An opportunity to promote additional renewable energy development
 
Thanks to our Blue Sky customers, Pacific Power is able to provide upfront funding, up to 100 percent, of new qualifying projects. These projects must support new renewable energy technology development including: wind, solar, geothermal, certified low impact hydroelectric wave energy and low-emissions biomass (according to industry standards).

Pacific Power provides financial incentives through the Blue Sky program to help advance the development of renewable energy projects in the communities it serves – and where our Blue Sky customers live and work. Pacific Power seeks to fund projects that have a high chance of succeeding and that provide benefits to all Blue Sky customers across the company’s multi-state service area.
 
Blue Sky Community Projects
 
To date, Blue Sky customers have provided funding to support more community-based renewable energy projects across the company’s service area, increasing the generation of electricity from sources such as wind and solar energy generation. Click here for a list of previous fund award recipients.  

How to get funds for your project
 
For a project to be considered our application form must be completed and submitted. The form is available here.   
 
Submitting an application (The application window for 2008 is closed)

Before applying, please review the eligibility guidelines and evaluation criteria to give yourself a sense of how your project fits our program goals and criteria. If you believe your project is a good candidate for funding, submit an application form.

Pacific Power will make funding decisions annually, but we encourage everyone to submit an application at any time with the understanding that typically applications are reviewed annually during the months of May and June and applicants are notified at the end of June (see timeline below). 

Recipients of funding awards will be required to provide financial and narrative reports annually to document the use of funds. In addition, where applicable, recipients will be expected to provide Pacific Power the right to claim a share of the project’s renewable energy credits. These credits are representative of a percentage of the output when comparing the company’s financial contribution to the overall cost of the project, which are retired on behalf of Blue Sky customers. 

Pacific Power does not provide project development assistance or assistance in obtaining co-funding.

The  Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive, user-friendly and free source of information on state, local, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy. DSIRE provides a list of renewable energy incentives available in any U.S. state you choose. The incentives are divided into the following categories: financial incentives including tax incentives, grants, loans, rebates, industry recruitment, solar energy equipment leasing and sales by utilities, and production incentives. Rules, Regulations & Policies including public benefits funds, renewables portfolio standards, net metering, interconnection standards, extension analysis, generation disclosure, contractor licensing, equipment certification, solar/wind access laws, construction & design standards, requirements to offer a green power product, and green power purchasing/aggregation policies.

Level of funding available

Funding is based on dollar per watt industry figures – which have a geography component. Funding can range from a few thousand dollars to more significant investments. Funding will typically be made on a one-time basis. 

Project Eligibility
 
Eligible renewable energy technologies include new electricity generation facilities or new additions to existing facilities fueled by:

• Wind
• Solar
• Geothermal
• Certified low-impact hydro
• Wave energy
• Low-emissions biomass based on digester methane gas from landfills, sewage treatment plants or animal waste and biomass energy based on solid organic fuels from wood, forest or field residues or dedicated crops that do not include wood pieces that have been treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol or copper chrome arsenic to help facilitate the commercial application of renewable energy technologies. 
  

Funding is available for projects:

• Located in Pacific Power’s service area
• Locally-owned commercial-scale that produce less than 10 megawatts of electricity
• Expected to come on-line in two years of the receipt of funding
• New projects only 
• Focused on research and development which encourages renewable energy market transformation in order to accelerate marketability of renewable energy technologies, but a preference is given for projects that bring more renewable energy to the region   
• Installations that provide direct financial benefit to a for-profit-business will only be considered if an organization is a Blue Sky participant at the Visionary level 

Funding is not available for:

• Off-grid projects
• Private individuals 

Preferred Project Standards

Pacific Power will favor funding for projects and activities that:

• Result in the production of renewable electricity
• Support communities through a strong education and public engagement component
• Support a Blue Sky customer project
• Provide strong environmental and economic benefit to local communities and Pacific Power customers
• Build regional capability
• Take  advantage of other incentives and tax credits available to support the project 

Criteria used to evaluate an application

A team of individuals from a wide range of disciplines within Pacific Power review each application according to the eligibility requirements to determine which projects will be supported (subject to the availability of funds). Pacific Power staff review applications based on the following criteria and other factors deemed appropriate.

The goal of the review team is to:

• Assist in the creation of new renewable electricity sources within PacifiCorp’s Pacific Power service areas
• Stimulate renewable energy development by increasing the capacity of individuals, community groups or other organizations to undertake and support renewable energy development in their respective communities
• Encourage research and development of renewable energy sources
• Promote education in the community on new renewable energy generation 

Evaluation criteria

• Timeframe - How quickly will it move forward?  Is the proposed installation timeframe reasonable?
• Site– Is the project sponsor ready to proceed with the project (i.e. efforts undertaken related to feasibility, financial agreements, permitting).  Can the site effectively host a renewable energy project? Is permitting required?  Have rights, options or leases been granted to secure site control? What is the probability of the project being built?
• Financing– Is there an adequate financial structure that will ensure it’s completion within two years?   Is the customer or vendor a reliable business partner?  Do they have longevity at the site or in the technology? Are there undue project risks which would put it in jeopardy?
• Project champion - Is there a champion involved in the project that will work to overcome obstacles in making this happen? What is the experience of the developer? 
• Additionality - Can these funds be used to make the difference in bringing additional renewable resources on line? 
• Fuel Source - Is the fuel source one that is listed under the eligibility requirements above?
• Technology - Is the product available in the current year?
• Availability - Are the green tags produced available for purchase?
• Cost - Are the total project costs and cost-share requested reasonable based on industry standards?  What is the proposed cost for green tags purchased from the project?
• Geography - Proportional contribution to Pacific Power service areas: CA, OR, WA based on Blue Sky option customer subscription levels
• Community benefit - Can benefits be leveraged for the benefit of the community and Blue Sky customers?  What are the secondary environmental and economic benefits?
• Best practice standards - Does the project meet regional Green e standards or state specific legislation/standards or other applicable governmental environmental impact criteria?

Funding Logistics

For a project to be considered an application form must be completed and submitted. Please be sure and respond completely to all questions asked in the application and include a realistic timetable of project completion. 

• Pacific Power will make funding decisions annually.
  All applicants are informed of the status of their application in writing.
• Successful applicants will be notified for any special conditions of the funding
• Those projects not selected will also be notified in writing. 

Timeline

• March 3, 2008 – Funding opportunities announcement
• May 5, 2008, 5 p.m., PDT –The application window for 2008 is closed
• June 30, 2008 – All applicants will receive notification by this date.
• July 18, 2008 – Successful applicants must return signed acceptance letter.
• August 18, 2008 – Funds released to recipients with signed acceptance letter 
  

Applications received after the deadline will be considered during the following funding period, pending funding availability. Schedules and the availability of funds are subject to change.
 
Application process

• Download the  application.
• Deadline to file for funding is closed for 2008 .
• To enable Pacific Power to evaluate your project, please complete the application in detail. The application will serve as the primary means by which projects will be evaluated. 
• The timely return of a completed application is mandatory for consideration for a Blue Sky fund award. Applicants may contact us with questions via e-mail, but this will not serve as a substitute for a completed application.
• Pacific Power may contact you for further information, so please provide your current contact information.
• Pacific Power requests that you complete this questionnaire in Microsoft Word.
• Please provide any photographs, cut sheets, schematics, drawings, narratives or other information you consider useful in the evaluation of your project. Materials may be submitted with this questionnaire or under separate cover by mail or express carrier, fax or e-mail as indicated below:

Pacific Power
Attn: Blue Sky Fund Award
1900 SW 4th Avenue – Plaza
Portland, OR 97201
Fax: (800) 754-3114

Email:blueskyprojects@pacificpower.net      

Contact us

Questions about the fund award, the questionnaire, and the funding process should be submitted to blueskyprojects@pacificpower.net