November 2004 Newsletter

Renewable Energy Report Headed to Oregon Governor

Friday, November 5, 2004
By Mitch Lies, Oregon Staff Writer

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski in the next few weeks will field a draft report from several state agencies and stakeholder groups on a plan to increase renewable energy production in Oregon.

The report, nearly one year in the making, outlines actions state agencies can take to promote renewable energy production and identifies funding sources, tax incentives and market potential.

The report touches on a broad spectrum of renewable energy sectors - including biomass, biofuel, biogas, wind, solar, geothermal and micro-hydro. Part of the state plan is to educate farmers and ranchers on renewable energy possibilities.

"The idea is to get the word out to see how we can work together to help farmers get grants or tax incentives to produce renewable energy," said Carel DeWinkel, senior policy analyst for the Oregon Department of Energy. "Most of the money now goes to the Midwest. We are looking at how can we get better organized and get some of that money to this state."

The Department of Energy is funding the outreach program with federal grants. Educational sessions are scheduled at annual meetings of the Oregon Wheat Growers League, Oregon Seed Growers League, Oregon Cattlemen's Association and Oregon Farm Bureau.

Dave Van't Hof, sustainability policy advisor for Kulongoski, said it is unclear at this point if the governor is willing to spend state general funds on renewable energy projects. But he said the administration has made it a priority to expand the state's production.

Van't Hof said part of the governor's decision on which parts of the plan to advance will be based on funding requirements.

"That will certainly be an issue in terms of what we will take to the Legislature," he said. "That and what we can develop bipartisan support for."

Many of the initiatives proposed in the draft plan have minor budget impacts, DeWinkel said. Others require more substantial financial commitments from the state.

Ultimately the projects need to be profitable for the program to work, said Rob Russell, owner of Strategic Ventures in Vancouver, Wash.

"We shouldn't be trying to encourage someone to produce ethanol without knowing who they are going to sell it to," he said. "One way the state can be involved is making sure there are customers for biofuels."

One way to do that, he said, would be for the state to designate that a percentage of the state motor vehicle fleet operate on biofuels.

Representatives of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy and other state agencies as well as representatives of the state Farm Bureau and private industry organizations helped develop the draft report.

Renewable energy sessions scheduled

Rob Russell of Strategic Ventures in Vancouver, Wash., will conduct educational seminars and discussion sessions on renewable energy production during meetings of several organizations over the next month:

• Nov 17 – Association of Oregon Counties, Portland
• Dec 7 – Oregon Wheat Growers League annual meeting, Portland
• Dec 7 – Oregon Seed Growers League annual meeting, Portland
• Dec 8 – Oregon Farm Bureau annual convention, Eugene

In addition, Strategic Ventures is in discussions to provide presentations to the Oregon Grange and representatives of the Oregon dairy sector. For more information, call Strategic Ventures at (360) 258-9246.