Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 470 § 470.830 — Grants

Grants for community renewable energy projects; application; rules. (1) The Community Renewable Investment Program is established for the purpose of: (a) Offsetting the cost of planning and developing community renewable energy projects; (b) Making community renewable energy projects economically feasible for qualifying communities; (c) Promoting small-scale renewable energy projects; and (d) Providing direct benefits to communities across this state in the form of increased community energy resilience, local jobs, economic development or direct energy cost savings to families and small businesses. (2)(a) A federally recognized Oregon Indian tribe, public body or consumer-owned utility may submit to the State Department of Energy an application for grant moneys from the Community Renewable Investment Fund established under ORS 470.845 for the purpose of planning or developing a community renewable energy project. (b) An applicant may partner with a federally recognized Oregon Indian tribe, public body, nonprofit entity, private business with a business site in this state or owner of rental property in this state, but a grant for an approved application will only be awarded and released to an applicant that is a federally recognized Oregon Indian tribe, public body or consumer-owned utility. Any federally recognized Oregon Indian tribe, public body, nonprofit entity, private business or owner of rental property that partners with the applicant must be listed in the application. (c) An application must be drafted in consultation with electric utilities that have customers in the communities covered by a community renewable energy project that is in the application and regional stakeholders for the purpose of ensuring feasibility. (3) An application for a grant for planning a community renewable energy project must demonstrate that the planning: (a) Is for a project located in this state but outside a city with a population of 500,000 or more; (b) Will be completed within six months of execution of the performance agreement or a reasonable time frame if good cause to extend the deadline is demonstrated as determined by rule; (c) Will result in a proposal for developing a community renewable energy project; and (d) Incorporates feedback from: (A) Members of qualifying communities served by the community renewable energy project; (B) Businesses located in the communities served by the community renewable energy project; (C) Electric utilities that have customers in the communities served by the community renewable energy project; and (D) Other regional stakeholders. (4)(a) An application for a grant for developing a community renewable energy project must be on a form prescribed by the department and contain: (A) A detailed description of the project’s systems and the systems’ operation; (B) Information showing that the project’s systems will operate as represented in the application and, if the project is for producing electricity, remain in operation for at least five years or for at least a period of time established by the Director of the State Department of Energy by rule; (C) The anticipated total project cost; (D) Information on the number and types of jobs directly connected to the awarding of the grant that will be: (i) Created by the project; and (ii) Sustained throughout construction, installation and operation of the project; (E) Information demonstrating that the project will comply with applicable state and local laws and regulations and obtain required licenses and permits; (F) Information demonstrating that the project will be located in and benefit a community in this state but outside a city with a population of 500,000 or more; and (G) Any other information the director considers necessary to determine whether the project is in compliance with ORS 470.825 to 470.840 and any applicable rules or standards adopted thereunder. (b) An application for developing a community renewable energy project must demonstrate that the project: (A) Is located in this state but outside a city with a population of 500,000 or more; (B) Will begin construction within 12 months of execution of the performance agreement and be completed within 36 months of execution of the performance agreement or a reasonable time frame if good cause to extend the deadline is demonstrated as determined by rule; (C) Results in increased community energy resilience, local jobs, economic development or direct energy cost savings to families and small businesses; (D) Complies with applicable state and local laws and regulations and has the required licenses and permits; (E) Does not exceed 20 megawatts of nameplate capacity, if the project is for generating renewable energy; and (F) Will operate for at least five years, if the project is for producing electricity, or for at least a period of time established by the director by rule. (5) Upon receipt of an applicat