenue corridor in 2022.
Imagine Energy
A group providing job training in solar installation and electrical work at the construction site.
Leaders Become Legends
An organization partnering to offer vocational training for solar and electrical work at the project site.
The details
Crews have begun clearing blackberry bushes and moving earth at the 12-acre parcel, which previously functioned as a rock quarry and a construction rubble landfill. Purchased by the Bird Alliance of Oregon in 2024, the site will feature seven solar arrays. The Portland Clean Energy Fund is supporting the build, which is one of seven similar sites funded by the agency in the city.
Timeline
2022: The Portland Bureau of Transportation assumed control of the 82nd Avenue corridor.
2024: The Bird Alliance of Oregon acquired the Northeast 82nd Avenue site.
October 2026: Construction crews began initial site clearing operations.
February 2027: The community solar project is expected to reach completion.
Beyond the Bridges
This effort follows the established pattern set by the Portland Clean Energy Fund, which has already financed six other community solar sites across the city. It marks a continuation of the agency's strategy to direct climate-resilient infrastructure toward the 82nd Avenue corridor.
Low-income households in the area will be eligible to sign up for one of the 130 available spots to reduce their monthly electricity bills. Interested residents should monitor the city’s official portal for the upcoming application window as the project nears its February 2027 completion date.
The takeaway
This landfill-to-solar project provides a template for repurposing underutilized city land to directly offset household costs. Interested residents should watch the Portland Clean Energy Fund portal for the specific opening of the 130-spot enrollment window.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to modernize city energy infrastructure in the Utilities section.
More information
Find details on participation requirements on the community solar project application page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Opb.
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