Energy Trust - Small Wind Incentive Program (Oregon) State Rebate Program

Summary

Last modified on May 24, 2011.

Financial Incentive Program

Place	Oregon
Name	Energy Trust - Small Wind Incentive Program
Incentive Type	State Rebate Program
Applicable Sector	Commercial, Residential, General Public/Consumer, Nonprofit, Local Government, State Government
Active Incentive	No
Implementing Sector	State/Territory
Amount	Residential: Lesser of 4,500 per meter of rotor diameter, or 4,500 per rated kilowatts of the wind turbine Commercial: Lesser of 3,750 per meter of rotor diameter, or 4,000 per rated kilowatts of the wind turbine
Eligible System Size	Up to 50kW
Equipment Requirements	The tower height must be a minimum of 60 feet. All installed wind turbines must be on the list of Energy Trust qualified wind turbines Systems must carry a minimum 2 year warranty on all parts and labor
Installation Requirements	System must be installed by an Energy Trust Small Wind Trade Ally The property must be at least one acre Wind turbine must be placed 30 feet above any physical wind barrier (e.g. trees or buildings) within a 300 foot radius. Minimum set-back between the tower base and property lines and power lines must be equal to or greater than the height of the wind system, including the blades.
Maximum Incentive	Residential: 35,000 Commercial: 60,000
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits	Residential Systems: Energy Trust owns 100% of the REC’s for the first 10 years of operation, and the resident retains them for the remainder of the system's life Commercial Systems: Customer owns 100% of the REC’s for the first two years, and then Energy Trust owns them for the next 13 years.
Program Administrator	Energy Trust of Oregon
Website	http://www.energytrust.org/smallwind
References	DSIRE

Summary

The Energy Trust of Oregon’s Small Wind Incentive program provides resources and cash incentives to help customers of Portland General Electric and Pacific Power install turbines up to 50 kilowatts. To be eligible for the incentive the site must have annual average wind speeds of at least 10 miles per hour (4.5 m/s). Wind maps are available to provide estimated wind speed averages for specific sites, and Energy Trust Small Wind Trade Ally contractors can help interpret the results and recommend the best small wind system for the proposed site. Incentive levels are as follows:

Residential Systems: The lesser of $4,500 per meter of rotor diameter, or $4,500 per rated kilowatts of the wind turbine, up to a maximum of $35,000 Commercial Systems: The lesser of $3,750 per meter of rotor diameter, or $4,000 per rated kilowatts of the wind turbine, up to a maximum of $60,000

All systems must be installed by an approved Energy Trust Small Wind Trade Ally contractor. After the Energy Trust approves the customer's small wind system, the buy-down incentive will be paid to the contractor and deducted from the final cost. Currently, the program has only one Trade Ally contractor, but Energy Trust is actively seeking others.

Other available incentives include a residential tax credit through the Oregon Department of Energy of $2.00/kilowatt-hour produced in the first year of operation, up to $6,000 (up to $1,500 may be claimed per year), and a business tax credit of 50% of installed system cost applied over five years.

• Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.