|
|
|
Facilities SB1149
What is SB1149? Senate Bill 1149 directs residential and business customers in Portland General Electric (PGE) and Pacific Power service territories to pay a 3 percent “public purpose charge” as part of their monthly utility billings. 10 percent of those dollars are allocated to school districts with campuses on the Pacific Power or PGE power grids. Dollars are dispersed based on average daily membership (ADM). These dollars then are able to be used for energy construction upgrades with a 15-year simple pay back. WESD has organized a consortium of school districts and will contract out the audits and improvement work in those districts at a cost savings that provides more dollars for the school districts to use for energy efficient improvements. SB1149 Steps
Accessing Information For consortium members to access project status or financial information specific to your District, click on your District from the list on the right-hand side of the screen. This will open a page requiring you to enter your password, and once the correct password has been entered you may choose which report you would like to see by clicking on the named button. If you have not yet received your password, or are having difficulty opening the page, please call Anna Lince at (503) 385-4707. The SB1149 staff is always available and able to give you details and/or answer any questions you may have. Program Questions
What is an Energy Audit? An energy audit is an evaluation of current building conditions (in terms of energy usage). It is also an analysis of potential projects (EEMs or O&Ms) to save energy use. A good audit will provide a solid foundation for: building operation and maintenance, project planning, energy project design, project construction and verification, and future energy management and project planning. Energy audits generally address the entire facility, rather than focusing on one area (such as lighting). What is an “EEM” (Energy Efficiency Measure)? Also referred to as an Energy Conservation Measure, EEMs are capital improvements to buildings that save energy. They usually include such things as: windows, insulation, lighting, and HVAC or mechanical system changes that reduce energy use. EEMs will impact the three basic building components that cause energy use: the building shell (walls, roofs, etc.), lights, and the mechanical (HVAC) systems. Operations and Maintenance Measures (O&Ms) save energy too, but are usually low cost or no cost items or other actions that are part of normal maintenance. Eligible EEMs will pay for their installed cost in annual energy cost savings within a 10-year period. Performance Contracting Performance Contracting is a mutual agreement between
a client and a Performance Contracting Firm whereby the firm agrees to
complete work for a firm fixed price. This firm fixed price includes project
design and construction. The Performance Contractor then guarantees that
the project can be paid for from reduced energy cost without obligating
the General Fund. The reduced energy cost combined with SB1149 and BETC
create a net breakeven or positive cash flow. These funds are then used
to pay for the construction over the life of the loan, typically 10-15
years.
BETC Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit Program (BETC) BETC provides private companies with a tax credit for energy saving projects. The net value of the tax credit to the District equals approximately 27 percent of the eligible project costs. Because non-profits do not have a tax burden they have been given a method of using the tax credit through the use of a “Pass-through.” The “Pass-through” option allows the project owner to transfer the BETC to a “pass-through” partner for a lump-sum payment in exchange for the tax credit. In order to receive BETC you must complete and turn
in the application, along with the filing fee, prior to contracting for
construction services. |
Click here for Individual district SB1149 information. | ||||
|
Copyright, 2004, Willamette Education Service District 
|
||||||
