Reagan mulls repeal of energy tax credits
By KATHERINE MERRILL
OI«w EmaraM
Suggestions by Pres Ronald
Reagan to unplug alternative
energy tax credits are disturb
ing two Oregon congressmen
and several state energy of
ficials
One of them is Sen Bob
Packwood, R-Ore Last year,
Packwood worked on the tax
credit portion of the Windfall
Profits Tax Bill, enacted under
the Carter administration
Under that bill, residential
users of wind, solar or
geothermal equipment receive
a 40-percent tax credit, and bu
sinesses get a 25-percent sav
ings
"We are not a hundred per
cent sure the administration
Packwood is not sure what Reagan is planning
Weaver ‘strongly opposed’ to repeal of tax credits
means to repeal the tax credits
enacted last year,’’ Packwood
says, "but President Reagan did
refer to a repeal of energy tax
credits during a televised ad
dress ”
Etta Fielek, an aide to
Packwood, says the finance
committee may hold hearings
on the issue but "the concept
would originate in the White
House "
Pres Reagan is considering
repealing the tax credits to
make up for a shortage in
revenue, Fielek says “It’s a way
of collecting more taxes "
Packwood pushed for the tax
credits to reduce the United
States' dependency on foreign
oil, she says “They serve as an
incentive for people to explore
alternative energy ”
Rep Jim Weaver, D-Ore, also
is "strongly opposed to the
repeals," according to one of
weaver's press aides, David
Jory
Weaver doesn't want govern
ment funds going to support
nuclear power, synthetic fuels,
or to the military to make up the
shortfall, Jory says Instead,
Weaver would like to see that
money go toward alternative
energy, Jory says
Pres Reagan's proposal aims
at across-the-board cuts to al
ternative energy, especially
residential weatherization and
energy efficiency projects, he
says
Allen Brown, of the Solar
Energy Center in Eugene, says
the federal tax credit repeal
would have a "devastating ef
fect” on people installing solar
systems But in the long run the
high cost of imported oil and
other synthetic fuels might drive
people back to solar energy, he
adds
Brown is concerned that state
credits also may be repealed,
but John Kauffman of the
Oregon Department of Energy
says state repeals probably
won't happen because the last
legislature upheld the credits
"I would say they're safe,”
Kauffman says. "They've been a
significant stimulus to residen
tial users of solar energy.”
While the federal credits ap
ply only to active systems (those
that use pumps), passive sys
tems are less expensive, he
adds The repeal of the credits
would encourage the installa
tion of passive equipment.
According to Kauffman, tax
credits have aided the expan
sion of alternative energy in
Oregon.
Emergency loan limit rises
By BRIAN BUBAK
Ol the Emarato
University students can now secure short
term loans — commonly know as emergency
loans — for up to S250, a $100 increase from last
year s limit
However, the maximum number of loans a
student may take has been limited to two per year,
said Edmond Vignoul, University financial aid
director This ceiling was established partially
because financial aid expects an increase in the
total number of loans students will request this
Studies Center
opens doors
The Environmental Studies Center is plan
ning an open house for Thursday, from 1 to 5
pm in Condon 104
By hosting the open house Manager Jan
Marshall says the center is trying to familiarize
students with its services
The studies center has been on campus for
five years and we want to let the students know
that we are here," Marshall says The center
functions as a library and resource center for
students, faculty and community members It
maintains a collection of books, resource
papers and environmental impact statements in
what the staff calls a congenial atmosphere "
“We get some students papers and a few
articles that profs hold for reserve," says Mar
shall
The center is open Monday through Friday
from 8:30 am to 5 p m
year, he explained
More than 9,000 loans totaling over $16
million were granted last year, according to Larry
Tergesen, administrative loan officer And with
the economic outlook, the possibility of exhaust
ing the loan fund is becoming an increasing
threat, he stressed
"There is the potential to run out of money"
for a short period of time this year, Tergesen said
But loans are repaid regularly and the resulting
cash flow can supply the $910,000 fund — which
is funded through private donations — with
enough money to keep the program alive, he said
Money is still available and the process is still
"very, very simple,” Vignoul said Students mere
ly fill out the one-page short-term loan application
at the financial aid office and pick up their money
at the cashiers window in Oregon Hall the next
day
No interviews No questions No credit
checks — except to verify a student isn't behind
on any payments to the University
Terms of the loan, Vignoul says, are also
simple $250 maximum loan, 90-day maximum
loan period, and the applicant must be at least a
half-time student who has paid tuition and fees
Emergency loans are not designed to solve
long term problems, but to take care of student's
immediate cash flow needs, Vignol says Students
use the loans for a variety of reasons — many of
which are quite serious — but the purpose of the
loan is not a qualification for getting it, he ex
plains The use of the loan is "up to the student
they can use it for what ever they choose "
"It's unique that a state school has such a
large loan fund," Tergesen said, adding that other
state institutions do not have nearly as active a
program
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