Oregon Department of Energy Announces $1.5 Million for Renewable Energy Projects Across the State
Press Release: February 26, 2016
Grants will support installation of photovoltaic systems for Oregon businesses and organizations.
SALEM — The Oregon Department of Energy today announced 13 recipients of nearly $1.5 Million in Renewable Energy Development grant funds. The RED grant program supports Oregon businesses, nonprofits, and organizations investing in renewable energy systems that use biomass, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, landfill gas, biogas, wave, tidal, or ocean energy to produce electricity.
ODOE received 27 applications by the December 15 deadline. Each of the applications received were for proposed photovoltaic (solar) systems. “Solar installations are booming across the country right now,” ODOE Energy Analyst Rob Del Mar explains. “The overall cost of installing panels has dropped, and with the renewal of the federal tax credit, the time is right for businesses and organizations to invest in this renewable energy resource.”
After a competitive review process, 13 projects were selected for this fifth round of RED grant funding, ranging from $10,000 to $165,000. The Oregon Military Department was allocated $99,000 for its Fort Oregon Solar project, which will install panels on military-owned buildings in Medford, Roseburg, Dallas, and Salem. In Milton-Freewater, $70,235 will help small business The Farm on Edwards Road install solar electricity for use in the production of free-range chicken eggs. The Southern Oregon Labor Temple Association, a nonprofit meeting space for unions in Central Point, was allocated $37,754. Visit our website to see a full list of selected projects.
ODOE’s grant funding news followed Governor Kate Brown’s February 16 announcementthat Oregon has signed on with 16 other states for the Governors’ Accord for a New Energy Future. The bipartisan coalition commits to taking action to promote clean energy, clean transportation, and a modern electrical grid.
“Oregon is a long-standing energy leader, in part because businesses and nonprofits step up and make the switch to renewable energy,” ODOE Director Michael Kaplan said. “ODOE is proud to support these diverse projects that will generate renewable electricity for Oregon farms, small businesses, our military, and more.”
ODOE staff expect to finalize performance agreements over the next few months. Funds are allocated after the project is completed and operational, and once all conditions of the performance agreements are met.
For more information about the Renewable Energy Development grant program, visit ODOE’s website: www.oregon.gov/energy/BUSINESS/Incentives/Pages/index.aspx.