haciendafutsalcourt.jpeg

Hacienda's futsal court will add solar panels this year.

(Courtesy, Hacienda, CDC)

Hacienda’s

will soon have a solar roof, thanks to a city program that pools donations from businesses and neighbors.

Environment Oregon and the City of Portland announced last week that the Cully-based Latino community development center would be the latest in the region’s Solar Forward program.

Solar Forward is a crowdfunding initiative from the Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. Essentially, it asks community helpers to chip in to add solar panels to community buildings. The program has helped make Portland one of the top 20 major cities for the amount of solar installed, said Environment Oregon spokesman Charlie Fisher.

Hacienda’s court, part of its Ortiz Center, will add a 10 kilowatt solar photovoltaic array soon. The panels will provide some of the power for the court’s lights as well as the community center.

“Hacienda has long believed that environmental amenities should be available to Portlanders of all income levels,” said Hacienda executive director Victor Merced. “We are excited for the opportunity to build on our commitment to green building in Cully with the addition of this partnership with Solar Forward.”

Hacienda does not have to buy the panels. Instead, city staff are looking for people and foundations to

for them. The

are tax-deductible, and donors will receive permanent recognition at the site.

The city will issue requests for proposals later this spring, but Solar Forward's first project -- putting panels on the Southwest Community Center -- cost $40,000. Andria Jacob, the senior manager for the city's clean energy programs, estimates Solar Forward will need to raise between $5,000 and $10,000 for Hacienda's panels.

A second system at Oliver P. Lent Elementary School will be installed this summer. City staff chose Hacienda for the third project based on community suggestions.

-- Casey Parks