HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnergy Projects GrantDate:
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July 28, 2009
Board of County Commissioners
Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator
State Energy Projects Grant Application Approval
The State of Oregon received $17 million as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA) of 2009 to fund State Energy Program (SEP) energy efficiency and renewable
energy grant projects. SEP funds can only be used for public buildings, including schools,
colleges, universities, state and local government buildings. These funds are separate from the
direct formula grants from which Deschutes County has been allocated $325,700.
Staff is recommending Board of County Commissioner approval to submit three renewable
energy projects for the SEP grant program:
• Solar installation on the Deschutes Services Building — total project cost is estimated at
$700,000.
• Solar installation at the Fair/Expo Center — total project cost for a 270 kilowatt system is
estimated at $1.9 million.
• Knott Landfill methane gas -to -energy project — total project cost estimated at $276,500.
The Oregon Department of Energy (DOE) is administering the State Energy Project grant
program. Smaller dollar amounts representing Less complex projects will be reviewed and
approved first. Oregon DOE will use the following review and selection phases:
Phase I
Schools — small efficiency upgrades under $50,000 in requested funds.
Phase II
Schools and local government buildings under $100,000 in requested funds
Phase III
Schools, state, local government, colleges, and universities under $500,000 in requested funds.
Phase IV
Schools, state and local government, colleges, and universities under $1 million in requested
funds. Maximum single project funding amount under this application is $1 million.
Applications will be evaluated based on their merit including:
1. Energy Savings
2. Project is shovel ready
3. Jobs created/retained
4. Opportunity for long-term energy savings or production
5. Capacity to implement the project
6. Project leverages non-federal funds
7. Benefits to local community
8. Geographic distribution throughout Oregon
9. Unemployment level in the county
10. Overall ARRA requirement to ensure the state realizes 10 MMBtu energy savings per
$1,000 spent statewide