State Program Update        

A Message from the Energy Trust of Oregon

After several years of challenges, Energy Trust of Oregon is making program changes that we hope will lead to well-sited turbines, good performance and most important, happy customers. 

Our changes began last year after a hard look in the mirror revealed that our wind map was quoting wind speeds that were significantly overestimated. Consequently, some of our estimates of production were also too high, leading some customers to become frustrated. 

We have made three important changes that we expect will put our program on solid ground: 

1. We switched from a capacity-based incentive to an estimated production-based incentive.  Our former incentive based on nameplate capacity was the same regardless of wind resource, tower height or siting.  Our new incentive is based on an estimate of annual production ($5.00 per kWh for the first 9500 kWh, $1.75 for every kWh above that) motivating customers to site their turbines well and use taller towers.  We cap incentives at 60% of project cost and pay incentives in full upon commissioning to help with the upfront investment in a turbine.
2. To improve our wind estimation, we jettisoned our former wind map in favor of reports and a screening tool from Wind Analytics, chosen after a competitive process.  Using the Wind Analytics reports also gives us a standardized way of estimating production, which is essential now that we are basing our incentives on those estimates.
3. Our third key change has been to limit the turbines on our eligible list to those that have both Interstate Turbine Advisory Council (ITAC) approval and certification to the AWEA 9.1 standard.  Our goal is to bring as much reliability to customers as we can. 

It is our hope that these changes will lead to satisfied customers who understand what they are buying and who then invest in turbines that meet their expectations. 

The Distributed Wind Energy Association Urges Congress to Extend the Investment Tax Credit Extension through 2016.  

The Distributed Wind Energy Association called on Congress for an immediate extension of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) through calendar year 2016 for land-based wind power. The ITC extension for land-based wind power represents a critical piece of public policy necessary to continue the growth of the Distributed and Community Wind Industry. An extended ITC will provide business certainty to this growing segment of the wind industry which delivers renewable energy to rural communities and U.S. based agricultural, industrial, and commercial customers who are generally unable to utilize the Production Tax Credit (PTC).

To support this effort visit www.distributedwind.org  to view the National Support Letter. To sign on to the letter, please email education@distributedwind.org with your company name, contact, and city/state.  

   
Committee Corner

The Midsize Committee (MSC) is actively advocating for the ITC extension and is working closely with DWEA's Federal Policy Committee. Members of the committee are attending a DWEA Lobby Day in Washington, DC this week.  

The MSC is creating a model zoning ordinance for the midsize sector of the distributed wind industry. They are working with the Permitting & Zoning committee to create this document. 

 To participate in or learn more about the Midsize Committee, please email education@distributedwind.org for more information.