The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) has issued new temporary BETC rules. The purpose of these rules, according to ODOE, is to clarify how the Section 1603 Grant will be deducted from BETC project costs. In an apparent reversal of ODOE’s recent position during the Tier Two and Tier Three application phases, the temporary rules appear to exclude from the definition of a “federal grant” any Section 1603 Grant that was obtained before April 18, 2011. However, the Section 1603 Grantwill be deducted from “certified” costs for projects that receive preliminary certification and that start construction after April 18, 2011 (the issuance date of these temporary rules). The temporary rules define certified costs to be the “costs certified in the final certification issued pursuant to ORS 469.215.” To see ODOE’s news release and a copy of the new temporary rules follow the links below.

http://oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/BUS/docs/TempBETCrules18APR11withedits.pdf [rules]

http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/news/1133BETCFedGrant.shtml [news release]