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.

###