Oregon Rural Energy Portal

Energy efficiency and renewable energy are increasingly common features in rural business projects. Nearly all of USDA Rural Development's programs can support such activities, but several programs are particularly well-suited to rural energy projects.
 

• Rural Energy Program Overview (PDF, 51 KB)
• Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Awards 2008-2011 (PDF, 51 KB)
   

Energy Efficiency Programs

• REAP Grants - for equipment & real estate improvements
• REAP Guaranteed Loans - for equipment & real estate improvements
  
   

Renewable Energy Programs

USDA Rural Development renewable energy programs support wind, solar, biomass, biofuels, geothermal, anaerobic digester and micro-hydro projects. (Ocean energy projects may be eligible on a limited basis.)

• REAP Grants - for equipment & real estate improvements
• REAP Guaranteed Loans - for equipment & real estate improvements
   

Technical Assistance Programs

• REAP-Energy Audit Grants - to support energy audits and renewable energy development assistance programs
• REAP-Feasibility Study Grants -to support feasibility studies for prospective renewable energy projects
• Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) - for planning or working capital for on-farm renewable energy projects & for biofuels

BioFuel Programs

• Advanced Biofuel Producer Payment (9005) Program - incentive payments for biodiesel & non-corn starch (including cellulosic) ethanol producers
• Biorefinery Repowering Payment (9004) Program - payments for biorefineries to replace fossil fuel sources in their operations
• Biorefinery Guaranteed Loan (9003) Program - for development of biodiesel & non-corn starch (including cellulosic) ethanol refineries
• Biomass Research and Development Grant (9008) Program - for research & development for advanced biomass fuels, especially cellulosic ethanol
  
   

Links and Information Resources

• Other funding sources for energy projects in Oregon (PDF, 35 KB) - Oregon is fortunate to have a rich array of energy incentives from a variety of sources. Listed in this document are some of the main ones.
• Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE)
• Business Energy Tax Credits (BETC)
• State Energy Loan Program (SELP)
• Energy Trust of Oregon - primarily for customers of PGE, Pacific Power, & NW Natural
• Bonneville Power Administration
• Blue Sky Renewable Energy Project Funding - for customers of Pacific Power
• Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Opportunities for Oregon's Agricultural Producers - resource guide by Oregon Department of Agriculture
• Energy Self Assessment tool - an online self-test by USDA NRCS for various ag operations on potential energy efficiency improvements -
  includes greenhouses, irrigation, dairies, livestock, lighting, potato storage, etc.
• Oregon Department of Agriculture
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - "Save Energy Save Money" Web site for farmers, ranchers and private landowners
• USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
• FSA Biomass Crop Assistance Program - payments for producers & collectors of feedstock for biomass energy (e.g., farmers & forestland producers)
• US Department of Energy
• DOE's Tribal Energy Program
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• Economics of a Solar PV Project in Rural Oregon (PDF, 72 KB)  - sample costs and benefits from a solar photovoltaic system
• Energy Funding Resources for Publicly Owned Treatment Works in Oregon (PDF, 76 KB)
  
   

Technology Primers - handy engineering guides for renewable technologies

• Solar Photovoltaic (PDF, 246 KB)  
• Solar Thermal (PDF, 329 KB)  
• Small Wind (PDF, 642 KB)  
• Large Wind (PDF, 785 KB)  
   

Energy Programs in the Farm Bill

• Farm Bill Energy Programs Fact Sheet (PDF, 39 KB)
   

Click here to sign up for e-mail notices about energy-related program opportunities. 

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