(1) State agencies are authorized to enter into such contractual and other arrangements as may be necessary or convenient to design, develop, operate and finance projects on-site at state owned or state rented facilities. In developing such projects, state agencies shall offer a right of first refusal of two months for conservation and direct use renewable resources and three months for cogeneration and generating renewable resources to each local utility providing utility service to the agency to jointly develop, finance, operate and otherwise act together in the development and operation of such projects. The State Department of Energy shall adopt rules to establish the procedure by which the right of first refusal shall be administered. In adopting the rules, the department shall insure that the local utility providing utility service to the state agency is entitled to the first right to negotiate with the state agency and that the utility is entitled to match any offer made by any other entity to participate in the project. The department also shall adopt procedures that insure that the right to first negotiate and the right to match any offer applies to the sale of electrical or steam output from the project.
(2)(a) For as long as a project established under ORS 469.752 to 469.756 produces savings:
(A) A state agency’s budget shall not be cut because of savings due to the project; and
(B) A state agency shall retain 50 percent of the net savings to the state agency after any project debt service.
(b) Savings from a project shall be deposited in a revolving fund administered by the state agency.
(3) A state agency shall spend the savings under subsection (2) of this section to increase productivity through:
(a) Energy efficiency projects;
(b) High-tech improvements, such as the purchase or installation of new desktop or laptop computers or the linkage of computers into systems or networks; or
(c) Infrastructure improvements.
(4) The moneys credited to the revolving fund may be invested and reinvested as provided in ORS 293.701 to 293.790. Notwithstanding ORS 293.105 (3) or any other provision of law, interest or other earnings on moneys in the revolving fund shall be credited to the revolving fund.
(5) The remaining 50 percent of net savings to the state agency after any project debt service shall be deposited in the General Fund.
(6) Nothing in ORS 469.752 to 469.756 authorizes a state agency to sell electricity to an entity other than an investor owned utility, a publicly owned utility, an electric cooperative utility or the Bonneville Power Administration.
(7) Nothing in ORS 469.752 to 469.756 limits the authority of a state agency conferred by any other provision of law, or affects any authority, including the authority of a municipality, to regulate utility service under existing law. [1991 c.487 §2; 1993 c.86 §2]
Note: See note under 469.752.
Section: Previous 469.720 469.730 469.735 469.740 469.745 469.750 469.752 469.754 469.756 469.785 469.790 469.800 469.802 469.803 469.805 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008