2013 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 11 - Public Health, Housing, Environment
Chapter 470 - Small Scale Local Energy Projects
Section 470.815 - School district projects.

(1) School districts that participate in the clean energy deployment program established in ORS 470.810 may finance projects to:

(a) Weatherize, upgrade and retrofit kindergarten through grade 12 public schools;

(b) Retrofit school bus fleets to operate on compressed natural gas or other alternative fuels such as propane or to operate with high-efficiency types of engines such as hybrid electric engines; or

(c) Replace school bus fleets with school buses that operate on compressed natural gas or other alternative fuels such as propane or that operate with high-efficiency types of engines such as hybrid electric engines.

(2) The projects described in subsection (1) of this section shall be designed to improve energy efficiency, decrease fuel costs, increase use of alternative fuels and decrease emissions of air contaminants.

(3) School districts may finance the projects described in subsection (1) of this section by:

(a) Paying directly for the projects;

(b) Receiving lower interest loans from the Clean Energy Deployment Fund or the Small Scale Local Energy Project Loan Fund, supported by:

(A) Grant moneys from the Jobs, Energy and Schools Fund;

(B) Public purpose charges directed to a school district in areas served by investor-owned utilities under ORS 757.612;

(C) Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds issued under the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 or other federal loan programs; or

(D) Revenues generated by the savings in energy costs resulting from the energy efficiency improvements;

(c) Issuing general obligation bonds, subject to the bond election requirements under ORS 328.210; or

(d) Using any other source of moneys. [2011 c.467 §3]

Note: See note under 470.800.

Note: Sections 4 and 5, chapter 467, Oregon Laws 2011, provide:

Sec. 4. (1) The State Department of Energy shall establish and administer a four-year high performance schools pilot program within the clean energy deployment program established in section 2 of this 2011 Act [470.810] to create energy savings projects at public schools in this state. To facilitate short-term implementation of the pilot program, the department shall establish a schedule of projects, procured through a central contracting system, that will allow school districts to apply for energy efficiency projects encompassing both short-term and long-term improvements to existing public schools.

(2) The factors by which the State Department of Energy shall consider applications from school districts in this state for projects to be funded through the high performance schools pilot program shall include, but are not limited to:

(a) The comprehensiveness of the project improvements, with special attention given to improvements designed to attain compliance with standards set in the State of Oregon Structural Specialty Code and Fire and Life Safety Code and also to improve seismic safety of school buildings;

(b) The incorporation of biomass to generate onsite heat at school district facilities;

(c) Geographic diversity;

(d) The use of matching funds from other governmental and private sources;

(e) The timeliness of the projects;

(f) Whether the projects are supported by an energy management plan adopted by the school district that includes a program for monitoring and verifying energy cost savings from the projects;

(g) Whether the projects include retrofit or replacement of school bus fleets to operate:

(A) On compressed natural gas or other alternative fuels such as propane; or

(B) With high-efficiency types of engines such as hybrid electric engines;

(h) The amount of cost savings generated by the proposed improvements; and

(i) The extent to which projects incorporate ongoing measurement, verification, reporting and guarantees of actual energy use.

(3) Before approving a project under this section that includes elements unrelated to energy efficiency and that is designed to attain compliance with standards set in the State of Oregon Structural Specialty Code and Fire and Life Safety Code and to improve seismic safety of school buildings, the State Department of Energy must find that:

(a) The project showcases new or improved technologies or designs that promise cost-effective energy efficiency if adopted by the marketplace, including elements unrelated to energy efficiency that are practically inseparable from the project, and would not receive adequate financing unless those unrelated elements are also eligible for financing as part of the project; or

(b) The elements unrelated to energy efficiency are closely integrated with the energy efficiency improvements within the project, and elimination of these elements would result in significant additional expense or delays in completing the project. [2011 c.467 §4]

Sec. 5. Section 4 of this 2011 Act is repealed on June 30, 2015. [2011 c.467 §5]