Renewable Energy

COIC is dedicated to working with businesses and public agencies in Central Oregon to develop renewable energy projects.  These projects benefit our community and our local economy by increasing local natural resource business and employment opportunities, reducing costly imports of non-renewable energy supplies to the region, and providing economic development opportunities that support our regional quality of life.

The core services of our renewable energy program are to provide:

• Feasibility and Pre-Feasibility:  assist with the collection of critical data and perform analysis for renewable energy projects in the planning stages to determine whether a project is viable.

• Project Development:  assist in transitioning projects from the feasibility stage to the operational phase – for example, connecting with qualified engineers and technical assistance or assisting with feedstock supply development.

• Project Financing:  help project partners learn about and connect to potential sources of state and federal funding.  COIC will assist project partners in applying for appropriate grants, tax credits, and other incentives.

OPPORTUNITIES

Central Oregon is endowed with diverse and abundant renewable energy resources.  COIC can help assess your needs and determine the types of opportunities available as well as assist with writing grants and applications for different incentives.  Below is a list of potential types of renewable energy opportunities with links to more detailed information:

• Biofuel/Biomass
• Solar
• Wind
• Small Hydropower
• Geothermal

PAST AND CURRENT PROJECTS

Warm Spring Biomass LLC is developing a 16 MW power plant to be co-located with the Warm Springs Forest Products Industries mill.
COIC assisted with:

• Developing off-reservation woody biomass fuel supply

Lookout Mountain Biofuels is a small-scale biodiesel production facility located in Prineville, Oregon.
COIC assisted with:

• Project Financing
• Marketing
• Feedstock Development

Woodgrain Millworks is developing a wood pellet manufacturing facility to convert mill waste into residential grade pellet stove fuel.
COIC assisted with:

• Securing state Business Energy Tax Credits

Crook County School District is exploring the feasibility of converting the Crook County Middle School and Cecil Sly Elementary School to woody biomass-fired heat systems.
COIC assisted with:

• Completing a financial and technical feasibility analysis

COIC HISTORY OF INVOLVEMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

COIC has played a leadership role in renewable energy development in Central Oregon since 2004.  We co-founded and coordinated the Business Alliance for Sustainable Energy (BASE) project, helping to support and expand the existing cluster of renewable energy businesses in the region. 

INCENTIVES

There are a variety of incentives for energy efficiency projects at the Local, State and Federal level.  Please click on the links below for more information. 

Local
Check with your local power company about potential services including: net metering, irrigation pump and sprinkler efficiency programs, and solar hot water.
Central Electric Co-op
Midstate Electric Co-op
Pacific Power & Light

State
Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC)
Oregon Department of Energy Loan Program
Energy Trust of Oregon


Federal
USDA Rural Development 9006 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Grant Programs

Agriculture focused programs
USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program
Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) Program


Biofuel focused programs
Alternate Fuel Refueling Property Tax Credit, U.S. IRS
Commodity Conservation Credit Program: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Small Producer Biodiesel and Ethanol Credit: U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

OTHER RESOURCES

Oregon Department of Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Opportunities for Oregon’s Agricultural Producers

Natural Resource Conservation District, Save ENERGY Save MONEY

 

For more information please contact:
Katrina Van Dis, kvandis@coic.org , (541) 504-3307
Phil Chang, pchang@coic.org, (541) 548-9534