Oregon Bulletin
Rule
Caption: Amendments to Business Energy Tax
Credit rules to align with House Bill 3606 (2011).
Adm.
Order No.: DOE 6-2011
Filed with Sec. of
State: 9-29-2011
Certified to be
Effective: 9-29-11
Notice Publication
Date: 9-1-2011
Rules Amended: 330-090-0110, 330-090-0130, 330-090-0133, 330-090-0140
Rules Repealed: 330-090-0110(T), 330-090-0130(T), 330-090-0133(T),
330-090-0140(T)
Subject: These rules amendments reverse the existing temporary
rules amendments made April 18, 2011 and implement changes made by House Bill
3606 (2011) to the Business Energy Tax Credit program. These amendments
implement statutory changes that specify that federal grants received in
connection with a facility reduce the final cost of a facility, and confirm
applicability of these changes. The rules provide new definitions of “certified
cost” and “federal grant”.
Rules Coordinator: Kathy Stuttaford—(503) 373-2127
330-090-0110
Definitions
For the purposes of Oregon Administrative Rules,
Chapter 330, Division 90, the following definitions apply unless the context
requires otherwise:
(1) “Alternative Fuel”: A motor vehicle fuel, other
than petroleum gasoline or diesel, certified by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency for roadway use that results in equivalent or lower exhaust
emissions or higher energy efficiency when used. Alternative fuels include
electricity, biofuels, hydrogen, hythane, methane, methanol, natural gas,
liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (propane), renewable diesel and
other fuels the Director allows. Blends of these alternative fuels with
conventional fuels will only be considered an alternative fuel under these
rules when the concentration of the alternative fuel is 20 percent of the
entire volume of the blended fuel or greater. Hydrated fuels must have a water
content of 10 percent of the entire volume of the blended fuel or greater to be
considered eligible as an alternative fuel under these rules.
(2) “Alternative Fuel Fueling Station”: A renewable
energy resource facility necessary to refuel alternative fuel vehicle fleets.
This will include the facilities for mixing, storing, compressing, charging,
and dispensing alternative fuels, and any other necessary and reasonable
equipment. It can be a facility for either public or private use.
(3) “Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV)” is a vehicle
designed to operate on an alternative fuel and includes vehicles direct from
the factory or vehicles modified to allow the use of alternative fuels. AFV
does not include vehicles owned or leased by the State of Oregon acquired to
comply with federal requirements for fleet acquisition of alternative fueled
vehicles or vehicles leased by an investor-owned utility (IOU) to others. For
purposes of qualifying for a BETC, gasoline-hybrid AFVs purchased on or after
January 1, 2010 must also be designed for electrical plug-in.
(4) “Applicant”: An applicant means:
(a) A person who applies for a preliminary
certification of a BETC under this section includes:
(A) Individuals, corporations, associations, firms,
partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies.
(B) Any cooperative, non-profit corporation, or
federal, state or local governments including school districts, water
districts, or any other special districts. These entities are qualified
applicants when they have a qualified pass-through partner, or commit to select
such a partner prior to final certification. These entities must follow all
procurement processes, including competitive bid, where applicable.
(C) A contractor installing an alternative fueled
vehicle fueling station in a dwelling.
(b) A person who applies for a final certification of a
BETC under this section must be the facility owner listed on the preliminary
certification.
(c) The tax credit certificate will be issued to a
facility owner or a qualified pass-through partner, but the tax credit may only
be claimed pursuant to ORS 315.354.
(d) An applicant for preliminary certification or final
certification or a tax credit recipient may not include any business or
non-profit corporation or cooperative that restricts membership, sales or
service on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual
preference or gender.
(5) “Biofuels”: A motor vehicle or thermal combustion
fuel other than petroleum gasoline or diesel which includes ethanol or is an
ethanol blend at concentrations of 11 percent of the entire volume of the
blended fuel or greater or biodiesel or is a biodiesel blend at concentrations
of 20 percent of the entire volume of the blended fuel or greater, including:
(a) Biodiesel which is a fuel comprised of mono-alkyl
esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats,
designated B100, and meeting the requirements of American Standards and Testing
Measurement (ASTM) D 6751 in effect on December 1, 2007 and is registered with
the US EPA as a fuel and a fuel additive under Section 211(b) of the Clean Air
Act,
(b) Biodiesel Blends is biodiesel fuel meeting the
requirements of ASTM D 6751 in effect on December 1, 2007, blended with
petroleum-based diesel fuel, designated BXX, where XX represents the volume
percentage of biodiesel fuel in the blend,
(c) Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) is an alcohol fuel also known as ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol,
and EtOH made from starch crops or from cellulosic biomass materials, such as
grass, wood, crop residues, or used cellulose materials where component sugars
are fermented into ethanol meeting the requirements of ASTM designation D
4806-01a; “Standard Specification for Denatured Fuel Ethanol for Blending with
Gasolines for Use as Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel” in effect on
December 1, 2007,
(d) Ethanol Blends which is ethanol fuel meeting the
requirements of ASTM D 4806, “Standard Specification for Denatured Fuel Ethanol
for Blending with Gasolines for Use as Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel”
in effect on December 1, 2007, blended with petroleum-based gasoline fuel,
designated EXX, where XX represents the volume percentage of ethanol fuel in
the blend, and
(e) “E85,” a motor vehicle fuel that is a blend of
agriculturally derived denatured ethanol and gasoline or natural gasoline that
typically contains 85 percent ethanol by volume, but at a minimum must contain
75 percent ethanol by volume. For the purposes of this chapter, the energy
content of E85 is considered to be eighty-two thousand BTUs per gallon. E85
produced for use as a motor fuel shall comply with ASTM specification D 5798-99
in effect on December 1, 2007.
(6) “Biomass”: An organic matter such as agricultural
crops and residue, wood and wood waste, animal waste, aquatic plants and
organic components of municipal and industrial wastes comprised of
uncontaminated carbohydrates and other cellulosic material, and organic by
products from wood pulping and other biologically derived materials including
organic fibers that are available on a renewable or naturally recurring basis.
This definition excludes cordwood or wood used for burning in fireplaces.
(7) “Building Automation Controls Facility”: Energy
facilities that control energy consuming equipment in a building are eligible
when energy saving features exceed standard practice and applicable building
code requirements. Eligible cost does not include costs associated with
operations, maintenance, or repair as defined in these rules. Facilities are
eligible when energy saving features meet the following requirements and
applicable code:
(a) For existing systems within their service life, the
following standards apply:
(A) The baseline will be based on the existing system’s
capabilities in fully functional and operating condition.
(B) Eligible costs will be based on the incremental
cost and energy savings of the proposed system as compared to a fully
functioning baseline system (savings and costs associated with maintenance and
repair activities are not eligible).
(b) For systems beyond service life or new buildings,
the following standards apply:
(A) Eligible costs and energy savings will be based on
the incremental cost and energy savings between the proposed system and the
baseline system.
(B) Only the components of the project that achieve
energy savings will be considered eligible. If the component does not achieve
energy savings it will not be considered an eligible cost.
(C) The baseline system must incorporate similar
technologies to the proposed system. The minimum standard or baseline system
will have the following features, plus any additional features required by
code: a start/stop program, night setback program, enthalpy control program
(economizer), lighting control program (sweep > 5,000 sq.ft.) and a variable
flow (10 hp and above).
(8) “Building Code”: Applicable state and local codes
as defined in ORS 455.010 that are in effect the date the Department receives
the application for preliminary certification.
(9) “Building Envelope”: That element of a building
which encloses conditioned spaces through which thermal energy may be transmitted
to or from the exterior or to or from unconditioned spaces.
(10) “Car Sharing Facility”: A facility in which
drivers pay to become members in order to have joint access to a fleet of cars
from a common parking area on an hourly basis. It does not include operations
conducted by a car rental agency.
(11) “Certified cost”: The cost certified in the final
certification issued pursuant to ORS 469.215.
(12) “Combined Heat and Power (Cogeneration)”: Means a
facility designed to generate electrical power and thermal energy from a single
fuel source with a fuel-chargeable-to-heat rate calculation demonstrating a
heat rate of 6,120 Btu/kWh or less (10 percent better than the 6,800 Btu/kWh
current standard generation). This facility may be eligible for a 35 percent
BETC. Facilities that do not meet this heat rate requirement may still qualify
in part for a credit relating to the heat recovery portion of the project. The
equation for the fuel chargeable to power heat rate calculation is FCP = (FI -
FD)/ P, where:
(a) FCP = Fuel chargeable to power heat rate.
(b) FI = Annual fuel input applicable to the
co-generation process in Btu (higher heating value).
(c) FD = Annual fuel displaced in any industrial or
commercial process, heating, or cooling application by supplying useful thermal
energy from a co-generation facility.
(d) P = Annual net electric output of the co-generation
facility in kilowatt-hours.
(13) “Commercial New Construction Facility”: An energy
facility which includes a new structure or one of the following:
(a) An addition to an existing structure, which
provides additional square footage;
(b) An alteration to an existing structure, which
changes the functional use of the entire structure;
(c) An alteration to an existing structure occurring
within six months of a change in the facility’s ownership; or
(d) A major renovation to 50 percent or more of the
square footage of an existing structure in which three or more building systems
are changed. Systems include but are not limited to: envelope, space conditioning,
lighting, water heating and process.
(14) “Commercial Process”: An energy facility that is
an energy-using system (e.g., lighting, HVAC, or water heating). Such a system
can be studied and judged on its own.
(15) “Commuter Parking Space” means a facility that is
a parking space that is:
(a) Located in an area where parking spaces are
regularly available for lease by the day or month to the public.
(b) Leased by the employer for an employee’s use:
(A) Separate from the lease for the business premises.
(B) As an integral part of the lease for the business
premises if the employer has the right to sublease the parking space to a
commuter.
(c) Owned by the employer.
(d) Not located in a lot used primarily for business
customers.
(e) Not provided to an employee for parking a vehicle
the employee regularly uses to perform the employee’s job duties.
(16) “Completed Application”: Contains all of the
information required in these rules and payments under OAR 330-090-0150. All
questions on the application must be answered. Except for a facility using or
producing renewable energy resources with a certified cost that exceeds $10
million, a completed application for final certification must also include a
completed, signed pass-through partner(s) agreement form, where the facility
owner chooses to transfer the tax credit. Except as provided in Oregon Laws,
2011, Chapter 693, Section 3(2)(c) and OAR 330-090-0133, no application for a
final certification in which the facility owner has indicated a choice to transfer
the tax credit under ORS 469.206 is considered complete until the Department
receives both the completed final certification application form from the
facility owner and the completed pass-through partner agreement form for
the tax credit, or portion of the tax credit, being transferred to the
pass-through partner.
(17) “Completed Facility”: A facility for which all
costs have been paid or committed by a binding contract or agreement and that
is installed and operating or, in the case of a Research, Development and
Demonstration facility, which the Director determines the applicant has made
all reasonable efforts to operate, including making changes required by the
Department.
(18) “Component Parts of Electric Vehicles”: means
component parts for use solely in Electric Vehicles and not in conventional
vehicles. Component parts shall be distinguished by their absence from
conventional vehicles and shall not include components that can be used
interchangeably in both electric and conventional vehicles. For the purpose of
this definition, “conventional vehicle” is a production vehicle that is powered
with an internal combustion engine, excluding hybrids.
(19) “Cooperative Agreement Organization”: The
Department may enter into cooperative agreements with qualified public purpose,
governmental, or other organizations to assist in the development and
qualification of BETC applications, with the scope of the agreement defined by
the Department based on the qualifications of the organization and subject to
conditions specified in the agreement.
(20) “Cost”: The actual capital costs and expenses
needed to acquire, erect, design, build, modify, or install a facility that is
eligible to receive a BETC. Costs that are incurred to bring a facility up to
building code standards or otherwise repair the building in order to install
the facility are considered necessary features, and may not be eligible. Costs
financed with federal funds, subject to specific restrictions, terms and
conditions may be eligible expenses, including but not limited to costs
incurred by federal agencies directly for capital, operating, or other
expenses.
(a) Cost can include payments for:
(A) Fees to finance, design or engineer the facility,
including but not limited to debt fees and equity fees;
(B) Title searches, escrow fees, government fees,
excluding fees required by OAR 330-090-0150, and shipping;
(C) All materials and supplies needed for the erection,
construction, installation or acquisition of the proposed facility; and
(D) Work performed by employees or independent
contractors of the applicant based on the following conditions:
(i) Employees or contractors must be certified,
accredited, licensed, or otherwise qualified to do the work;
(ii) The work must be associated with the erection,
construction, installation or acquisition of the proposed facility or in the
case of a research development and demonstration facility, the work shall be
directly related to the research, development, demonstration, facility design,
monitoring, assessment, evaluation and reporting related to the product or
technology;
(iii) Project management and other similar costs may
only account for up to 15 percent of the total eligible costs; and
(iv) Costs for employee’s or contractor’s work on the
energy facility must be detailed and documented as to specific tasks, hours
worked, and compensation costs. Donated, in-kind or volunteer labor is not
eligible.
(E) Costs for legal counsel that is directly related to
the development of a qualifying facility (non-litigation related) or directly
linked to the research, development or demonstration facility (excluding
patents, copyrights, etc.); and
(F) Facilities or equipment required for vehicles to
provide transportation services to serve riders (such as a wheelchair lift
system) under the American with Disabilities Act.
(b) Cost may not include:
(A) Interest and warranty charges;
(B) Litigation or other operational-related legal fees
and court costs;
(C) Patent searches, application and filing payments;
(D) Costs to maintain, operate, or repair a facility;
(E) Administrative costs to apply for grants, loans,
tax credits or other similar funding for a facility including, but not limited
to, the BETC review charge, costs associated with the creation and development
of the CPA verification letter and costs associated with securing a
pass-through partner for the facility;
(F) Routine operational or maintenance costs associated
with the facility, other than a transportation services facility, including
services, supplies and labor;
(G) Expenses related to training, education or other
related expenses;
(H) Expenses that are directly or indirectly offset
with federal fee waivers; or
(I) Other costs the Director excludes.
(c) If a facility is built under a lease, lease-option
or lease-purchase contract, the lessee’s cost to acquire the facility is the
value paid for the facility. If that amount is not known, the cost is the sum
of:
(A) Tax credits passed through by the lessor to the
lessee;
(B) The amount paid when the facility is transferred;
and
(C) The lease payments not including taxes, insurance,
interest, and operating costs.
(D) Payments to be made in the future must be
discounted to present value.
(d) If a facility serves more than one purpose, cost
includes only items needed to save energy and/or use renewable energy
resources. This includes new or replacement equipment that costs more because
of its energy saving features. The Department may do inspections to verify
eligible costs.
(e) Incremental cost is the cost above a reasonable
minimum expected to construct a similar facility without energy efficient
features. Cost may be limited to incremental cost for conservation applications
for new facilities or for the replacement of facilities beyond their service
life, including when a code, standard or other base system is required.
(A) In commercial new construction, it is the
difference between building to code, or standard practice if this exceeds code,
and building to meet or exceed the standards for substantial energy savings.
(B) In other facilities, it is the difference between
prevailing practices for that business or industry and a more energy efficient
method.
(f) Eligible facility costs are limited by the
following:
(A) Facilities must have a more than one to 15-year
simple payback period unless otherwise specified in these rules. If the simple
payback period exceeds those limits, eligible costs will be prorated down to
the highest amount that would result in a qualifying payback; and
(B) Facilities must have a simple payback of more than
one year and less than the service life of the facility.
(C) Rental dwelling weatherization facilities are
limited to a 30-year simple payback.
(D) Solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities are limited by
the maximum eligible facility cost ratio (MEC), expressed in terms of $/watt.
PV facility eligible cost shall be calculated by multiplying the appropriate
rate provided below by the facility size. Once a facility has received
preliminary certification the calculated cost shall be effective for 36 months
for facilities to be owned by the public and 12 months for all other
facilities, from the date of certification. If the Department has not received
a complete application for final certification within this time, the cost shall
be recalculated based on the rate in effect at that time the final application
is submitted. The minimum module performance certified by the manufacturer
shall be used to calculate eligible cost. The MEC for a facility rated to
produce:
(i) Up to and including 30 kW is $7.50/watt.
(ii) More than 30 kW, but less than 200 kW, is -0.01 X
(system size in kW) + 7.8.
(iii) 200 kW or more is $5.80/watt.
(E) Costs for a facility, or portion thereof, that has
previously received a BETC.
(F) Costs to replace the same baseline facility more
than once.
(i) The Department may require the baseline facility to
be specifically identified and/or permanently decommissioned.
(G) For solar thermal (ST) systems,
(i) The maximum eligible cost (MEC), not including pool
heating facilities, shall be calculated using the following formula: MEC = SOC
x Number of modules x Solar Thermal Rate. Standard Oregon Conditions (SOC) is
based on the OG-100 collector performance data published by the Solar Rating
and Certification Corporation (SRCC) on the date the preliminary application is
issued. SOC is calculated using a weighted average of the values in the “Mildly
Cloudy” (1500Btu/ft2-day) test data using the following equation:
SOC=0.1(Category A)+0.2(Category
B)+ 0.3(Category C)+0.4(Category D).
(ii) The system size is defined as the SOC multiplied
by the number of collectors in the system. The following thermal rates are
divided into three tiers based on the system size:
(I) For a system size of less than 100KBtu/day, the
rate is $220/KBtu/day
(II) For a system size that is 100 KBtu/day or greater,
but less than 250 KBtu/day, the rate is $210/KBtu/day
(III) For a system size greater than 250 KBtu/day, the
rate is $200/KBtu/day.
(H) Sustainable building practices facilities,
recycling market development, high performance homes, homebuilder installed
renewable energy facilities and transportation facilities, excluding efficient
truck technology, are exempt from simple payback requirements.
(I) For renewable energy facility installations, the
following are ineligible costs: roofing, re-roofing and engineering for roofing
on renewable facilities.
(g) Costs for space conditioning or individual metering
of a facility(s) are limited to incremental costs, except when existing
equipment is within its Service Life when costs will be limited to the total
eligible facility costs. Incremental costs are limited to 40 percent of the
cost to install a replacement space or hot water heating system in rental
dwellings, except as defined in (i) below.
(h) Eligible costs for transportation facilities
include, but are not limited to, telework, commuter pool vehicles, bicycles,
Transportation Management Association fees, incentive programs, transit passes,
car sharing, vanpool, individualized behavior change program, Research,
Development and Demonstration (RD&D), purchasing or otherwise obtaining
alternative fuel vehicles that are designed to transport five or more
passengers, transportation services and transportation services for K-12
students. Except for RD&D facilities, bicycle purchases, and commuter pool
vehicles with special equipment, the maximum eligible cost for transportation
facilities is the result of the cost-per-vehicle mile calculated by a formula
adopted by the Oregon Department of Energy multiplied by the estimated vehicle
miles reduced (VMR) by the facility.
(i) Costs for premium efficient appliances as defined
in this rule are limited to incremental costs. The Department may determine the
incremental cost as a portion of the facility cost based on similar facilities
up to forty percent of the purchase cost.
(j) In implementing the utility pass-through in OAR
330-090-0140(2), utilities may set a minimum eligible cost to participate. The
following requirements apply:
(A) The utility must submit exact specifications of the
limit to and receive approval by the Department prior to implementation of the
limit.
(B) The utility must provide notification to the
customer that there is no minimum when applying directly to the Department,
however, payments required by OAR 330-090-0150(3) do apply.
(k) Sustainable building practices facilities are
exempt from the previous requirements of this definition, as the eligible cost
for these facilities is calculated using data established in Table 1.
[Table not included. See ED. NOTE]
(L) The sum of any rebates or cash payments under ORS
469.631 to 469.645, 469.649 to 469.659, 469.673 to 469.683, or 757.612(5)(a),
or from a public purpose organization or federal grants or credits and the BETC
may not exceed total costs.
(21) “Cost-per-Vehicle Mile”: The total cost of one
vehicle mile driven by a single occupant. The components of calculating the
total cost include, but are not limited to, vehicle operation cost, fuel cost,
travel time, congestion and pollution. The calculation formula for the total
costs is available on the Department’s website.
(22) “Director”: The Director of the Oregon Department
of Energy or designees.
(23) “Energy Department”: The Department of Energy.
(24) “Energy Facility”: is defined in ORS 469.185 (5).
(25) “Facility”: is defined in ORS 469.185 (6) and also
includes a Research, Development & Demonstration (RD&D) facility that
complies with these rules. A facility must be located within the geographical
confines of Oregon. The dollar value of the first year energy savings must be
less than the cost of such facility, except as allowed for a Research Development
& Demonstration facility, transportation or recycling market development.
(a) An energy conservation measure (ECM), is a facility
if it results in substantial savings in the amount of purchased energy used at
a site by a business or other eligible entity. Energy conservation measures
include equipment installed for the purpose of reducing energy use.
(b) Costs for a facility needed to obtain substantial
energy savings for a new commercial, institutional, or industrial building.
Savings will be compared to energy used by a building, unit, or industrial
process that does not have the proposed conservation. But, such buildings must
comply with the Building Code and have the same use, size, space heat fuel, and
orientation as the applicant’s building, unit, or industrial process.
(c) A space conditioning system(s) is a facility if it
provides substantial energy savings and complies with the following BETC
program requirements:
(A) A report demonstrating any mercury-switch
thermostats that is replaced or have been recycled and, if so, how.
(B) Space conditioning systems installed in an existing
dwelling unit must not involve changing the fuel source. An incremental
upgrade, as defined in these rules, of a fuel switching facility will be
allowed if the upgrade complies with these rules.
(d) For buildings to be owned, leased, or otherwise
operated and maintained by the state, including the State System of Higher
Education, to qualify for the credit it must comply with the requirements of
the State Energy-Efficient Design Program (SEED) as defined in OAR Chapter 330,
Division 130 and associated guidelines, in addition to meeting requirements of
these rules.
(e) For a solar photovoltaic facility to be eligible to
receive a BETC, all qualifying installations must meet the following minimum
facility specifications:
(A) Facility must be permitted and in compliance with
all applicable building and electrical codes.
(B) All facility equipment must be rated for the
temperature and exposure conditions in which it will operate.
(C) All facility components must be new (modules,
inverter, batteries, mounting hardware).
(D) Array mounting must not reduce the expected life or
durability of the structure on which it is located.
(E) The facility must include all building code
required signage and a customer manual.
(F) A customer manual must contain the following
information:
(i) Facility documentation, including:
(I) As-built drawings that accurately describe the
components installed and the wiring design, including wire sizes, and estimated
length of wire runs.
(II) Facility site plan that indicates array and
inverter location.
(III) Sunchart used to determine facility total solar
resource fraction.
(IV) Operation and maintenance requirements including
the name and phone number of person(s) or company to call in the case of a
facility failure.
(ii) Warranties and installation documentation
(I) Minimum two-year contractor warranty for materials
and workmanship
(II) Manufacturer’s warranty for PV modules and
inverter
(III) Permit documentation
(iii) Manuals and data sheets
(I) Bill of material listing all primary facility
components including part numbers
(II) Inverter owner’s manual
(III) Manufacturer data sheets for major components,
including but not limited to: inverters, modules, racking/mounting facility,
charge controller and batteries.
(G) All facilities must include one or more meters that
are capable of recording the facility’s total energy production. Meters must be
equivalent to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) certified revenue
meters with a 0.5 or better accuracy class and, if digital, it must have
non-volatile data memory.
(H) Array must be sized to operate within the current,
voltage and power limits approved and warranted by the inverter manufacturer.
The temperature-adjusted voltage must remain within the inverter limits at the
historical record low temperature for the location in which it is installed.
(I) Wires must be sized to keep the total voltage drop
below 2 percent on the DC conductors from the array to the inverter including
the existing wire whips on the PV modules, and/or 2 percent on the AC
conductors from the inverter to the point of interconnection (total not to
exceed 4 percent).
(J) The installing contractor must provide a minimum
24-month full warranty on parts and labor to the facility owner.
(K) The solar array must be used exclusively for
business purposes. The applicant must supply a recent utility billing statement
and a power purchase or net metering agreement, with a local utility in the
name of the business. If the system is being placed on a rental dwelling, a
signed rental agreement must be provided and the property must remain a rental
property for at least five years. Arrays erected at a location that includes a
residence that is not a rental dwelling, must be separately metered from the
residence to qualify for a BETC.
(L) Facilities participating in the pilot Feed-In
Tariff program under ORS 757.365 are not eligible to receive a BETC.
(f) For a solar thermal facility to be eligible to
receive a BETC, all qualifying installations must meet the following minimum
facility specifications:
(A) The facility must be permitted and in compliance
with all applicable building, electrical, and plumbing codes.
(B) All equipment must be rated for the temperature and
exposure conditions in which it will operate.
(C) All primary facility components must be new
(collectors, tanks, controls, pumps).
(D) Array mounting must not reduce the expected life or
durability of the structure on which it is located.
(E) The facility must include a customer manual
containing the following information:
(i) Facility documentation, including:
(I) As-built drawings that accurately describe the
components installed, including a valve chart.
(II) Facility site plan that indicates the location of
collectors and storage tank.
(III) Sunchart used to determine facility total solar
resource fraction.
(IV) Operation and maintenance requirements including
the name and phone number of person(s) or company to call in the case of a
facility failure.
(V) Permit documentation.
(ii) Warranties and installation documentation,
including:
(I) A minimum two-year contractor warranty for
materials and workmanship
(II) Manufacturer’s warranty for collector, tanks,
pumps and heat exchanger (if present) and any other components under warranty
by the manufacturer.
(III) Permit documentation.
(iii) Manuals and data sheets, including:
(I) Bill of material listing all primary facility
components, including part numbers
(II) Facility controller owner’s manual
(III) Manufacturer data sheets for major components,
including, but not limited to: collectors, tank, controllers, pumps, Btu meter,
expansion tank, etc.
(F) Facility is sized appropriately for the load. The
solar savings faction is not to exceed 0.70 for domestic water heating systems
without a means of rejecting heat once the load is met.
(G) Thermal storage is adequate to accommodate daily
use pattern. For typical domestic load profiles, this is defined as a minimum
of 1.25 gallons per square foot of collector area. For facilities with loads
that are coincident with solar generate this storage amount may be reduced if
documentation is provided.
(H) All solar storage tanks must be insulated with not
less than R15 insulation.
(I) The following standards are for pipe insulation:
(i) Collector loop insulation must be rated for
conditions in which it operates. Pipe insulation shall have a maximum K value
of 0.25 Btu in/hr. sq. ft. F° and a minimum thickness of 0.75 inches.
(ii) Potable water pipe located outdoors must be
insulated to a minimum R-value of 12. Pipe insulation must be protected with a
U-V rated tape or pipe jacket. U-V paint is not sufficiently durable.
(J) Anti-convective pipe loop or trap is required on the
inlet and outlet of the storage tank. These loops or traps shall have a minimum
8-inch vertical drop to constitute an effective convective heat barrier. Heat
trap nipples alone are not reliable in stopping heat migration, and will not
meet this requirement.
(K) Install thermometers on collector supply and return
pipes. One movable thermometer for two wells is sufficient.
(L) Install a BTU meter capable of measuring total
delivered energy on all facilities with standard Oregon conditions rating
greater than 250 KBtu/day. A Btu meter must have a designated flow meter and
temperature sensors and be located on the load side of the system.
(M) Install a properly sized thermostatic mixing valve
on the output of the domestic hot water system to ensure that delivered
temperature does not exceed 140°F.
(N) Solar thermal facilities must be installed in
compliance with the Oregon Mechanical Specialty Code (Chapter 14 OMSC), the
Oregon Residential Specialty Code (Chapter 23), the Oregon Plumbing Specialty
Code and all other local regulations with jurisdiction.
(O) Facilities must be designed and installed for
complete automatic operation including protection from freeze damage and
overheating of collectors.
(P) Pressurized storage tanks must not be allowed to be
heated above 180°F.
(g) A facility does not include:
(A) A residential structure or dwelling that is being
used for a residence, except for residential structures that are used
exclusively as a rental dwelling or that qualify as a licensed homebuilder
installed renewable energy facility or high performance home facility.
(B) A renewable energy system or device, other than a
homebuilder installed renewable energy facility or high performance home
facility, that is placed on or at a residence, except for those used
exclusively as a rental dwelling, for the purpose of supplying energy to the
residence.
(C) Swimming pools and hot tubs used to store heat.
(D) Wood stoves.
(E) Space conditioning systems and back-up heating
systems, including systems that do not meet code or minimum standards listed in
the BETC rules.
(F) Devices and substances whose use is common in the
applicant’s business, except hog fuel boilers that replace fossil fuel boilers.
(G) Pollution control facilities and alternate energy
devices for which a tax credit or ad valorem tax relief is granted under ORS
307.405, 316.097 or 316.116.
(H) Devices or materials which are standard practice.
(I) Recycling automotive air conditioning
chlorofluorocarbons (CFC).
(J) Conservation in rental dwellings, for applicants
listed in ORS 469.205(1)(c)(A) and (B), which were issued an occupancy permit
on or after January 1, 1996.
(K) Other items the Director finds are not allowed
under ORS 469.185 to 469.225.
(26) “Facility Eligible Square Footage”: For the
purpose of calculating the tax credit amount for a Sustainable Building
Practices Facility, facility eligible square footage includes all
temperature-conditioned floor areas, and one level of parking structures or
parking structure elements of the facility. It does not include exterior square
footage beneath overhangs, awnings, canopies; walkways or unconditioned plaza
areas beneath conditioned portions of the building.
(27) “Facility Operator”: The person or people to whom
the applicant gives authority to manage a facility. Such person or people will
be the applicant’s agent for all reasons related to the facility once its
development begins.
(28) “Facility Owner”: An applicant who purchases and
owns a qualified facility.
(29) “Facility Start” prior to erection, construction,
installation or acquisition: The earliest date on or after the date of the
application that meets one of the following criteria:
(a) A non-refundable deposit will be placed on the
facility equipment;
(b) A purchase order will be placed for the equipment;
(c) A contract for the design of the facility will be
executed;
(d) A document that obligates the applicant to proceed
with a facility will be executed; or
(e) Any other type of financial commitment towards the
erection, construction, installation or acquisition of the facility. or
(f) For a Sustainable Building Practices Facility, the
eligible cost date is within 30 days of receiving the LEED registration number,
before 50 percent of Design Document for the facility are complete, or prior to
receiving building permits for the facility. or
(g) For a renewable energy facility, the applicant
shall not be considered to have started erection, construction, installation or
acquisition of a proposed facility until excavation or actual physical
construction of the renewable energy facility has begun. Eligible costs include
all costs as defined in these rules, including costs incurred prior to the
receipt by the department of the preliminary certification application related
to site and facility development and approval. Applicants who start a facility
prior to issuance of preliminary certification shall not be eligible to
reapply.
(30) “Federal Grant”: Any grant received from the
federal government in connection with a facility, includes grants authorized
under §1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
(31) “Final Certification”: Final certificate issued
after completion of an approved BETC facility.
(32) “Geothermal Energy”: Natural heat in any form
below the earth’s surface. It also means minerals in solution, or other
products of naturally heated substances below the earth’s surface. It includes:
(a) Products of geothermal processes, such as steam,
hot water, and hot brines; or
(b) Steam and gases, hot water and brine caused by
injecting substances into the earth; or
(c) Heat or other related energy in the earth; or
(d) By-products of (a) through (c).
(33) “Ground Source Heat Pump”: means a heating,
ventilating and air-conditioning system, also known as a ground water heat
pump, earth-coupled heat pump, geothermal heat pump or ground loop alternative
energy device that utilizes a subsurface closed loop heat exchanger to extract
or reject heat to the earth. A ground source heat pump is eligible for a 35 percent
BETC.
(34) “High Efficiency Combined Heat and Power”
(Cogeneration): means a renewable energy resource facility designed to generate
electrical power and thermal energy from a single fuel source with a
fuel-chargeable-to-heat rate yielding annual average energy savings of 20
percent is eligible for a 50 percent BETC. The fuel chargeable-to-heat rate
calculations shall demonstrate a heat rate of 5,440 Btu/kWh or less (20 percent
better than the 6,800 Btu/kWh current standard generation). Facilities that do
not meet this requirement may still qualify for a 35 percent tax credit (see
Combined Heat and Power) or in part for a tax credit relating to the heat
recovery portion of the project. The equation for the fuel chargeable to power
heat rate calculation is FCP = (FI - FD)/ P, where:
(a) FCP = Fuel chargeable to power heat rate.
(b) FI = Annual fuel input applicable to the
co-generation process in Btu (higher heating value).
(c) FD = Annual fuel displaced in any industrial or
commercial process, heating, or cooling application by supplying useful thermal
energy from a co-generation facility
(d) P = Annual net electric output of the co-generation
facility in kilowatt-hours.
(35) “High Performance Home”: Meets the criteria in ORS
469.185(8) and 469.197 and is a home that is a dwelling unit constructed by a
licensed builder under the Oregon Residential Specialty Code with its own space
conditioning and water heating facilities and intended for sale to an end-use
homebuyer. The facility must meet the following requirements:
(a) Shall be certified through the ENERGY STAR® Homes
Northwest program.
(b) Designed and constructed to reduce net purchased
energy through use of both energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy
resources;
(c) Meet the criteria established for a
high-performance home under ORS 469.197
(d) The building shell shall be constructed to at least
the minimum values specified in the following prescriptive path:
(A) Ceilings: U≤0.030
(B) Walls: above grade U≤0.050
(C) Walls: below grade U≤0.060
(D) Floors: above grade U≤0.025
(E) Floors: on grade, [slab edge] perimeter R-15 min. 2
feet vertical or combined vertical/horizontal – heated slab also requires
R-10 foam board under slab.
(F) Windows and glass doors: U≤0.32 (weighted average).
Exception: solar glazing that is part of a passive solar design may have a
higher U-factor. Glass doors are doors that contain 50 percent or more glazing.
(G) Glazing area: glazing to floor area ratio ≤ 16
percent (including windows, skylights, and glass doors considered as glazing in
the code) for homes larger than 1,500 square feet of conditioned space floor
area and < 18 percent for homes 1,500 square feet of conditioned space floor
area and smaller.
(H) Shell tightness: 5.0 ACH50 Pa confirmed by blower
door test
(e) HVAC system and air ducts shall be incorporated
into conditioned space, or eliminate forced-air ductwork.
(f) Space conditioning equipment shall meet one of the
following requirements:
(i) Two-stage gas or propane furnace, minimum AFUE 0.92
(ii) Gas or propane boiler, minimum AFUE 0.88
(iii) Central AC SEER ≥ 14 (if installed)
(iv) Ducted heat pump ≥ HSPF 8.5, air source, and
ground source COP ≥ 3.0
(v) Ductless mini-split heat pump with inverter drive,
no incorporated electric backup heat, sized and installed as per ENERGY STAR®
Homes Northwest specifications in affect at the time the preliminary
application is issued.
(g) A Renewable Energy Facility shall provide on-site
energy savings or generation of not less than 1kWh/yr per square foot of
conditioned floor space.
(h) Water heating systems shall meet ENERGY STAR® Homes
Northwest specifications including secondary water heating equipment that backs
up solar domestic water heating facilities.
(i) Includes at least one of the following measures:
(A) Obtain certification through a Green Building
program recognized by the Department.
(B) Meet ENERGY STAR Homes Northwest Builder Option
Package #2 ventilation specifications through the use of a heat or energy
recovery ventilator, except that the sensible recovery efficiency shall be >
50 percent at 32ºF and the EUI shall be <1.5 Watts/cfm.
(C) Use a gas or propane water heater with a minimum EF
of 0.80 for primary water heating. The water heater may not also be used for
space heating or as the backup to a solar water heating facility to be
considered a qualifying measure under this section.
(j) A High performance home may meet a package of
alternate shell or HVAC measures that are equivalent to these requirements.
Shell measures may be increased to offset HVAC efficiency, however HVAC
measures may not be used to reduce minimum shell requirements.
(a) Shell measures shall be a combination of assemblies
that together have a total U x A no higher than a base case home described in
section (C)(c), above. Trade-offs will be evaluated according to the thermal
trade-off procedure in Oregon Residential Specialty Code Chapter 11, Energy
Efficiency, Table N1104.1(1).
(b) Mechanical facilities will be evaluated for
comparable annual energy use.
(k) Shall be a detached single-family dwelling unit or
a single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of two or more attached
units in which each unit extends from foundation to roof and with open space on
at least two sides.
(36) “Homebuilder Installed Renewable Energy Facility”
is defined in ORS 469.185(9). The amount of the tax credit for
homebuilder-installed renewable energy facilities shall be capped at $9,000 per
high performance home. For purposes of this section, renewable energy resource
facilities may include: photovoltaic, solar domestic water heating, active
solar space heating, passive solar, and ground source heat pumps. The following
requirements must be met:
(a) Photovoltaic: The credit amount is based on $3 per
watt of installed capacity as determined by the Department. Eligible
installations have a Total Solar Resource Fraction of at least 75 percent using
the Total Solar Resource Fraction (TSRF) method as described in the BETC
application. Installations must be verified by a Tax Credit Certified Solar PV
Technician. This verification must cover performance, longevity, and proper
documentation of the facility design, operation and maintenance. Installers
must provide a warranty covering all parts and labor for two years.
(b) Solar domestic water heating: The credit amount is
equal to $0.60 per kWh saved annually. The savings are based on values
published by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) plus 100
kWh, which are added to represent Oregon water heating loads. Solar thermal
domestic water heating installations must have a Total Solar Resource Fraction
(TSRF) of at least 75 percent and be designed to provide no less than 25
percent but not more than 70 percent of the annual domestic water heating load.
Installations must be OG-300 certified. Installations must be verified by a
solar thermal Tax Credit Certified Technician. This verification must cover
performance, longevity, and proper documentation of the facility design,
operation and maintenance. Installers must provide a warranty covering all
parts and labor of the facility for two years.
(c) Active solar space heating: The credit amount is
equal to $0.60 per kWh saved based on a calculation procedure approved by
Department staff. Active solar space heating installations must demonstrate a whole
building annual energy savings of at least 15 percent to be eligible.
Installations that combine space heating and domestic water heating are allowed
providing that the solar storage tank is not heated by a backup heat source
(e.g. gas or electric water heater). Installations must be verified by a solar
thermal Tax Credit Certified Technician. This verification must cover
performance, longevity, and proper documentation of the facility design,
operation and maintenance. Installers must provide a warranty covering all
parts and labor of the facility for two years.
(d) Passive solar: The credit amount is equal to $600
per home plus $0.60 per square foot of heated floor space. Passive solar design
strategies must demonstrate a whole building annual energy savings of at least
20 percent to be eligible. This can be achieved by either meeting the
prescriptive requirements for a passive solar home under the Residential Energy
Tax Credit or demonstrated with whole building energy modeling and certified by
a professional engineer.
(e) Ground source heat pumps: Ground source heat pumps
must have a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3.5 or greater. The savings is
based on the incremental savings over the energy savings provided by the ground
source heat pump with a COP of 3.0. The credit amount is equal to $0.60 per kWh
saved.
(f) Other: Other renewable energy resource facilities
(e.g. wind turbines, fuel cells) will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and
the credit amount will be equal to $0.60 per kWh saved. Facilities must be
connected to home’s main service panel and installers must provide a warranty
covering all parts and labor of the facility for two years.
(37) “HVAC Equipment”: Heating, Ventilation, and Air
Conditioning (HVAC) systems are eligible for a 35 percent BETC.
(a) Eligible combustion equipment (furnaces, boilers,
water heaters, and burners) must have a minimum combustion efficiency of 86
percent Annual Fuel Use Efficiency (AFUE) rating. An exception may be granted
if the system efficiency is proven to be higher due to application of a
different distribution system (e.g.: radiant systems in high infiltration
spaces), control strategies (e.g.: pony boilers), or reduced stand-by losses
(e.g.: low-mass boilers).
(b) Heat pumps must have an energy input that is
entirely electric and be rated with a Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF)
or Coefficient of Performance (COP) as follows or higher:
(A) Air source heat pumps: 8.5 HSPF
(B) Water source heat pumps: ten percent greater than
COP listed in Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code Chapter 5, Table
503.2.3(2)
(C) Air Conditioning: ten percent greater than COP
listed in Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code Chapter 5, Table 503.2.3(1)
(38) “Hybrid Electric Vehicle”: An energy facility that
is a vehicle which draws propulsion energy from onboard sources of stored
energy which include both an internal combustion engine and a rechargeable
energy storage system. The charging system for the energy storage system must
have an operating voltage of 100 Volts or higher. In addition to a hybrid drive
train, a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) must also have a regenerative braking
system. A vehicle purchased after January 1, 2010 is not eligible to receive a
BETC.
(39) “Individualized Travel Behavior Change Program”: A
facility that is a program approved by the Oregon Department of Energy that
reduces vehicle miles traveled through one-on-one contact with participants in
a specific geographical area or in a targeted group.
(40) “Lease Contract”: A contract between a lessor and
a lessee of a facility.
(a) In a lease-purchase contract the lessee owns the
facility at the end of the lease and is eligible for the BETC.
(b) In a lease or lease-option contract the lessor owns
the facility through the life of the contract and is eligible for the BETC.
(41) Lighting Facility”: An energy facility that will
reduce the affected lighting energy use by at least 25 percent or by at least
10 percent for a new facility. For non-residential structures, an eligible
facility must also report whether there will be any lamps in the facility that
will be subsequently replaced and if those lamps will be recycled, how.
(42) “Low Interest Loan”:
(a) For an electric utility, a loan with interest that
is not more than 6.5 percent per year for those measures identified as cost
effective in the utility audit. All other measures identified in the utility
audit will be financed by a rate established by the OPUC. The combined interest
rate will not exceed 12 percent.
(b) For all utilities, the loan principal or interest
rate will be reduced by the present value of the tax credit earned under these
rules. If the principal or interest is reduced to zero by applying the present
value of the credit without allotting all that value, the excess will accrue to
the owner who receives the loan. The loan will be repaid in a reasonable time
not more than 10 years after it is issued.
(c) Some utilities may offer cash payment incentives as
an option to a loan. The present value of the tax credit may be added to this
incentive as provided in OAR 330-090-0140(2) of this rule.
(43) “Mass Transit District”: A mass transit district
included in ORS 184.675(7).
(44) “Metropolitan Service District”: A metropolitan
service district included in ORS 184.675(7).
(45) “Necessary Feature”: A necessary feature does not
qualify as an eligible cost and is a feature for which the primary purpose is:
(a) Complying with the Building Code, including
remodeling or new construction that includes facilities to comply with the
Building Code;
(b) Complying with specific state or federal statues or
requirements for pollution control or recycling facility equipment. Recycling
facilities are necessary features except as noted under the definition of
“Recycling Facility” in ORS 469.185(11); or
(c) Routine maintenance or repair, such as replacing
water damaged insulation, a broken window, dry-rotted wood siding or trim.
(46) “Net Present Value”: A cash payment equivalent to
the net present value of the BETC as determined under OAR 330-090-0140. This is
also referred to as the “pass-through rate.”
(47) “Organization”: A corporation, association, firm,
partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, cooperative,
non-profit corporation, or federal, state or local government including school
district, water district, or any other special district.
(48) “Pass-through Option”: An option that allows a
facility owner to transfer the facility’s tax credit eligibility to certain
persons or businesses in return for a cash payment equivalent to the net
present value. A tax credit may be transferred one time only, from the facility
owner to an eligible pass-through partner or partners.
(49) “Pass-through Partner”: A personal income tax
payer, individual, C corporation or S corporation that is transferred a tax
credit certificate in return for a cash payment equivalent to the net present
value of the BETC.
(50) “Preliminary Certification”: Preliminary
certificate issued upon successful completion of the first stage in obtaining a
BETC.
(51) “Premium Efficient Appliance”: An energy facility
that is an appliance that has been certified by the Department to have premium
energy efficiency characteristics. Residential appliances are listed in the
Department’s Alternative Energy Devices Systems Directory. Commercial
appliances are listed in the Department’s Premium Efficient Commercial
Appliances Directory.
(52) “Public Purpose Organization”: The entity
administering the conservation and renewable public purpose funds described in
ORS 757.612(3)(b)(A) and (B) or its agents.
(53) “Qualified Transit Pass Contract”: is defined in
ORS 469.185(10).
(54) “Recycling”: A process to change a waste stream
into a useable product or material. It does not include re-use in the same way
the product or material first was used unless it changes the product or
material. It does not include the combustion or incineration of a waste stream
or components thereof, although these processes may be a part of an “Energy
Facility” or “Waste to Energy Facility” where they include characteristics
required to meet those definitions.
(55) “Recycling Facility”: is defined in ORS
469.185(11)
(56) “Recycling Market Development Facility”:
Facilities that stimulate demand for recycled materials. It includes facilities
that meet one of the following criteria:
(a) The facility uses recycled materials as feedstock
to produce new products; or
(b) Equipment that allows reuse of pre or post consumer
waste in the production of new products; or
(c) Recycled material equipment which yields a
feedstock with new and changed characteristics for the production of new
products; or
(d) Equipment that enables a higher amount of recycled
material feedstock to be used in the manufacture of a product.
(57) “Renewable Diesel”: A diesel fuel derived from
biomass as defined in United States Energy Policy Act 2005 Section 45K (C)(3),
using the process of thermal depolymerization that meets the following:
(a) Registration requirements for fuels and chemicals
established by the EPA under Section 211 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7454)
in effect on December 1, 2007, and
(b) Requirements of the ASTM D975 or D396 in effect on
December 1, 2007, and
(c) Has a producer’s Certificate of Analysis which
certifies that the lot, batch or produced volume for sale has an organic
content concentration of greater than 50 percent of the entire volume of the
resultant fuel and the organic feedstock material is described.
(58) “Renewable Energy Resource”: is defined in ORS
469.185(12).
(59) “Renewable Energy Resource Facility”: means an
energy facility used in the processing utilization, or storage of renewable
energy resources to:
(a) Replace a substantial part or all of an existing
use of electricity, petroleum or natural gas;
(b) Provide the initial use of energy where
electricity, petroleum or natural gas would have been used;
(c) Generate electricity to replace an existing source
of electricity or to provide a new source of electricity for sale by or use in
the trade or business;
(d) Perform a process that obtains energy resources
from material that would otherwise be solid waste as defined in ORS 459.005; or
(e) Manufacture or distribute alternative fuels,
including but not limited to electricity, ethanol, methanol, gasohol or
biodiesel.
(60) “Renewable Energy Resource Equipment Manufacturing
Facility”: means a facility as defined in ORS 469.185 (13) and subject to
standards adopted by the Oregon Department of Energy in these rules.
(61) “Renewable Energy Storage Device”: A facility that
enables the storage of energy derived from Renewable Energy Resources as
defined in ORS 469.185(12). To qualify as a renewable energy storage device a
facility does not need to be directly connected to a renewable energy resource,
but a beneficial relationship must be demonstrated between the energy output of
the resource or resources and the charge and discharge capabilities of the
facility. A Renewable Energy Storage Device includes, but is not limited to,
batteries or similar devices used to provide propulsive energy in electric
vehicles. The storage device may be designed to store energy for transmission
lines provided that the transmission lines serve, at least in part, renewable
energy resources.
(62) “Rental Dwelling”: means any property that meets
the requirements of the state building codes and contains a dwelling unit or
rooming unit with permanent living facilities. Living facilities include
facilities for sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation, for one or more
persons, other than the property owner, which is subject to a rental agreement
that provides for meaningful compensation to the owner and which compensation
is subject to Oregon income or excise tax.
(63) “Rental Weatherization”: means energy conservation
and efficiency measures that improve the energy efficiency of a rental
dwelling. In order to qualify for a BETC, an applicant must meet requirements
(a) through (c):
(a) An applicant must be planning to perform a minimum
of two weatherization measures on the rental dwelling if one of the measures is
to replace windows on the rental dwelling. Eligible second measures include one
of the following:
(A) Adding floor insulation to R-21,
(B) Attic/ceiling/roof insulation to R-38 or cavity
fill,
(C) Wall insulation to R-13 or cavity fill,
(D) Replacing exterior doors to R-5,
(E) Duct sealing and testing by a contractor certified
by the Residential Energy Tax Credit program, or
(F) An applicant can demonstrate that the measures (A)
through (E) above have already been completed by providing an energy audit from
the Energy Trust of Oregon or the applicant’s utility, if unavailable the
Department may approve another type of energy audit.
(b) Prior to being eligible to receive a BETC for
installing a renewable facility on a rental dwelling, all standard
weatherization measures, including roof insulation to a minimum of R-38, floor
to minimum of R-21 and walls to a minimum of R-13 (where achievable on outside
walls where no insulation is present) must be completed. An applicant shall
provide appropriate documentation, such as an energy audit as described above
in section (a)(F), to verify standard weatherization measures.
(c) For purposes of meeting the requirements of ORS
469.207, when a utility audit is not available, a vendor-provided audit
demonstrating substantial savings and approved by the Department will suffice.
A self-audit based upon the following list may be substituted when accompanied
by U-values, areas, and other appropriate general information regarding the
measures, including:
(A) Caulking, weather-stripping and other prescriptive
actions to seal the heated space and ducts in a dwelling;
(B) Insulation of ceilings or attics to R-38 if
achievable in areas with R-19 or less, including insulation installed on flat
roofs and associated ventilation;
(C) Insulation of outside walls to a nominal R-13 if
achievable in areas where no insulation is present, of unfinished walls
adjacent to unheated areas to R-21 if achievable in areas where no insulation
is present, and of finished walls adjacent to unheated areas to R-11 if achievable
in areas where no insulation is present;
(D) Insulation of floors over unheated spaces to at
least R-25 if achievable in areas where no insulation is present, and materials
to support the insulation and needed ground cover and ventilation;
(E) Insulation and sealing of supply and return air
ducts in unheated spaces to at least R-8 if achievable and no insulation is
present and the ducts are in unheated areas;
(F) Insulation of water heaters, water pipes, or steam
pipes in unheated spaces and for at least 10 feet from the water heater in
unheated areas to at least R-3 if achievable and no insulation is present;
(G) Double-glazed windows (including sliding doors)
with a U-value of 0.30 or lower, when replacing single-glazed windows;
(H) Insulated exterior doors with a U-value of 0.20 or
lower (R-5 or higher);
(I) Programmable thermostats; or
(J) Blower door tests and blower door assisted whole
house air sealing or duct sealing performed by a contractor certified by the
Department’s Residential Energy Tax Credit technician certification program.
(d) If an applicant undertakes envelope measures, the
following requirements apply:
(A) Replacement windows must have a U-value of 0.30 or
less for residences.
(B) U-values must be 10 percent better (lower) than code
requirements for commercial.
(C) Insulation that exceeds code requirements or when
not required by code is an eligible measure if substantial savings and economic
criteria required in the OARs are met.
(64) “Research, Development, and Demonstration Facility
(RD&D)”: A facility that complies with (a) through (f):
(a) A facility that is not standard practice and that
is likely to produce or produces products or technologies that are likely to
qualify as a facility in Oregon when commercialized. BETC RD&D applicants’
total lifetime project costs will be determined for a defined period
established at the time of the initial application and will be capped at
$20,000,000 for renewable energy RD&D and high efficiency CHP RD&D and
$10,000,000 for all other RD&D project types. Additionally, eligible
RD&D facilities must comply with one or more of the following criteria:
(A) Research facilities that include a test bench
research, prototype or pilot scale construction of a theoretically proved or
primary researched technology;
(B) Development facilities that include the new
manufacture or initiation of the capability to produce or deliver facilities in
Oregon, excluding development facilities that increase established
manufacturing or production capacity in Oregon;
(C) Demonstration facilities that are likely to resolve
questions on how to apply new technology or that inform the public about new or
improved technology though pilot or production scale applications of
technology;
(D) Innovative travel reduction facilities that reduce
vehicle miles traveled. The applicant must conduct pre and post surveys that
measure travel reductions and submit the results with the application for final
certification. A transportation district, mass transit district, or
metropolitan service district within a community of 50,000 or more people may
not qualify for more than $2 million annually in eligible costs for innovative
travel reduction programs;
(E) Facilities that improve energy efficiency in a
focused geographic area through the replacement of outmoded energy equipment
with energy-efficient equipment; or
(F) Facilities in the Director’s determination are
likely to achieve Oregon Department of Energy goals.
(b) A facility that demonstrates a reasonable potential
to result in energy or conservation benefits in Oregon for which the value is
likely to exceed the value of the tax credit, based on information filed with
the application for preliminary certification.
(c) A qualifying RD&D facility that exclusively
supports renewable energy resource use will be eligible for a 50 percent BETC;
all other qualifying RD&D facilities will be eligible for a 35 percent tax
credit.
(d) Eligible costs for a Research, Development or
Demonstration facility may include:
(A) Engineering, design and administrative costs
(B) Costs inherent in a research, development and
demonstration facility that may not result directly in saved or produced
energy. Such costs may include:
(i) Facility design, monitoring, assessment, evaluation
and reporting. This includes but is not limited to: the development of
standards, specifications, policies and procedures facilitating technology
transfer; instruments, and controls.
(ii) Other equipment needed to monitor, assess or
evaluate the facility and the impacts of the facility.
(C) The following costs related to demonstration
model(s) may be considered eligible:
(i) Materials for the demonstration model(s).
(ii) The manufacturing, construction, assembly, and/or
installation of the demonstration model(s).
(iii) Testing and monitoring the demonstration
model(s).
(D) Eligible costs for a Research, Development or
Demonstration facility are not subject to OAR 330-090-0110 (20)(f).
(E) Other eligible costs defined by Oregon
Administrative Rule.
(e) Ineligible costs for a Research, Development or
Demonstration facility may include:
(A) The lease or purchase of land or building(s) unless
the applicant can clearly demonstrate to the Director that the cost is
necessary and exclusive to the facility.
(B) Other ineligible costs defined by Oregon
Administrative Rule.
(f) A Research, Development or Demonstration facility
is not eligible to receive a BETC when the facility’s activities are a
refinement of an existing technology and do not represent a strategic, new or
potentially large benefit to Oregon.
(65) “Residential Dwelling”: means a structure or the
part of a structure that meets the requirements of the state building codes and
is used as a permanent home, residence or sleeping place by one or more persons
who maintain a household or by two or more persons who maintain a common
household. A BETC may not be claimed for a renewable energy facility located
in, adjacent to, or on a one or two family home unless the home is used
exclusively as a rental dwelling.
(66) “Residential Energy Tax Credit Qualifying
Equipment”: means equipment that qualifies under the standards and rules for
the Residential Energy Tax Credit from the Department. The equipment is
eligible for the BETC in either of the two following methods:
(a) A facility that consists solely of equipment that
is on the qualifying equipment list at the time of the application submittal
may apply as outlined in the Oregon Administrative Rules 330-090-0105using
operating schedules, capacity, efficiency and cost information to prove
qualification; or
(b) The facility, made up of qualifying equipment may
also effectively qualify what would otherwise be an eligible Residential Energy
Tax Credit facility through the BETC Program by using the following formula.
Residential tax credit amount (from qualifying appliance list) ÷ 0.35 = BETC
eligible cost.
(67) “Riders”: Employees, students, clients, customers,
or other individuals using transportation facilities or transportation
facilities for travel.
(68) “Service Life”: Equipment service life is as
established in the 2007 edition of the American Society of Heating,
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Heating, Ventilating and
Air Conditioning (HVAC) Applications Handbook or as determined by the Director
for equipment not rated by ASHRAE. The Department may prorate the eligible
project cost based on the remaining service life of the equipment. If the
baseline facility has exceeded its service life, only an incremental facility
will be considered eligible for a tax credit.
(69) “Simple Payback”: The total eligible cost of a
facility divided by the expected yearly energy cost savings, stated in years.
(70) “Standard Practice”: Conventional equipment or
material applied in a way that it may be observed as a common or necessary
feature of new and existing businesses.
(a) In new commercial construction it may include but
is not limited to: electronic fluorescent ballasts; T-8 fluorescent lamps,
compact fluorescent lamps that are not hard wired; parabolic louvered
fluorescent fixtures; R-19 insulated walls in wood frame construction; variable
air volume space conditioning systems; the portion of energy management
controls that monitor for life safety, maintenance, or control process for
purposes other than saving energy.
(b) In other energy facilities it may include but not
be limited to propane powered lift trucks, electric golf carts or curbside
recycling bins.
(c) Any other equipment, material, or applications of
equipment or material as determined by the Director.
(71) “Substantial Energy Savings”: Means that the
Department has determined that:
(a) A facility, other than a lighting retrofit or
sustainable building facility and excluding Research Development &
Demonstration, transportation, recycling market development, recycling
facility, will save at least 10 percent of the energy used in a given facility;
(b) A lighting retrofit facility will reduce the
affected lighting system energy use by at least 25 percent;
(c) The energy facility is a sustainable building
practices facility as defined under “Sustainable Building Practices Facility”
of this rule; or
(d) The facility measures are measures that would
qualify under or are measures recommended in an energy audit completed under
ORS 469.631 to 469.645, 469.649 to 469.659, and 469.673 to 469.683.
(72) “Sustainable Building Practices Facility”: Means a
building facility as defined under “Commercial New Construction” of this rule
and that:
(a) Is rated and certified LEED-NCTM, LEED-CSTM, or LEED-CITM under the Leadership in Energy
& Environmental Design (LEEDTM) Green Building Rating System managed by the U.S. Green Building
Council or is rated and certified by a program approved by the Department that
provides comparable performance on environmental measures and equivalent or
better energy performance as documented by whole building energy modeling, is
commissioned and is verified by an independent third party. In addition, a
facility must:
(A) In achieving its LEEDTM rating, the facility must earn at
least two points under Energy & Atmosphere Credit 1 (Optimize Energy
Performance).
(B) In achieving its LEEDTM rating, the facility must earn at
least one point under Energy & Atmosphere Credit 3 (Enhanced
Commissioning).
(b) Each LEED-NCTM or LEED-CSTM facility must calculate and report the building’s annual solar
income in Btu (not the site income). The calculation must account for the
contribution from each face (orientation with surfaces exposed to direct
sunlight) and must take into account any existing or reasonably expected
shading (by other buildings or vegetation, e.g.) of these surfaces.
Calculations may ignore such things as rooftop or wall-mounted mechanical
facility components.
(c) Facilities using on-site renewable energy
production technologies such as photovoltaic or wind technologies may treat
these elements as a separate renewable energy resource facility for tax credit
purposes, provided that any points earned for such features in the LEEDTM rating are not required to
achieve the rating on which the Sustainable Building facility credit is to be
based. In cases where subtracting such points would result in a lowering of the
LEEDTM rating (e.g. from Gold
to Silver), the tax credit will be awarded on the basis of the lower rating.
The rating point total, net of renewable generation credits, can never be less
than that required for a Silver rating.
(73) “Total Cost”: The eligible cost of a facility not
limited by ORS 469.200
(74) “Transportation District”: A transportation
district included in ORS 184.675(7).
(75) “Transportation Facility”: A facility that reduces
energy used for traveling, including but not limited to traveling to and from
work or school, work-related travel or travel to obtain medical or other
services. A transportation facility must meet one or more of the following
criteria:
(a) Telework defined as working from home instead of
commuting a longer distance to the principal place of employment. It does not
include home-based businesses or extension of the workday. Telework equipment
must be installed to reduce employee vehicle miles traveled a minimum of 45
working days per 12 consecutive months. Eligible costs include purchase and
installation of new equipment at the telework site. Computer, facsimile device,
modem, phone, printer, software, copier, and other equipment necessary to
facilitate telework as determined by the Director are eligible costs. Eligible
cost for telework facilities does not include replacement cost for equipment at
the principal place of business when that equipment is relocated to the
telework site; fees for maintenance and operation of any equipment; office
furniture and office supplies or training costs.
(b) Telework for the purpose of reducing business
vehicle miles traveled must reduce employee business related travel by 25
percent.
(c) Commuter pool vehicles transporting three or more
riders dedicated to reducing vehicle miles traveled. The vehicle must be used a
minimum of 150 working days per 12 consecutive months. Eligible cost includes
the purchase or cost of the vehicle(s). If vehicles with special equipment are
being purchased, a copy of the sales quotation showing the additional cost for
the equipment must be submitted. The vehicle must remain in service for five
years. Where vehicles are used for business travel other than transporting
riders, eligible cost shall be reduced based on the estimated percent of miles
dedicated to reducing travel. Transportation districts, mass transit districts,
or metropolitan service districts within communities of 50,000 or more people
are not eligible if they receive other federal or state funding for the
purposes of offsetting the costs.
(d) Transit passes used by an applicant’s riders or in
fareless zones to reduce vehicle miles traveled. Eligible cost includes the
cost of the transit pass or the cost specified in the contract for providing
the fareless zone. Transportation districts, mass transit districts, or
metropolitan service districts within communities of 50,000 or more people are
not eligible. Eligible cost also includes the cost of equipment used as a
shelter for riders waiting for transit. To be eligible, the shelter must be
part of a transit pass facility. Applicants must subtract any employee
contributions for transit passes from eligible costs.
(e) Bicycle used by an applicant’s riders to reduce
vehicle miles traveled a minimum of 45 work days per 12 consecutive months.
Maximum eligible costs of $800 include purchase of bicycles and equipment used
to store bicycles. Accessory items, such as locks, panniers, rain gear helmets,
etc. are not eligible, except for bicycle lights.
(f) Fees paid by an applicant to a Transportation
Management Association (TMA) or nonprofit organization that provides
transportation services for the purpose of reducing vehicle miles traveled by a
passenger. The fee must be part of a transportation facility and cannot exceed
the cost of the transportation facility. To be eligible, the applicant must
provide verification of an agreement with the transportation provider for
specific services that reduce vehicle miles traveled.
(g) The cost of an incentive program paid by the
applicant that provides a financial incentive to a passenger for reducing
vehicle miles a minimum of 45 work days per 12 consecutive months. To be
eligible the applicant must provide a written incentive program plan for Energy
Department approval.
(h) Car sharing is defined as a program in which
drivers pay to become members in order to have joint access to a fleet of cars.
Eligible cost for car sharing includes the cost of operating a car sharing
program, including the fair market value of parking spaces used to store the cars
available for the car sharing program, but does not include the cost of the
fleet of cars. It does not include operations conducted by a car rental agency.
(i) Transportation Service is defined as a facility
that provides transportation services to reduce vehicle miles driven by a
single occupant vehicle. The eligible cost for a transportation service
facility is the cost for providing the transportation service, but does not
include the cost of the vehicle. The transportation service facility must provide
service for a minimum of 150 days per 12 consecutive months. Transportation
districts, mass transit districts, and metropolitan service districts in
communities with 50,000 or more people are not eligible if they receive other
federal or state funding for the purposes of offsetting the costs. Applicants
must subtract any farebox contributions from eligible costs.
(j) Individualized Travel Behavior Change is defined as
a facility that is a program approved by the Oregon Department of Energy that
reduces vehicle miles traveled through one-on-one contact with the participants
in a specific geographical area or in a targeted group. Pre and post-facility
surveys must be conducted. The applicant must submit a report with the results
of these surveys to measure travel reduction. Eligible costs include capital
expenditures, administrative and communication costs. Facilities are subject to
the VMR cost-effectiveness formula.
(k) Vanpool Program is defined as a facility that is an
employer-sponsored or organization sponsored program that provides
transportation to registered members to commute on a regular basis. Eligible
costs include vehicle operation costs, but do not include the cost of the
vehicle. The applicant must conduct pre and post-facility surveys and submit a
report with the results of these surveys to measure reduction in vehicle miles.
The program must provide service for a minimum of 150 work days per 12
consecutive months. Facilities are subject to the VMR cost-effectiveness
formula.
(L) Transportation Services for K–12 Students is
defined as a facility that is a program that provides transportation services
for K–12 students during the school year. All entities, including
transportation districts, mass transit districts, or metropolitan service
districts within communities of greater than 50,000 people, are eligible.
(A)The tax credit amount shall be based on the cost per
student and a reasonable estimate of the actual number of students served.
(B) Eligible agencies shall develop a monthly cost per
student service, based on but not limited to lost revenues, added costs, and
VMR cost-effectiveness to be approved by the Department.
(C) The applicant must conduct pre and post-facility
surveys and submit a report with the results of these surveys to measure
reduction in vehicle miles.
(m) The purchase of efficient truck technology for
trucks and related truck trailers, as defined in ORS 801.580, for commercial
motor vehicles, as defined in ORS 801.208, that are registered under ORS
803.420, or for commercial motor vehicles that are proportionally registered
under ORS 826.009 or 826.011. Eligible efficient truck technology, such as an
auxiliary power unit (APU), must be recognized as a verified technology by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership to
potentially qualify.
(A) Eligible projects must meet the following
requirements:
(i) Retrofit a truck or add to a newly manufactured
truck one or more USEPA SmartWay efficiency measures. With a newly manufactured
truck, a new trailer with one or more SmartWay efficiency measures may also be
included with this project. The new trailer and newly manufactured truck must
independently qualify for tax credits; and
(ii) Eligible vehicles must demonstrate Oregon
registration with a current Cab Card as part of the Application for Preliminary
Certification by:
(1) Commercial (Oregon-only registration operated
solely in Oregon) with a red Oregon-only commercial “YC” plate from the Oregon
Motor Carrier Transportation Division (MCTD); or
(2) International Registration Plan (IRP), also
referred to as Apportioned registration, with a red Apportioned “YA” plate from
the Oregon MCTD. For IRP vehicles, eligible facilities must meet the following
requirements as part of the application for preliminary certification:
(a) Provide the two most recent calendar year IRP
billing notices that document the percentage of a vehicle’s annual mileage that
was driven in Oregon.
(b) For proposed eligible facilities that have no
recent calendar year IRP billing notice documentation, provide a signed project
owner statement indicating the anticipated percentage of miles that will be
driven in Oregon over the next two years.
(B) Applicants that can document that 15 to 50 percent
of the annual mileage of a vehicle that meets the requirement in (A) of this
subsection occurs in Oregon are eligible to receive a tax credit equal to 35
percent of 71.5 percent of the facility’s otherwise eligible certified costs.
(C) Applicants that can document that more than 50
percent of the annual mileage of a vehicle that meets the requirement in (A) of
this subsection occurs in Oregon are eligible to receive a tax credit of 35
percent of the facility’s eligible certified costs.
(D) Proof that the applicant has a sufficient nexus
with the state of Oregon. This includes a dedicated location in Oregon for
maintenance, dispatch, and monitoring of facilities.
(E) The facility’s simple payback period must be between
more than one and fifteen years.
(76) “Transportation Provider”: is defined in ORS
469.185(16).
(77) “Transportation Services Contract”: is defined in
ORS 469.185(17).
(78) “Utility”: Gas or electric utilities as defined
below.
(a) An Investor Owned Utility (IOU) as defined in ORS
757.005, or its subsidiaries and affiliated interests as defined in ORS
757.015; or
(b) A Publicly Owned Utility (POU) and people’s utility
district as defined in ORS 261.010, or a municipal or cooperative utility.
(79) “Vanpool Program”: means a program that provides
opportunities for a designated group of riders to share the usage of a vehicle
to commute between different communities/neighborhoods on a regular basis.
(80) “Vehicle Miles Reduced (VMR)”: Reduction in miles
achieved by a facility when compared to single occupant vehicles.
(81) “Waste-to-Energy Facility”: means an energy
resource facility that recovers materials and energy from a waste stream under
conditions listed below. The BETC program intends to encourage the responsible
use of all resources including waste streams. Generally, recovery of a material
will be preferred in comparison to recovery of energy. In order to respect the
embedded energy of a material stream the following criteria have been
established to define facilities that do not meet the definition of a recycling
facility, but provide environmentally responsible recovery from a waste stream.
Therefore, equipment used to recover materials and energy from a waste stream
is an eligible facility when all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The value of the marketable materials and energy
resources recovered from the waste stream, less the value of the external
energy resources consumed in the recovery process is greater than the magnitude
of the costs incurred or revenues derived in disposal of the waste stream in
standard industry practice.
(b) Recovered material/end product, exclusive of fuel
or lubricant, exceeds 50 percent or higher on a dry mass basis.
(c) The facility does not increase the release of
toxins, fossil-derived greenhouse gas emissions, or other emissions.
(d) The facility does not divert materials from a
higher value use.
(e) The facility has an acceptable energy balance as
determined by the Director.
(82) “Wind Facility”: means a facility that converts
wind power into another energy resource.
(83) “Year”: Calendar year.
[ED. NOTE: Tables referenced are
available from the agency.]
[Publications: Publications
referenced are available from the agency.]
Stat. Auth.: ORS 469.040 &
469.165
Stats. Implemented: ORS 469.185 -
469.225
Hist.: DOE 7-1985, f. 12-31-85,
ef. 1-1-86; DOE 3-1986, f. & ef. 8-29-86; DOE 2-1988, f. & cert. ef.
3-17-88; DOE 3-1989, f. 12-28-89, cert. ef. 1-1-90; DOE 3-1990, f. & cert.
ef. 9-20-90; DOE 4-1991, f. & cert. ef. 12-31-91; DOE 2-1992(Temp), f.
12-14-92, cert. ef. 12-15-92; DOE 2-1993, f. & cert. ef. 1-28-93; DOE
5-1993, f. & cert. ef. 12-14-93; DOE 2-1995, f. 12-12-95, cert. ef.
12-15-95; DOE 3-1996, f. & cert. ef. 11-27-96; DOE 2-1997, f. 12-15-97,
cert. ef. 1-1-98; DOE 4-1998, f. 12-14-98, cert. ef. 12-15-98; DOE 2-1999, f.
12-22-99, cert. ef. 1-1-00; DOE 1-2001, f. 10-5-01, cert. ef. 10-8-01; DOE
2-2004, f. & cert. ef. 1-21-04; DOE 3-2004, f. & cert. ef. 7-1-04; DOE
1-2005, f. 12-30-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06; DOE 2-2006, f. 9-29-06, cert. ef.
10-1-06; DOE 3-2006, f. 11-27-06, cert. ef. 12-1-06; DOE 3-2008, f. & cert.
ef. 3-21-08; DOE 4-2008, f. 6-19-08, cert. ef. 6-20-08; DOE 2-2009(Temp), f.
& cert. ef. 11-3-09 thru 5-1-10; DOE 3-2010, f. & cert. ef. 4-30-10;
DOE 4-2010(Temp), f. 5-21-10, cert. ef. 5-27-10 thru 11-2-10; Administrative
correction 11-23-10; DOE 14-2010, f. & cert. ef. 11-23-10; DOE
3-2011(Temp), f. 4-15-11, cert. ef. 4-18-11 thru 10-14-11; DOE 6-2011, f. &
cert. ef. 9-29-11
330-090-0130
How the Oregon Department of
Energy Processes a BETC Application
(1) General:
(a) The Director reviews a BETC application in two
stages. The first stage is called preliminary certification. The second stage
is called final certification. The final certification consists of the
determination of eligible costs for purposes of the tax credit and the issuance
of the BETC final certificate.
(b) To begin the review process for each stage, or to
change the facility during the review process, an applicant must submit an
application on the form approved by the Department. Applications for facilities
that use or produce renewable energy resources, or are listed as renewable
energy resources as defined under ORS 469.185, must be submitted under the
tiered priority system described in OAR 330-090-0350 and include any additional
requirements under this section.
(c) A facility owner planning to use a Pass-through
Partner will select the pass-through option on the Application for Preliminary
Certification.
(d) The Director may impose conditions in approving a
preliminary or final certification that the facility must operate in accordance
with the representations made by the applicant, and is in accordance with the
provisions of ORS 469.185 to 469.225 and any applicable rules or standards
adopted by the Director.
(e) If the Department determines that the applicant
qualifies for a BETC, the Department may issue a preliminary certification. The
preliminary certification may contain specific criteria and conditions for the
facility to meet in order to obtain a final certification based on the
information provided in the application for the BETC and type of facility that
is described in the application. In addition, the Department may require the
applicant to enter a performance agreement or other similar agreement as a
condition of approval.
(2) Pre-Approval of Preliminary Certifications: The Director has pre-approved preliminary certifications for the following
facilities that the Department has reviewed and determined to be otherwise
qualified under these rules:
(a) Alternate energy devices qualifying for a tax
credit under the Residential Energy Tax Credit Program, OAR 330-070-0010
through 330-070-0097, for which the Department has determined qualified costs,
energy savings, and eligible tax credits. A facility owner may file for a
preliminary certification to present documentation supporting different
determinations for review and approval.
(b) Pre-qualified hybrid-electric vehicles.
(3) Preliminary Certification Review Process: Except
as provided in OAR 330-090-0130(1) and (2), a completed application for
preliminary certification shall be received by the Department on or prior to
the erection, construction, installation or acquisition of a facility.
(a) Within 60 days after an application for preliminary
certification is filed, the Director will decide if it is complete. An
application is incomplete if it does not include information needed to
demonstrate substantive compliance with the provisions of ORS 469.185 to
469.225 and any applicable rules or standards adopted by the Director. The
Director will provide the applicant a written notice relating to the incomplete
application and the information needed to make the application complete. If no
action is taken within 30 days by the applicant, the application will expire.
(b) Within 120 days after a completed application is
submitted the Director will notify the applicant of the status of the
application, except as otherwise provided in subsection (5), if the applicant
has not been notified otherwise the application has been denied.
(A) If it complies, the Director will approve the
preliminary certification. The preliminary certification will state the amount
of the costs that are eligible (eligible costs) for a BETC up to the maximum
amount of certifiable costs under ORS 496.200. It may differ from the amount
requested for reasons explained in the preliminary certification and based on
these rules. Also, it will state any conditions that must be met before
development, final certification, or some other event can occur. The Director
will explain why each condition is needed to comply with these rules.
(B) If it does not comply, the Director will deny the
application. No later than 60 days after the Director issues an order denying
the application, the applicant may request reconsideration as provided in OAR
330-090-0133(4).
(C) An applicant can re-submit an application that is
denied if features of the facility change, the applicant provides data the
absence of which resulted in the denial, or other changes warrant. An
application for preliminary certification can be amended or withdrawn by the
applicant before the Director issues a preliminary certification. If an
application is amended, the time within which review occurs starts over. An
applicant may request reconsideration of an application denial under this rule.
(4) Renewable Energy Resource Equipment
Manufacturing Facility: If under the provisions of ORS 469.200(2), the
Director intends to certify less than the total or no amount of eligible costs
of a renewable energy resource equipment manufacturing facility, the Director
will notify the applicant in writing of that intent before approving the
preliminary certification. The applicant will have 30 calendar days from the
date notification was issued to inform the Director in writing whether it
wishes to withdraw the application or suspend further consideration of the
application until a future date specified or submit additional information in
support of the application. If the Director has not received notification or
additional information in support of the application within that period of
time, the Director may certify less than the total or no amount of eligible
costs of the renewable energy resource equipment manufacturing facility. Once
eligible costs are certified and a preliminary certification is issued under
this section, the certified eligible costs may be revised if conditions under
ORS 469.200(2) change or upon notification from the applicant or other
information indicating that the scope of the project or the energy facility has
changed in such a way to impact the preliminary certificate.
(5) Preliminary Certification After Start of a
Facility:
(a) If a facility has been started an applicant may
file a written request with the Director for approval of a preliminary
certification after facility start. Such a request must contain information in
accord with OAR 330-090-0120 and OAR 330-090-0130(5)(b).
(b) The Director may approve preliminary certification
after facility start if:
(A) The request is in accord with OAR 330-090-0120;
(B) Special circumstances make application for
preliminary certification before facility start up impracticable. Such
circumstances include process delays beyond the applicant’s control, facility
funding and energy supplies or markets; and
(C) The Director receives the waiver request within 90
days of facility start date. Under extraordinary circumstances the Director may
extend the waiver period provided the facility serves the aims of the program.
(D) Failing to submit an application for preliminary
certification before signing contracts for the facility does not constitute
special circumstances supporting a waiver.
(6) How Preliminary Certification Can be Revoked: The
Director may alter, condition, suspend, deny or revoke a preliminary
certification for a reason listed in this section
(a) A facility, other than a renewable energy resource
equipment manufacturing facility, is not completed and a complete final
certification application received before 1,095 days (3 years) after the
preliminary certification was issued or a further 730 days (2 years) if an
extension has been approved. A renewable energy equipment manufacturing
facility is not completed and a complete final certification application
received before 1,825 days (5 years) after the preliminary certification was
issued.
(b) Permits, waivers, and licenses required by OAR
330-090-0120 are not filed with the Department before facility development
starts.
(c) The facility undergoes changes without the changes
being approved under OAR 330-090-0130(7).
(d) Any other reason allowed by the amendments to ORS
469.210 (3) in Oregon Laws, 2010, Chapter 76, Section 11.
(7) Amendments to Preliminary Certifications: To
change a facility that has a preliminary certification and amend the
preliminary certification, the applicant must file a written request with the
Director prior to the project completion date.
(a) The request must describe the change to the
facility and reasons for the change. It may include changes in cost, tax credit
amount, facility design, and materials. The request may also include changes in
the amount of energy saved or produced, jobs created, project financing, the
applicant, the location, or other matters that demonstrate substantial change
in the project’s scope. The request must be accompanied by the appropriate fee.
(b) If a request does not include information needed to
demonstrate substantive compliance with the provisions of ORS 469.185 to
469.225 and any applicable rules or standards adopted by the Director, the
department will provide the applicant a written notice relating to the
information needed to make the request complete. If the applicant does not
provide all of the requested information to the Department within 30 days, the
request will expire and no changes will be made to the preliminary
certification.
(c) Preliminary certifications issued for facilities
using or producing renewable energy resources, or facilities listed as renewable
energy resources as defined under ORS 469.185, shall not be eligible for
consideration of amendments other than those listed below in (A) through (C).
An eligible amendment cannot change the tier within which the application was
reviewed.
(A) Equipment capacity within 10 percent of the
approved specification;
(B) Amendments to the facility that do not result in an
increased potential tax credit amount, but increase output or otherwise improve
the facility; or
(C) Changes in ownership.
(d) Within 60 days after the applicant files the change
request, the Director will decide if the facility as modified complies with
these rules.
(A) If it complies, the Director may issue an amended
preliminary certification which may contain new or amended criteria, conditions
and requirements.
(B) If it does not comply, the Director will issue an
order that denies the change and provide written reasons for the denial.
(e) The amendments to ORS 315.354, 315.356 and 469.220
by Oregon Laws, 2011, Chapter 693 Section 1 do not provide a basis for
applicants to obtain amendments to certifications issued under ORS 469.210 or
469.215.
(8) If the facility does not proceed: The
applicant must inform the Director in writing if it does not proceed with the
facility or proceeds without the tax credit. In that case, the Director will
cancel the preliminary certification.
(9) Pass-through Option Process and Application:
(a) In addition to the application for preliminary
certification, an applicant who plans to transfer the tax credit certificate to
a Pass-through Partner must complete and file the Pass-though Option
Application form supplied by the Department.
(b) If the Pass-through Partner is not yet secured at
the time of the Application for Preliminary Certification, the facility owner
will complete that section of the application by inserting “Partner to be
identified” and will submit an updated application when the Pass-through
Partner is secured.
(c) The Department will not transfer and issue a final
certificate to a pass-through partner until the facility owner provides
evidence to the Department that the owner has received the pass-through payment
in full.
(10) Extension of Preliminary Certification: Applicants, other than for renewable resource manufacturing facilities, who have
not previously extended their certification and whose preliminary certification
is anticipated to expire prior to completion of the facility may apply for an
extension of an additional two years from the current expiry of the preliminary
certification.
(a) Applicants must submit a written request to the
department, accompanied by the appropriate fee, describing the progress made in
developing the facility since the department issued the preliminary
certification and verifying that the project will be developed in accordance
with the initial approval, within two years from the current end of the
preliminary certification and prior to the sunset date of the program. The
request shall include the new proposed facility completion date. Requests may
be made no earlier than 6 months prior to the expiration of the existing
preliminary certification.
(b) If an applicant wishes to make changes other than
to the completion date, the applicant must submit a request for amendment as
described in ORS 330-090-0130(7).
(c) If a request or original application does not
include information needed to demonstrate substantive compliance with the
provisions of ORS 469.185 to 469.225 and any applicable rules or standards
adopted by the Director the department will provide the applicant a written
notice specifying the information needed to make the request complete. If the
applicant does not provide all of the requested information to the Department
within 30 days, the request will expire and no extension will be made to the
preliminary certification expiration date.
(d) The department will review the previously approved
application against current statute and rules. Within 60 days after the
department receives the extension request, the Director will decide if the
request complies with these rules.
(A) If it complies, the Director may issue an amended
preliminary certification which may contain new or amended criteria, conditions
and requirements.
(B) If it does not comply, the Director will issue an
order that denies the extension and provide written reasons for the denial.
(11) Final Certification Review Process and
Application: An application for final certification must be filed after the
facility is completed as defined in these rules.
(a) An application for final certification must
include:
(A) Evidence to demonstrate that:
(i) The facility complies with all conditions and
criteria of the preliminary certification and with the provisions of ORS
Chapter 469 and the rules adopted thereunder;
(ii) The facility remains in compliance with local,
state, and federal laws, including local land use laws and with any conditions
imposed by the local government as a condition of land use approval; and
(iii) The facility will be maintained and operated for
at least five years after the facility is placed into operation, or a lesser
period if approved and specified on the preliminary certification.
(B) An account of the facility costs, including
prorated costs.
(i) If facility costs are less than $50,000, the
account may be records of facility costs paid or incurred based on canceled
checks, invoices, receipts, a binding contract or agreement, or other
documentation as may be required under these rules unless required by the
Director to supply verification from a certified public accountant, who is not
otherwise permanently employed by the facility owner or pass-through partner.
If an applicant has an outstanding binding contract or loan agreement, the
account shall demonstrate that payments on contract or loan are not in default;
or
(ii) If the facility costs are $50,000 or more, a
certified public accountant, who is not otherwise permanently employed by the
facility owner or pass-through partner, must complete a written review and
summary of costs paid or incurred based on canceled checks, invoices, or
receipts, a binding contract or agreement, or other documentation as may be
required under these rules. If an applicant has an outstanding binding contract
or loan agreement, the certified public accountant shall include sufficient
information to demonstrate that accounts directly related to the facility are
not in default.
(iii)The application must include information regarding
any federal grants applied for or received in connection with the facility
including, without limitation, the grant(s) applied for, the date of each
application, the amount of the requested grant(s), when applicant expects to
receive notice of grant approval or denial and any other information that may
be required by the director. Final total costs will be reduced dollar for
dollar by any federal grant amount received by a taxpayer in connection with
the facility.
(C) For a Sustainable Building Practices Facility, a
copy of the facility U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Rating Certificate,
USGBC Final LEED™ Review, Energy Performance Documentation, Narrative for
Energy and Atmosphere Credit 1, Annual Solar Income as described in the rules
and method of calculation will be accepted in lieu of facility cost receipts.
(D) Proof the facility is completed and operating.
(E) If the facility is leased or rented, a copy of the
lease or rental agreement.
(F) For Alternative Fuel Vehicle facilities, proof of
conversion must include a copy of vehicle emission test performance results
from DEQ or a conversion shop.
(G) Documentation that the applicant and facility owner
or owners are current on their property taxes where the facility is located if
appropriate; and
(H) Other data the Director finds are needed to assure
a facility complies with these rules and conditions imposed in the preliminary
certificate
(I) The names of the person or persons who are to be
issued the final certificate. If the final certificate is to be issued to a
pass-through partner, the Department will not issue the certificate until the
appropriate criteria, conditions and requirements of the preliminary and final
certification and these rules are satisfied.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 469.040 &
469.165
Stats. Implemented: ORS 469.185 -
469.225
Hist.: DOE 7-1985, f. 12-31-85,
ef. 1-1-86; DOE 3-1989, f. 12-28-89, cert. ef. 1-1-90; DOE 4-1991, f. &
cert. ef. 12-31-91; DOE 2-1992(Temp), f. 12-14-92, cert. ef. 12-15-92; DOE
2-1993, f. & cert. ef. 1-28-93; DOE 5-1993, f. & cert. ef. 12-14-93;
DOE 2-1995, f. 12-12-95, cert. ef. 12-15-95; DOE 3-1996, f. & cert. ef.
11-27-96; DOE 2-1997, f. 12-15-97, cert. ef. 1-1-98; DOE 4-1998, f. 12-14-98,
cert. ef. 12-15-98; DOE 2-1999, f. 12-22-99, cert. ef. 1-1-00; DOE 1-2001, f.
10-5-01, cert. ef. 10-8-01; DOE 2-2004, f. & cert. ef. 1-21-04; DOE 3-2004,
f. & cert. ef. 7-1-04; DOE 1-2005, f. 12-30-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06; DOE
2-2006, f. 9-29-06, cert. ef. 10-1-06; DOE 3-2007, f. 11-30-07, cert. ef.
12-1-07; DOE 3-2008, f. & cert. ef. 3-21-08; DOE 4-2008, f. 6-19-08, cert.
ef. 6-20-08; DOE 2-2009(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 11-3-09 thru 5-1-10; DOE
3-2010, f. & cert. ef. 4-30-10; DOE 4-2010(Temp), f. 5-21-10, cert. ef.
5-27-10 thru 11-2-10; Administrative correction 11-23-10; DOE 14-2010, f. &
cert. ef. 11-23-10; DOE 3-2011(Temp), f. 4-15-11, cert. ef. 4-18-11 thru
10-14-11; DOE 6-2011, f. & cert. ef. 9-29-11
330-090-0133
How ODOE Processes a Final
Application
(1) Processing the Final Certification: To
qualify for a Final Certification, the facility must be completed as described
in the Application for Preliminary Certification and the Preliminary
Certificate. Any changes to the Preliminary Certificate and/or Application for
Preliminary Certification must complete the amendment process outlined in these
rules prior to the project completion date. Failure to obtain approval through
the amendment process may result in denial of the Final Certification
Application.
(a) Applications shall be considered received for the
purposes of ORS 469.220 on the date marked received by the department, unless
the application is incomplete. If the application for final certification is
not complete, the date marked received by the department on the complete
application containing all of the required information shall be considered the
received date.
(A) When a facility owner chooses to transfer the tax
credit under ORS 469.206, the Department may hold the application for final
certification until pass-through partner(s) information is received by the
Department. Except for a facility using or producing renewable energy resources
with a certified cost that exceeds $10 million, any application in which the
facility owner has indicated a choice to transfer the tax credit under ORS
469.206 is not a “completed application” until the Department receives both the
completed final certification application form from the facility owner and the
completed pass-through partner agreement form for the tax credit, or portion of
the tax credit, being transferred to that pass-through partner. The receipt of
the completed application by the Department begins the certification period, as
provided in ORS 469.220.
(B) As provided in Oregon Laws, 2011, Chapter 693,
Section(2)(c), a facility using or producing renewable energy resources with a
certified cost that exceeds $10 million and that receives final certification
under ORS 469.215 after January 1, 2010, a final certification application
shall be considered complete without the identification of a transferee for
purposes of ORS 469.206 or 469.208.
(C) If more than one pass-through partner is being
transferred the credit, facility owners may have up to 18 months from the date
the first pass-through partner agreement form is received by the Department to
begin each certification period of the tax credit. For pass-through partner(s)
agreement forms received by the Department after the 18-month period, the
certification period begins 18 months from the date the first pass-through
partner agreement form was received by the Department.
(D) For purposes of administering the sunset of the
program, the Department may issue a Final Certificate to a facility owner who
previously indicated a choice to transfer a tax credit to a pass-through
partner under ORS 469.206, if the Department has not received a completed
application that includes the signed pass-through partner agreement form at
least sixty days prior to the sunset date for the BETC program provided under
ORS 315.357. The Final Certificate will be issued to a facility owner if the
only piece causing the application for final certification to be incomplete is
the pass-through partner(s) agreement form.
(b) Within 30 days after a final certification
application is received, the Director will determine whether the application is
complete. An application is incomplete if it does not include information
needed to demonstrate substantive compliance with the provisions of ORS 469.185
to 469.225 and any applicable rules or standards and preliminary certification
conditions adopted by the Director. If it is not complete, the applicant will
be provided a written explanation describing deficiencies. If it is complete,
the Director will process the application. Within 60 days after a completed
final certification application is received the director will either approve or
deny the final certification. Prior to the program sunset, the Director will
process a complete final certification application received by April 30, 2012.
The Director does not guarantee that a complete final certification application
received after April 30, 2012 will be processed prior to the program sunset.
(c) If the Director approves the application, the
Director will issue final certification, which will state the amount of
certified costs and the amount of the tax credit approved. The final
certification may contain additional criteria and conditions that must be met
in order to retain tax credit benefits or the tax credit certificate may be
subject to revocation. If the facility fails to meet any of the criteria,
conditions and requirements established in the final certification, the
facility owner must notify the Department within 30 days.
(d) For efficient truck technology facilities the
department may, upon the request of the applicant, issue no more than two final
certificates for each preliminary certification, up to the amount of the
preliminary certification.
(2) Basis for Denying Tax Credit Benefits:
(a) If the Director does not approve the application,
the Director will provide written notice of the action, including a statement
of the findings and reasons for the denial by regular and certified mail.
(b) A final certification application that is denied
can be submitted again. A final certification application can be amended or
withdrawn by the applicant. If an application is submitted again or amended,
the time within which final certification review occurs starts over.
(c) If the Director does not issue a final
certification within 60 days after an application is filed, the application is
denied pursuant to ORS 469.215(4).
(d) The Director may deny a final certificate if:
(A) The applicant does not provide information about
the facility in a reasonable time after the Director requests it;
(B) The facility is significantly different than the
proposed facility for which the preliminary certification was issued;
(C) The applicant misrepresents or fails to construct
or operate the facility;
(D) The applicant fails to demonstrate that the
facility described in the application is separate and distinct from previous or
current applications reviewed by the Department;
(E) The facility does not meet all of the conditions
and requirements contained in the preliminary certificate; or
(F) The applicant is unable to demonstrate that the
facility complies with all applicable provisions of ORS Chapter 469 and the
rules adopted thereunder.
(3) Basis for Revoking Tax Credit Benefits:
(a) The Director may revoke certificates as provided in
ORS 469.225 and ORS 315.354 (5). For the purposes of this section, “fraud or
misrepresentation” means any misrepresentation made by an applicant for a
preliminary or final certification, including but not limited to,
misrepresentations as to the applicant’s financial viability, facility
construction and operation, or any other information provided as part of an
application for a preliminary or final certification.
(b) After the Director issues a final certificate, an
applicant must notify the director in writing of any of the following
conditions:
(A) The facility has been moved;
(B) Title to the facility has been conveyed;
(C) The facility is subject to or part of a bankruptcy
proceeding;
(D) The facility is not operating; or
(E) The term of a leased facility has ended.
(c) Pursuant to ORS 469.225, upon receiving information
that a BETC certification was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation, or that
the facility has not been constructed or operated in compliance with the
requirements in the certificate, the Director shall revoke the certificate for
the facility.
(d) A revocation of the final certification or portion
of a certification due to fraud or misrepresentation results in the loss of all
prior and future tax credits in connection with that facility. If all or a part
of the tax credit certificate has been transferred to a Pass-through partner
under ORS 469.206, the certificate is not considered revoked as to the
Pass-through partner, but the facility owner is liable for the amount of tax
credits claimed or that could be claimed.
(e) For a facility other than a renewable energy
resource equipment manufacturing facility, the revocation of a certificate due
to failure to construct or operate the facility in compliance with the
certificate results in the loss of any tax credits not yet claimed by the
facility owner. If all or a part of the tax credit certificate has been
transferred to a Pass-through partner under ORS 469.206, the certificate is not
considered revoked as to the Pass-through partner, but the facility owner is
liable for the amount of tax credits claimed or that could be claimed.
(f) For a renewable energy resource equipment
manufacturing facility, revocation of the certificate due to misrepresentation,
fraud or failure to construct or operate the facility in compliance with the
certificate results in the loss of all prior and future tax credits. If all or
a part of the tax credit certificate has been transferred to a Pass-through
partner under ORS 469.206, the certificate is not considered revoked as to the
Pass-through partner, but the facility owner is liable for the amount of tax
credits claimed or that could be claimed.
(4) Sale or Disposition of the Facility after Final
Certification:
(a) Pursuant to ORS 315.354(5), upon receiving notice
that the facility has been sold or otherwise transferred, the Director will
revoke the final certificate, as of the date of the disposition of the
facility, unless the BETC for the facility has already been transferred under
ORS 468.206.
(b) The new owner or new or renewed lessee of a
facility may apply for a final certificate. The request must comply with OAR
330-090-0130(10) and include information to allow the Director to determine the
amount of tax credit not claimed by the former owner or former lessee. If the
facility continues to comply with the requirements set out in these rules and
any applicable conditions imposed by the Director, the Director will issue a
new final certification consistent with the provisions of ORS 315.354(5).
(5) Request for Reconsideration: No later than
60 days after the Director issues an order on a preliminary certification,
amendment to a preliminary certification, final certification, or canceling or
revoking a final certificate under these rules, the applicant or certificate
holder may request reconsideration in writing.
(6) Inspections: After an application is filed
under ORS 469.205 or ORS 469.215 or a tax credit is claimed under these rules,
the Department may inspect the facility. The Department will schedule the
inspection during normal working hours, following reasonable notice to the
facility operator.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 469.040 &
469.165
Stats. Implemented: ORS 469.185 -
469.225
Hist.: DOE 2-2009(Temp), f. &
cert. ef. 11-3-09 thru 5-1-10; DOE 3-2010, f. & cert. ef. 4-30-10; DOE
4-2010(Temp), f. 5-21-10, cert. ef. 5-27-10 thru 11-2-10; Administrative
correction 11-23-10; DOE 14-2010, f. & cert. ef. 11-23-10; DOE
3-2011(Temp), f. 4-15-11, cert. ef. 4-18-11 thru 10-14-11; DOE 6-2011, f. &
cert. ef. 9-29-11
330-090-0140
Pass-through Option Facilities
(1) A pass-through Partner may purchase a BETC
certificate from an applicant with a facility that is otherwise eligible for
the tax credit in return for a cash lump-sum pass through payment equivalent to
the net present value of the transferable tax credit. For the purposes of these
rules, the net present value of the credit for purposes of the pass through
payment is calculated based on the formulas below:
(a) For original preliminary certifications issued on
or after January 1, 2010:
(A) For a five year tax credit the net present
value is determined by taking the total tax credit amount divided by 1.3579.
Tax Credit/1.3579
(B) For a one year tax credit the net present
value is determined by taking the tax credit amount divided by 1.0309.
Tax Credit/1.0309
(b) For original preliminary certifications issued on
or before December 31, 2009:
(A) 50 percent BETC more than $20,000 in eligible costs
— 33.5 percent pass-through rate.
(B) 50 percent BETC $20,000 or less in eligible costs
— 43.5 percent pass-through rate.
(C) 35 percent BETC more than $20,000 in eligible costs
— 25.5 percent pass-through rate.
(D) 35 percent BETC $20,000 or less in eligible costs
— 30.5 percent pass-through rate.
(E) Homebuilder Installed Renewable Energy Facility or
High Performance Home tax credits — 87 percent of tax credit amount.
(c) If an applicant elects to use the pass through
option, the net present value of the credit (the pass through payment) for a
facility is determined by the date the department issues the initial preliminary
certification for the project.
(2) An Investor-Owned Utility may choose to become a
utility Pass-through Partner under the provisions of this section or
participate as a Pass-through Partner under other Provisions of these rules
that would apply to any other Pass-through Partner.
(a) An investor-owned utility (IOU) that complies with
this section may choose to become a Utility Pass-through Partner.
(b) Preliminary certification standards and process:
(A) The application for preliminary certification must
include an estimate of the total installation cost of the qualifying measures
for which the applicant expects to make payments under OAR 330-090-0140(2) for
that year.
(B) Within 60 days after an application for preliminary
certification of the pass-through is filed, the Director shall decide if it is
complete. If it is not complete, the application will be rejected and returned
to the applicant. The applicant may resubmit a complete application.
(C) Within 120 days after a completed application is
filed, the Director shall notify the applicant of the status of the
application, if the applicant has not been notified otherwise the application
has been denied.
(D) The application for preliminary certification of
the pass-through must include a detailed work plan. The applicant and ODOE must
mutually agree upon the work plan and program. The detailed work plan must
include:
(i) A copy or reference to any proposed or required
OPUC tariff and all evaluations of the program through which the pass-through will
be delivered,
(ii) A not to exceed estimate of the total eligible
costs that will be incurred for that calendar year with an estimate of the
number of rental dwellings that will be affected, and
(iii) An agreement that upon submitting the complete
final certification application the applicant will provide a detailed
description of each facility owner, site address, facility description or type,
number of dwelling units for multifamily facilities, total facility cost,
energy savings, energy type saved and tax credit amount passed through.
(c) Final certification standards and process: Final
application for a pass-through tax credit must include a summary and total of
each facility’s owner, site address, facility description or type, number of
dwelling units for multifamily facilities, total facility cost, energy savings,
energy type saved and tax credit amount passed through. The applicant must
retain records for each facility including all of the information required in
110-090-0130(11) of these rules.
(A) An application must contain:
(i) An itemized list of costs for each rental dwelling
unit weatherized, premium efficient appliance, each alternative fuel vehicle,
alternative fuel vehicle for company use, and alternative fuel fueling station,
and the total facility costs made that period for which the applicant is
applying for credit.
(ii) The nominal value of credits for which the
applicant applies, not to exceed the total eligible costs multiplied by the
existing net present value of the tax credit for the pass-through payment as
defined in OAR 330-090-0140(1).
(iii) The name, address, and phone number of the owner
of each rental unit, alternative fuel vehicle, or alternative fuel fueling
station listed in OAR 330-090-0140(2)(c)(A)(i). A sample selected by the
Department of individual weatherization location audit reports will be
submitted for at least 15 percent of the facility sites.
(iv) Certification that each rental dwelling unit
energy conservation measure (ECM) is a measure that would qualify under or is a
measure recommended in an energy audit completed under ORS 469.633(2).
(v) Certification that the ECMs paid for were installed
and inspected in accordance with the IOU’s appropriate allowed tariff(s),
(vi) Certification that the ECMs paid for were
installed and inspected in accordance with the IOUs’ Model Conservation
Standards tariff or equivalent program as approved by ODOE.
(vii) If costs associated with an individual rental
dwelling are $50,000 or more or if required by the Director, a written review
and summary completed by a certified public accountant, who is not otherwise
employed by the facility owner or pass-through partner, of costs paid based on
canceled checks, invoices, receipts, a binding contract or agreement, or other
documentation as may be required by these rules.
(viii) If a contractor installed fueling station: the
name, address, and phone number of the contractor as defined under OAR
330-090-0130(4) of this rule and the site at which the fueling station is
installed.
(B) Within 60 days after a complete final certification
application is filed, the Director will approve or deny final certification,
with reasons for the action. The Director will deny the final certification if
the applicant has not complied with the requirements of this rule. No later
than 60 days after the Director issues an order denying the final
certification, the applicant may request reconsideration as provided in OAR
330-090-0133(5). The Director will approve final certification if:
(i) The applicant provides the owners of existing
rental dwelling units listed in OAR 330-090-0140(2)(c)(A)(i) with:
(I) A low-interest loan, as defined by these rules, up
to $5,000 per dwelling unit for ECMs included in OAR 330-090-0140(2)(c)(A)(iv);
(II) A cash payment for ECMs included in OAR
330-090-0140(2)(c)(A)(iv). The payment must be a percentage of the
cost-effective portion of the energy conservation measures as approved by the
Oregon Public Utility Commission, including installation (but not including the
dwelling owner’s own labor), not to exceed the cost of those measures; including
the net present value of the tax credit for the pass through payment as defined
in OAR 330-090-0170(1) for the EMCs at that specific site address the IOU may
claim; or
(III) Such other payments approved by the Director to
pay for ECMs in rental dwellings. This includes a payment for the net present
value of the tax credit that exceeds the amount of the low-interest loan. This
payment will apply first to reduce the amount of the loan with the balance paid
to the owner of the rental dwelling unit.
(ii) The amount of the credit is the sum of payments
and loans listed in OAR 330-090-0140(2)(c)(A)(i) for ECMs that were installed
and inspected.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 469.040 &
469.165
Stats. Implemented: ORS 469.185 -
469.225
Hist.: DOE 7-1985, f. 12-31-85,
ef. 1-1-86; DOE 3-1989, f. 12-28-89, cert. ef. 1-1-90; DOE 3-1990, f. &
cert. ef. 9-20-90; DOE 4-1991, f. & cert. ef. 12-31-91; DOE 2-1993, f.
& cert. ef. 1-28-93; DOE 5-1993, f. & cert. ef. 12-14-93; DOE 2-1995,
f. 12-12-95, cert. ef. 12-15-95; DOE 3-1996, f. & cert. ef. 11-27-96; DOE
2-1997, f. 12-15-97, cert. ef. 1-1-98; DOE 4-1998, f. 12-14-98, cert. ef.
12-15-98; DOE 2-1999, f. 12-22-99, cert. ef. 1-1-00; DOE 1-2001, f. 10-5-01,
cert. ef. 10-8-01; DOE 2-2004, f. & cert. ef. 1-21-04; DOE 3-2004, f. &
cert. ef. 7-1-04; DOE 3-2007, f. 11-30-07, cert. ef. 12-1-07; DOE 3-2008, f.
& cert. ef. 3-21-08; DOE 2-2009(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 11-3-09 thru
5-1-10; DOE 1-2010, f. & cert. ef. 1-8-10; DOE 4-2010(Temp), f. 5-21-10,
cert. ef. 5-27-10 thru 11-2-10; Administrative correction 11-23-10; DOE
14-2010, f. & cert. ef. 11-23-10; DOE 3-2011(Temp), f. 4-15-11, cert. ef.
4-18-11 thru 10-14-11; DOE 6-2011, f. & cert. ef. 9-29-11
Notes
1.) This online version of the OREGON BULLETIN is provided for convenience of reference and enhanced access. The official, record copy of this publication is contained in the original Administrative Orders and Rulemaking Notices filed with the Secretary of State, Archives Division. Discrepancies, if any, are satisfied in favor of the original versions. Use the OAR Revision Cumulative Index found in the Oregon Bulletin to access a numerical list of rulemaking actions after November 15, 2010.
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