United States Environmental Protection Agency vvEPA State Incentives for Achieving Clean and Renewable Energy Development on Contaminated Lands The development of clean and renewable energy on formerly used land offers many economic and environmental benefits. Combining clean and renewable energy and contaminated land cleanup incentives can allow investors and communities to create economically viable clean and renewable energy redevelopment projects. This document provides information about incentives in your state that can be leveraged for clean and renewable energy and development of contaminated land. Incentives for Clean and Renewable Energy Funding (grants, loans, bonds, etc.) Energy Trust- Open Solicitation Program www.energytrust.org/RR/os/index.html Provides cost-share funding for feasibility studies, representing 50% of costs, up to $30,000 and funding for new commercial technologies to build renewable energy markets, including small hydroelectric, wave, geothermal, or other renewable energy projects that deliver power to the service territories of Portland General Electric or Pacific Power. Energy Trust - Wind Program www.energytrust.org/RR/wind/index.html Provides funding, technical support, and co-funding to wind energy projects that range from community-scale up to 20 MW utility-scale. Energy Trust - Solar Program www.energytrust.org/solar/index.html Provides cash incentives for solar energy systems, based on watts produced. Systems must be tied to the grid and net metered. Incentives vary, depending on location of the project. Energy Loan Program http://egov.oregon.gov/ENERGY/LOANS/selphm.shtml Offers low-interest loans from $20,000 to $20 million for projects that produce energy from renewable resources, including water, wind, geothermal, solar, biomass, waste materials, or waste heat. Tax Incentives (abatements, deductions, credits, etc.) Business Energy Tax Credits http://egov.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/BUS/BETC.shtml Offers a tax credit of 50% of project costs for renewable energy projects, up to $20 million, over a specified time period. Tax Credit for Renewable Energy Equipment Manufacturers http://egov.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/BUS/tax/BETC- Renewables.shtml# Renewable_Energy_Resource_Equipment_Manufacturing_Facilities Offers a tax credit of 50% of project costs for facilities that will manufacture renewable energy systems. The credit is taken over five years, at 10% a year, with a maximum of $40 million. Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems http://landru. leg.state. or. us/ors/30 7.html Eliminates the property tax on the value added to a property from the installation of qualifying renewable energy production systems, provided the system is a net metering facility. Net Metering www.pacificpower.net/Article/Article39589.html www.portlandgeneral.com/business/products/power_options/customer_gen eration/net_metering.asp Allows net metering for commercial customers up to 2 MW. The rules credit the annual net against retail rates. Quick Facts Public Benefit Fund (PBF) Yes 0 No D Renewable Portfolio Standard Yes 0 No D Large utilities: 25% by 2025, Small utilities: 10% by 2025 Smallest utilities: 5% by 2025 Net Metering Yes 0 No D Interconnection Standards Yes 0 No D Electric Power Industry Generation by Primary Energy Source (EIA, 2006) Petroleum-Fired Nuclear Natural Gas-Fired 21.0% Hydroelectric 71% Coal-Fired 4.4% Other Renewables 3.5% Points of Contact Energy Trust - Open Solicitation Program Betsy Kauffman, betsy.kauffman@energytrust.org, (503) 459-4072 Energy Trust - Wind Program Erin Johnston, erin.johnston@energytrust.org, (503) 459-4075 Energy Trust - Solar Program Brian Thornton, brian.thornton@energytrust.org, (503) 445-7640 Energy Loan Program Kathy Estes, kathy.estes@state.or.us, (503) 378-4040 Oregon Department of Energy Business Energy Tax Credits, Tax Credit for Renewable Energy Equipment Manufacturers Suzanne Dillard, Suzanne.C.Dillard@state.or.us, (503) 373-7565 Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems, (503) 378-4040 Net Metering Pacific Power, customerservice@pacificpower.net, (888) 221-7070 Portland General Electric, Net Metering Coordinator, (503) 464-8000 Information current as of November 2008; please refer to www.dsireusa.org and the state Web sites provided, or contact the points of contact identified above for more up to date information. Oregon Incentives for Clean and Renewable Energy - Page ' ------- Incentives for Development of Contaminated Land Funding (grants, loans, bonds, etc.) Brownfields Redevelopment Fund http://econ.oregon.gov/ECDD/CD/program/brownHelds.shtml Provides both grant and loan funding for environmental actions at brownfield sites. Funding decisions are based on the project's expected public benefits (e.g., job creation, economic development, and community revitalization). Oregon Coalition Brownfields Cleanup Fund http://econ.oregon.gov/ECDD/CD/program/CBC.shtml Provides funds for assisting with the cleanup of brownfields. Loans and grants require a 20% cost share and are targeted to projects that demonstrate the greatest need and most benefits to the community. Applicants that are responsible for the contamination or sites proposed for the National Priorities List are ineligible. Community Development Block Grant Program http://econ.oregon.gov/ECDD/CD/CDBG/CDBG.shtml Funds brownfields redevelopment projects, among other categories, for non-metropolitan cities and counties in rural Oregon. Projects must demonstrate benefits to low-income persons, alleviate blight, or meet an urgent community development need. Maximum brownfields redevelopment grant amount is $300,000 with a local match of 15%. Oregon Business Development Fund www.oregon4biz.com/obdf.htm Offers revolving loan fund financing that can be used for brownfields cleanup. Loans can be made for up to $500,000 and can cover up to 40% of project costs. Oregon Credit Enhancement Fund www.oregon4biz.com/cef.htm Provides a loan insurance tool for lenders to help businesses secure financing for brownfields redevelopment projects. The average credit enhancement loan is $230,000. This provides additional loan backing for businesses seeking credit. Oregon Capital Access Program www.oregon4biz.com/cap.htm Assists lenders in making loans to small businesses and developers wishing to redevelop brownfields. Since the program was established in 1991, it has helped facilitate nearly 1,500 loans for $56.3 million. Technical Assistance and Other Incentives Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Site-Specific Assessments www. deq.state. or. us/lq/cu/brownfields/assessments.htm Performs site specific assessments (SSAs) to promote property transfer and redevelopment. Privately-owned sites must have a local sponsor and help offset the SSAs' cost. Limitations on Liability Voluntary Cleanup Program www. deq. state, or. us/lq/cu/voluntarycu. htm Provides two pathways to help cleanup brownfields: 1) the Independent Cleanup Pathway, and 2) the Voluntary Cleanup Pathway. The Independent Cleanup Pathway is for parties wishing to clean up sites without DEQ oversight. The Voluntary Cleanup Pathway involves DEQ oversight throughout the process. Oregon's VCP issues No Further Action (NFA) determinations for sites demonstrated not to present unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. Prospective Purchaser Agreements www.deq.state.or.us/lq/cu/ppa.htm Limits the purchaser's or lessee's liability to DEQ for environmental cleanup of the property, provided the redevelopment creates a substantial public benefit. Developers must complete an application to initiate formal negotiation of the agreement. Quick Facts Limitations on Liability Yes 0 No D Number of State-Tracked Contaminated Properties: 1,085 Includes Urban Sites Remedial Action Program, Voluntary Remediation Program, and Property Transfer Program sites that have entered the State VCP since its inception in 1989. Number of EPA CERCLIS Sites: 120 Sites identified for potential investigation under the federal Superfund Program Number of EPA Brownfields Properties: 359 Properties being funded or addressed under the EPA Brownfields Program There may be some overlap among the categories listed and sites listed may not represent all potentially contaminated sites in Oregon. Information current as of November 2008; please refer to www.epa.gov/brownfields/pubs/st_res_prog_report.htm and the state Web sites provided, or contact the points of contact identified above for more up to date information. Points of Contact Oregon Community Development Division Brownfield Redevelopment Fund, Oregon Coalition Brownfields Cleanup Fund Karen Homolac, Karen.homolac@state.or.us, 503-986-0191 Community Development Block Grant Program Mary Baker/Gloria Zacharias, oedd.info@state.or.us, 503-986-0123 Oregon Economic and Community Development Department Oregon Business Development Fund, (503) 986-0123 Oregon Credit Enhancement Fund, Oregon Capital Access Program, (503)986-0172 Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Site-Specific Assessments, Gil Wistar, wistar.gil@deq.state.or.us, (503) 229-5512 Voluntary Cleanup Program Limitations on Liability Ann Levine, (503) 229-6258 Prospective Purchaser Agreements Charlie Landman, (503) 229-6461 Oregon Incentives for Development of Contaminated Land - Page 2 ------- |