Oregon's Small Wind Program
The Energy Trust of Oregon recently introduced a new program to encourage greater development of wind energy. The Small Wind Program provides cash incentives of up to $35,000 for residential customers and $60,000 for commercial customers who install personal wind turbines of up to 50 kilowatts (KW). When combined with the available state tax credit, this program enables Oregonians to offset up to 50 percent of the cost of a turbine. To participate in the Small Wind incentive program, an applicant must be a customer of Portland General Electric or Pacific Power and own at least one acre with no obstructions where annual wind speeds average least 10 miles per hour. Turbine towers must be at least 60 feet high.
We hope this program will make self-generated renewable power financially feasible for more rural Oregonians. It also may help PGE and Pacific Power get closer to acheiving the new Oregon Renewable Portfolio Standard mandates and increase the market for Northwest small wind developers, contractors and manufacturers such as Portland-based Oregon Wind Corp. The program is one more example of how Oregon is on the leading edge of renewable power incentives in the U.S.
Posted by David J. Petersen, partner practicing in the Sustainability and Real Estate & Land Use Practice Groups.
