Sustainability Law Blog

Governor Ted Kulongoski vetoed two bills passed by the 2009 Oregon Legislature that related to renewable energy. HB 2472b would have rolled back the Business Energy Tax Credit for large renewable energy projects by reducing the maximum available credit from 50% of eligible costs not to exceed $20 million, to 35% of eligible costs not to exceed $10 million. HB 2940b would have expanded the list of resources eligible for credit against the state's renewable portfolio standard by allowing utilities to count biomass facilities built before 1995.

In vetoing the legislation, the Governor expressed his belief that the changes went too far and put Oregon at a competitive disadvantage in the growing renewable energy sector, one of the few sectors performing well in difficult economic times. Renewable energy advocates celebrated the Governor's veto.

Post authored by David Petersen, partner practicing in the Sustainability and Real Estate and Land Use Groups.

The U.S. Departments of Energy and the Treasury are accepting applications for a program that will make direct payments in lieu of tax credits to companies that create and place in service renewable energy facilities, under Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The agencies estimate they will pay out at least $3 billion to approximately 5,000 bio-mass, solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy production facilities. Applications should be made as soon as possible as the grants will be awarded only until the program funding is exhausted. The government estimates that $3 billion in grants will leverage between $10-14 billion in additional private capital investment. Interested applicants should contact their legal and financial advisors promptly for further information.

Post authored by David Petersen, partner practicing in the Sustainability and Real Estate and Land Use Groups.

The U.S. Department of Energy has funded a pilot program by eTec Corporation and Nissan North America to deploy up to 5,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in five U.S markets in 2010, including Portland and Seattle. Program participants will have the opportunity to buy new Nissan EV's at about the cost of an average family sedan, which are expected to be able to travel about 100 miles on a single charge. The federal money is part of a $2.4 billion program to fund battery research and manufacturing, EV development and installation of EV infrastructure.

Portland General Electric (PGE) has already installed 20 EV charging stations in the Portland Metro area and Salem. The program will work with PGE and three Seattle utilities to install an additional 2,550 charging stations in Portland and Seattle, and will install personal charging stations at no cost in the homes of program participants. ZipCar, a popular car sharing service, will also participate in the EV program in Seattle.

I already use ZipCar and love it. I think I'll look into participating in the pilot program.

Post authored by David Petersen, partner practicing in the Sustainability and Real Estate and Land Use Groups.