Biopower

Energy Trust Incentives

Energy Trust offers the following cash incentives for investing in biopower electricity generation systems:

Project Development Assistance. Energy Trust may provide support for expert project development assistance including, but not limited to the following: grant writing assistance, feasibility studies, final design, permitting, utility interconnection, construction management, etc. Energy Trust may pay up to 50% of the cost of hiring a consultant to provide expert assistance for these activities, up to a maximum of $40,000.

Biomass-to-energy installations. Incentive levels are based on a project’s above-market costs. There is no cap or fixed percentage of the amount of above-market costs we will pay. In return for our contribution, we ask for a negotiated share of the project’s green tags, which are held in trust for the ratepayers who contribute to Energy Trust.

Tax Credits, Grants and Loan Guarantees

State and federal tax credits, grants, and loan guarantees can play an important role in making projects financially viable. Some tax credits require pre-authorization. For instance, spending money on a project prior to pre-authorization can jeopardize eligibility for Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credit. Consult your tax professional to learn how tax credits and rules apply to your project. This information does not constitute tax advice and cannot be used to avoid tax penalties. Read more about these opportunities.

All projects must deliver power to either Portland General Electric or Pacific Power.

For more information about eligibility, contact Thad Roth at 503.445.7632.

If your facility is exploring technology to generate electricity from organic waste, follow these steps:

Step 1: Let’s talk. If you have a biomass resource and are interested in using it to generate electricity, contact Thad Roth at 503.445.7632.

Step 2: Get the help you need. Depending on your project’s complexity, you may need to commission a feasibility study or get expert assistance to move through permitting or utility interconnection. Energy Trust may provide up to $40,000 in support for these and other types of project development activities, and we can help you identify engineers or other experts with experience in the area where you need assistance.

1. To apply for this kind of assistance from Energy Trust, applicants must complete and submit an Energy Trust Project Enrollment Application (Form 910E – PDF | Doc), a Request for Funding (Form 930RF – PDF | Doc) and a Substitute W-9 (PDF).
2. If the application is approved, the participant will receive a "Project Enrollment Approval Notice" and a copy of the approved funding request from Energy Trust.
3. If you are chosen to receive assistance from Energy Trust, you and your selected consultant will work together to complete the pre-approved work by its deadline.
4. After the work is completed, the participant submits a Completion Certification (Form 940C – PDF| Doc) along with proof that the work was completed and the consultant was paid in full.

Step 3: Once your project is well along in the development process, the next step is to apply for an incentive from Energy Trust. A complete project application must be received before construction begins. Payment begins upon project completion. In most cases, Energy Trust makes payments over the first few years of a project's operating life, contingent upon its electricity production.

To apply for an incentive:

• Complete and submit an Initial Application (PDF | Doc). This form helps us understand where you are in the project development process. You may email the form to us, but we require a signed paper copy before we begin formally to process it.
• Submit your completed Initial Application as early as possible in the calendar year (ideally, prior to August). After our funding has been committed for the current fiscal year, we may defer funding new projects until the following year.
• If your project meets threshold conditions, appears promising and is reasonably realistic, we may invite you to submit a Full Application and a Financial Template (see Forms tab). These two forms give us additional detailed technical and financial information on your proposed project and business plan. We will work to process your application in a timely manner. However, applicants should understand that the full review and approval process can take up to six months.
• Review our application tips for advice and information on completing these forms.

Use the following project enrollment forms to apply for Energy Trust biopower incentives.

Project Development Assistance Forms

• Form 910E (PDF | Doc): Project Enrollment Application
• Form 930RF (PDF | Doc): Request for Funding
• Form 940C (PDF | Doc): Completion Certification
• Substitute W9 (PDF)

Forms for Biomass Installation Projects

• Form 920A (PDF | Doc): Initial Application
• Form 920B (PDF| Doc): Full Application—Waste to Energy Proposals
• Form 920C (PDF| Doc): Initial Application—Wood Combustion
• Form 920L (PDF | Doc): Initial Application—Landfill Gas
• Form 920W (PDF| Doc): Full Application—Wastewater Systems
• Financial Template (Excel)
• Application Tips

Below are some studies that may be of interest to biopower project developers:

• Energy Independence Project (for Oregon domestic wastewater treatment plants)
• Evaluation of the Energy Trust of Oregon Biopower Project Solicitation