I.V. schools to gain from renewable energy funds
From our weekly issue dated December 30, 2009
Nearly $6 million in federal funds for 18 renewable energy projects in Oregon — including two at Illinois Valley public schools — were announced by Oregon Dept. of Energy (ODE). Included are:
- Illinois Valley High School, pellet boiler, $283,700.
- Evergreen Elementary School, pellet boiler, $220,122.
These projects are funded by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act and bring the total number of energy projects in Oregon receiving awards to 164.
The Recovery Act funds are awarded through the State Energy Program (SEP) and can be used for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in public buildings. The U.S. Dept. of Energy administers the funds, approves the projects and reviews the state’s progress.
This current round of funding ($5.9 million) will be used for eight biomass projects in Cave Junction, Estacada, Oakridge, Elkton, John Day, La Grande, and Days Creek. Biomass is the organic matter in trees, agricultural crops and other living plant material.
The selected biomass projects will receive $2,060,194 in funding. Most of the biomass projects will be for the installation of biomass boilers at public school buildings.
ODE also awarded funds to other renewable energy projects, including geothermal and solar projects.
Four geothermal projects received $3,203,491 in funding. These include geothermal projects at Oregon State University Cascades Campus in Hood River, Henley High School in Klamath Falls, Portland State University Science Bldg. II, and Lakeview Geoheat Barry Well Site.
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The six solar projects that received funding are projects at two Wallowa County schools: Joseph High School and Enterprise School. Also included are solar projects at the Oregon Park & Recreation Dept.’s Milo McIver Pump Station in Estacada, the Grant County Historical Museum in Canyon City, the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton, and the Joseph Fire Dept. in Joseph. The six solar projects received $680,770 in funding.
ODE received more than 1,100 letters of interest in state energy programs, representing a request of more than $2 billion in Recovery Act funding. This is the fifth round of awards for a total of 164 projects funded. The projects funded:
- 22 school projects for $531,042.
- 21 Eastern Oregon projects for $1.3 million.
- 97 Western Oregon projects for $7.1 million.
- Six large public entity projects for $1.5 million.
- 18 renewable energy projects for nearly $6 million.
The public entities receiving SEP funds must complete their projects by March 31, 2012.
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