[OGWG] FW: ODOE News Release: CREFF

Wed Jul 14 08:29:53 PDT 2010

FYI.  Please note that applications for the next round of funding are being accepted from mid-July to September.  See the link below for more information on the program.

Robin

From: Shinn, Kathy
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 3:39 PM
To: All Energy Staff
Subject: ODOE News Release: CREFF

Oregon Department of Energy News
625 Marion St. NE, Salem, OR 97301-3737
(503) 378-4040   Fax (503) 373-7806

For Immediate Release
July 13, 2010
#10-26

Contacts:
Rebecca Sherman
(503) 376-2120

Kathy Shinn
(503) 373-1033
In Oregon 1-800-221-8035

ELEVEN NEW AWARDS TO FUND

RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDIES

The Oregon Department of Energy has issued 11 awards in a competitive process to study the feasibility of specific and new renewable energy, heat, and fuel projects in Oregon. Eleven projects in nine counties received funding ranging from $20,000 to $50,000, at a total commitment level of $351,000.

The purpose of the CREFF program is to encourage widespread adoption of renewable energy projects that reduce Oregon's dependence on fossil-based energy sources and promote sustainable economic development. Studies may address initial resource assessments, siting and permitting requirements, transmission and interconnection, environmental footprint, and long-term economic viability.

"These funds help communities and businesses answer their first critical questions about developing renewable energy," says Rebecca Sherman, Renewable Energy Development Coordinator at the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE). "With a feasibility study in hand, our awardees will have a solid financing platform and a road map to building their new projects."

The Department of Energy issued renewable energy feasibility awards for eleven studies.  Information about all of the awards is available online at http://oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW/CREFF.shtml/.  Three of the eleven awards are highlighted below:

Crane Wind and Solar Thermal Study (Crane School District, Harney County, $31,000)
The Crane School District will construct a wind-testing tower to help them design and build a wind turbine on school grounds. The school district also will examine opportunities for a solar thermal project to help heat water in the school cafeteria and campus dormitory.

Lakeview Heating District Study (Town of Lakeview, Lake County, $40,000)
The Town of Lakeview has ample geothermal resources and has already successfully implemented geothermal heating projects in large public facilities. With this award, Lakeview will map out the potential for a heating district, supplying geothermal heat to town businesses and buildings.

Wallowa Combined Heat and Power (Wallowa Resources, Wallowa County, $20,000)
Wallowa Resources transformed the old Wallowa County Hospital in Enterprise into the Wallowa Resources Stewardship Center. The Center will evaluate, design, and create a financing plan to build a combined heat-and-power boiler to heat the Center efficiently, fueled by biomass stocks such as briquettes.

A full list of awardees follows:

Awardee

Study Type

Proposed Project County

Proposed
Project Community

Total
Study Cost

% of Total Cost

Amount Awarded

Wallowa Resources

Biomass Combined Heat-and-Power

Wallowa

Enterprise

 $29,250

68%

$20,000

Crane School District #1J and #4

Wind and Solar Thermal

Harney

Crane

 $40,000

78%

$31,000

Hot Lake Properties LLC

Geothermal Power

Union

La Grande

 $38,000

75%

$28,500

Old Mill Solar, LLC

Solar Array

Klamath

Bly

 $35,800

64%

$23,000

Philomath School District #17J

Solar Array

Benton

Philomath

 $30,000

75%

$22,500

City of Sisters

Woody Biomass Heating and Manufacturing

Deschutes

Sisters

 $43,250

72%

$31,000

Oregon Community Wind, LLC

Wind Farm

Lake

Adel

 $72,075

55%

$40,000

Crook County

Solar Array

Crook

Prineville

 $28,044

71%

$20,000

Town of Lakeview

Geothermal Heating District

Lake

Lakeview

 $67,000

60%

$40,000

DH&G Cascades LLC

Solar Array

Crook

Prineville

 $70,000

64%

$45,000

Mariah Wind, LLC

Wind Farm

Morrow

Lexington

 $67,583

74%

$50,000

TOTALS

$521,002

67%

$351,000

The CREFF program is competitive and will be open again to applications this year. Program guidelines and when next to apply are on the ODOE website at http://oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW/CREFF.shtml.

The program was established in 2007 with funds from a legal settlement between the state of Oregon and Reliant Energy. One million dollars of the settlement was set aside to provide financial assistance for feasibility studies for renewable energy projects that benefit Oregon energy consumers and local communities.

In 2009 the CREFF program issued its first round of awards at a total grant level of $171,500. These awards represented a range of renewable energy sectors throughout Oregon, and will result in six feasibility studies examining wind, bioenergy, hydropower and solar projects.  To date, the program has committed over $650,000 to feasibility projects that provide the essential first step for renewable energy development in Oregon.

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