Hillsboro, Ore.-based SolarWorld USA says it is on track to supply about 1 MW of solar panels this year through the Solarize program, which is designed to allow Oregon residents to more easily and affordably put solar power systems on their rooftops.

Under the Solarize program, Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and Energy Trust of Oregon, a nonprofit promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, support groups of residents as they join together to secure volume pricing for buying and installing solar power systems.

Two installation partners - Mr. Sun Solar for the Solarize resident group in southwest Portland, and Imagine Energy for southeast Portland - each expect to install more than 400 kW of SolarWorld Sunmodules on homes.

In a separate Solarize program orchestrated by the eastern Oregon city of Pendleton, Livelight Energy expects to install more than 175 kW of Sunmodules. In all, SolarWorld's monocrystalline photovoltaic product will provide power to about 425 homes.