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Contact Information:
Department of Environmental Quality
811 SW Sixth Avenue
Portland, OR 97204-1390
(541) 388-6146
Or view the Department's
Website
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OREGON
Oregon's Administrative Rules can be accessed from here.
CARBON DIOXIDE STANDARD:
Oregon is a partner in the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) , a regional initiative with a goal of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions 15% below 2005 levels by 2020, and has taken several other
actions related to climate change. The Climate Change Integration Act, HB 3543 (8/7/07),
established state greenhouse gas reduction targets of – stabilizing emissions by 2010,
reducing emissions to 10% below 1990 GHG emission levels by 2020, and 75% below 1990 GHG
emission levels by 2050. Oregon established CO2 emission standards for new facilities in 1997
with HB 3543, and updated them in 2003 with Chapter 345 Rules, Division 24. Affected facilities
are base-load gas electric generating plants, non-base load power plants, and non-electric generating
energy facilities such as natural gas pipeline compressors that emit CO2. Under the regulations,
facility owners and operators that cannot meet the emission limits must begin to implement offset
projects before facility construction begins.
| Base load gas plants |
0.675 lbs CO2/kWh |
| Non-base load gas plants |
0.675 lbs CO2/kWh |
| Nongenerating facilities |
0.504 lbs CO2/horsepower-hour |
DE MINIMIS EXEMPTIONS:
Minor sources are required to meet Typically Achieveable Control Technology (TACT) if no other regulations apply.
Sources that do not emit do not have to be permitted, but all emitting
sources do.
MINOR SOURCE PERMITTING:
The state has a general permit for sources smaller than 25 MW. A detailed explanation of the permit is available
by clicking here. However the general permit
is not available for turbines and units burning natural gas. These units must obtain a standard minor source permit.
A typically minor source permit requires low NOx burning technology, but requirements could vary depending on the
unit and location. In addition sources are limited to 20% opacity and 0.1 grains per dry cubic foot of PM.
Plant site emissions must not exceed the following:
NOx, SO2, VOC |
39 tpy |
| CO |
99 tpy |
| PM |
24 tpy |
| PM-10 |
14 tpy |
In addition, the following SO2 Emission Standards are in place:
For new sources with fuel burning equipment having a heat input capacity between 150 MMBtu/hr and 250 MMBtu/hr emissions cannot be in excess of:
- 1.4 lb/MMBtu heat input, maximum 2-hr average, when liquid fuel is burned;
- 1.6 lb/MMBtu heat input, maximum 2-hour average, when solid fuel is burned.
For fuel burning equipment wth a heat capacity of more than 250 MMBtu/hr the limits are as follows:
- 0.8 lb/MMBtu heat input, maximum 2-hour average, when liquid fuel is burned;
- 1.2 lb/MMBtu heat input, maximum 2-hour average, when solid fuel is burned.
MAJOR NSR/PSD PERMITTING:
250 tons of any criteria pollutant triggers PSD. 100 tons per year if the source is listed under EPA guidelines.
TREATMENT OF EMERGENCY ENGINES:
There are no specific limits but the general operating limits designated by the EPA are 500 hrs/year.
SITING REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-UTILITY GENERATORS:
Before a large energy facility is built in Oregon, the developer must apply for a site certificate from the
Energy Facility Siting Council. The types of energy facility subject to Council jurisdiction are defined by
statute in ORS 469.300(9). The Council performs a consolidated review for the following energy facilities:
Electric power plants with a nominal electric generating capacity of 25 megawatts or more from thermal
power or combustion turbines.
Electric power plants with an average electric generating capacity of 35 megawatts or more if the power
is produced from geothermal, solar or wind energy at a single energy facility or within a single energy
generation area.
Synthetic fuel plants that convert a natural resource including, but not limited to, coal or oil to a gas,
liquid or solid product intended to be used as a fuel and capable of being burned to produce the equivalent of
2 billion Btu of heat a day (except plants that use biomass as the raw material)
Plants that convert biomass to a gas, liquid or solid fuel product, or combination of products, intended to be
used as a fuel if any one of such products is capable of being burned to produce the equivalent of six billion
Btu of heat a day.
Small generating plants within an energy generation area, as described in OAR 345-001-0200, if the accumulated
effects of development are similar to a single plant with an average electric generating capacity of 35 MW or
more.
"Nominal electric generating capacity" means the maximum net electric power output of an energy facility based
on the average temperature, barometric pressure and relative humidity at the site during the times of the year
when the facility is intended to operate.
"Average electric generating capacity" means the peak generating capacity of the facility divided by one of the
following factors:
(a) For wind or solar energy facilities, 3.00;
(b) For geothermal energy facilities, 1.11; or
(c) For all other energy facilities, 1.00.
Detailed information about the siting process can be found at
Oregon Department of Energy Siting Facility Process
According to the PUC there are no exit fees for DG applications.
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Division
The Building Codes Division (BCD) provides code development, administration, inspection, plan review,
licensing, and permit services to the construction industry. These are integral to the safe and effective
construction of structures in Oregon.
International Code Council State Adoption Information Page
Provides an easy to use US map to locate state and local adoption of the International Code Council's model codes.
US DOE's Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs, Building Codes Database
The US DOE's database provides a comprehensive look at a state's building code implementation and enforcement process.
UTILITY STANDBY RATES:
Rate information from Portland General Electric Company
Monthly Rate |
Winter Months |
Summer Months |
On-Peak |
$ 0.0482/kWh |
$ 0.0641/kWh |
Off-Peak |
$ 0.0400/kWh |
$ 0.0334/kWh |
Weighted |
$ 0.0447/kWh |
$ 0.0508/kWh |
- There is also a monthly service charge for each separately meterd facility of $10.00.
INTERCONNECTION STANDARDS:
The State has the following requirements:
Applicable Technologies: Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, Anaerobic Digestion
Net Metering Rules: Yes
Size Requirements: up to 25 kW for residential; 2 MW for non-residential customers
of PGE and Pacificorp; and 25 kW for non-residential customers of municipal utilities, electric cooperatives, and people's utility districts
Interconnection Agreement: Yes for PGE and Pacificorp
Additional Insurance: No
External Disconnect Necessary: Yes, but certain small inverter-based systems are exempt
* The most recent net metering/interconnection rules, adopted in July 2007, can be found here.
Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit
Program
Oregon's business energy tax credit provides a credit for investments in the following types of projects - Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Renewable Transportation Fuels, Geothermal Electric, Geothermal Heat Pumps, CHP/Cogeneration, Hydrogen, Industrial Waste, Refueling Stations, Ethanol, Methanol, Biodiesel, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels.
The tax credit was increased with the passage of HB3201 in July 2007. The credit was increased to 50 percent of the eligible project costs, with a maximum credit of $10 million. You take the credit over five years: 10 percent during each year. If you can't take the full tax credit each year, you
can carry the unused credit forward up to eight years. Those with eligible project costs of $20,000 or less
may take the tax credit in one year. The sunset date for the tax credit is January 1, 2016.
HB 3619 passed in March 2008, increased the maximum credit available for manufacturers of renewable energy
equipment to $20 million (50% of a $40 million facility). The tax credit is also available to homebuilders who install
renewable energy systems on their construction projects. The maximum credit per homebuilder is $9,000 per single
family home, or $12,000 if the system is installed on a certitied high performance home. Other project types may also be eligible.
CHP projects are eligible. The standard CHP credit is a 35% tax credit. The Oregon Department of Energy uses the standard of 6,800 Btu/kWh
produced and requires that the project be 10 percent more efficient and have a simple payback of 1 to 15
years. There is also a high efficiency CHP credit, which is a 50% credit. Systems must be 20% more efficient and would need a heat rate of 5,440 Btu/
kWh (20% better than the 6,800 Btu/kWh current generation standard).
Contact Info:
Suzanne Dillard
Oregon Department of Energy
625 Marion St. N.E.
Salem, Oregon 97301
(503) 373-7565
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