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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2016)
REGION Friday, March 18, 2016 Solar energy bill adds incentives for developers of large projects By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian Industrial-scale solar farms are getting a big ¿nancial push in Oregon after Gov. Kate Brown signed House Bill 4037 Wednesday in Pendleton. The bill directs the Oregon Business Development Department to establish incentives for projects between 2 and 10 megawatts. It takes roughly 8.3 acres of solar panels to generate a megawatt of electricity, according to a 2013 report by the National Renew- able Energy Laboratory. “These are not the systems you see on businesses and houses,” said Jeff Bissonnette, executive director of the Oregon Brown Solar Energy Industries Association. “If something is 2 to 10 megawatts, these are fairly large facilities.” Qualifying projects will receive half a cent per kilowatt hour of electricity they produce for ¿ve years. Applica- tions will be accepted until the program reaches a maximum of 150 megawatts, or by Jan. 2, 2017 — whichever comes ¿rst. Projects must have a deal with a commercial utility or electric coopera- tive to distribute the power. Bissonnette ¿gures about 16-18 projects could potentially bene¿t under HB 4036. “It really is targeted at projects that are shovel-ready,” Bissonnette said. “As UEC’s load grows and we continue to add new renewable resources, we’ll be looking for programs that will beneit our members.” — Steve Meyers, Umatilla Electric spokesperson “They might need just one more boost to get them over the ¿nish line.” State lawmakers allocated $951,561 toward the Solar Incentiv- ization Fund during the 2017-19 bien- nium, which includes the cost to hire a new program manager with Business Oregon. HB 4037 passed the House by a vote of 51-4 and 22-6 in the Senate. Rep. Greg Barreto, R-Cove, and Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, both voted in favor of the bill. Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, was excused from voting. Maximum payments over ¿ve years are estimated at $8.22 million. The fund sunsets after Jan. 2, 2023. Bissonnette said the bill is a major win for the Oregon solar industry, especially after the legislature passed a much larger, much more controversial bill requiring Portland General Electric and Paci¿c Power to double its renew- able energy mandate by 2040. In order for a solar array to qualify under HB 4037, it must be located within Oregon. Assuming the program reaches its full potential, Bissonnette said the state could almost double its current solar capacity of 85 megawatts. “That’s a big step,” he said. “Those types of industrial projects will work hand in hand with smaller resources located on homes and businesses across the state.” Currently, just .07 percent of Oregon’s electricity comes from solar. But there are some larger industrial developments on the horizon for Eastern Oregon, including a 6-mega- watt project near the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton. The Umatilla Electric Cooperative has also purchased 80 acres from the Port of Umatilla to invest in future solar projects. Since HB 4037 is a cash payment rather than a tax credit, the co-op would be able to participate, said spokesperson Steve Meyers. “As UEC’s load grows and we continue to add new renewable resources, we’ll be looking for programs that will bene¿t our members,” Meyers said. Bissonnette foresees more potential for solar in the region, given the area’s ample summertime sun and swaths of undeveloped land. “Solar has a big part to play in Oregon’s energy future,” he said. ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@ eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0825. Hermiston students compete in school’s ¿rst agriscience fair By JENNIFER COLTON East Oregonian More than 200 Herm- iston High School students put agriculture science into practice this quarter and, for the ¿rst time, the students could show off their projects in a school agriscience fair. “We really want to do projects that are learning by doing and are application based,” HHS agriculture teacher Leah Smith said Thursday. “What better way to teach the scienti¿c method than by doing it?” To prepare for the fair, each student in the agriculture-science classes picked a research project and conducted an experi- Staff Photo by Jennifer Colton ment. Projects ranged from Jenna Holt, from left, Reed Middleton and Megan Baskins all took home ribbons growing plants in different in Hermiston High School’s first agriscience fair. lights to testing hair growth Jenna Holt, ninth grade, This was over the course of gave credit for the fair’s in cattle. Students were ¿rst place, best material for weeks. It was good to see success to their teachers. graded not on “how cool” storing apple slices “They make sure we do how experiments develop the project was but on hands-on and we’re not just Reed Middleton, 10th over time.” data, conclusions and the grade, second place, soil Baskins said she enjoyed reading out a text book,” application of the scienti¿c type on wheat growth height being able to take initiative Middleton said. “We have method. Megan Baskins, ninth to create her own experi- great teachers and they This week, students grade, third place, how ment, and all three recom- make sure we do the best to presented their projects different ecosystems show mended choosing a project our potential.” during the agriscience fair to erosion Smith said she is already you are interested in or have coincide with parent-teacher planning on bringing the Thursday, all three background in. conferences. “There’s a wide variety of agriscience festival back next students said the project “It’s a positive for involved more work than things you can do. There’s a year, with a few changes. parents when they come to they expected. lot of hands-on experiments Next year, the project will conferences to show what “It was different than to do in ag science. I would give students a little more the students are learning,” what we do in other classes,” encourage anyone to try ag,” time and will be earlier in the Smith said. Middleton said. “If we do Holt said. “Take hold of it year to allow for the winning Students competed for get to do an experiment, it’s and have fun with it.” students to compete at a state cash prizes, which went to: The three students also competition. usually just in a class period. Pendleton sued twice over same water main East Oregonian The Hunter family and the city of Pendleton are familiar foes in the court- room, where they will meet again next month. Howard and Theresa Hunter ¿led a $200,000 lawsuit against the city of Pendleton Nov. 12, 2015 alleging that a leak from a city water line that runs near their 516 S.E. Third Street home Àooded their property, a suit not all that different from the one the couple ¿led against the city in 2007. In the 2007 suit, the Hunters allege a nearby water main broke in both 2005 and 2006, causing water to run down South Hill and collect on their property. The complaint states the Hunter’s house sustained damage to its yard, foun- dation, retaining walls and landscaping. Howard and Theresa Hunter each demanded $50,000 for negligence, $50,000 for the water tres- passing on their property and $100,000 for emotional distress. Representing the city, Salem attorney Gerald Tom Phelan Warren responded by writing that any damage to the Hunters’ home was caused by the house not meeting city code. The city would end up settling with the Hunters for $57,500 in 2008, but the two parties ¿nd themselves in a similar legal battle six years later. This time, the Hunters are seeking $100,000 for damages and $100,000 for emotional distress for a 2013 leak. Warren is again repre- senting the city, which main- tains the damage was caused by the Hunters inadequate drainage system. Both sides will appear in court April 3 for a status check. East Oregonian BRIEFLY Tax exemptions expire on $60M in investments HERMISTON —The expiration of two enterprise zone tax exemptions added $60 million to Hermiston’s tax rolls in 2015. A $35 million investment in 2009 by DuPont-Pioneer Seed and $25 million by Shearer’s Foods in 2011 both had their property tax incentives expire on July 1, 2015. The enterprise zone was designed to encourage economic development by giving businesses in certain industries a three- to ¿ve-year property tax break on new construction or equipment if the investment adds new jobs to the economy. Both DuPont-Pioneer Seed and Shearer’s Foods still have enterprise zone exemptions on other investments, according to a news release from the city of Hermiston, and their exemption claim forms ¿led for those projects show they added a combined 51 new full-time jobs in the Hermiston area in 2015. Since DuPont’s 2009 expansion, the two compa- nies have added a total of 306 new jobs with a payroll of $8.67 million in the enterprise zone. The property taxes paid on DuPont’s $35 million investment and Shearer’s $25 million investment will go to support the city of Hermiston, Umatilla County and taxing districts such as Hermiston School District and Hermiston Fire & Emergency Services. Hermiston slates kinder registration HERMISTON —The Hermiston School District will hold a spring kinder- garten registration window April 4-15 for students entering kindergarten in the 2016-17 school year. Registration will be held at each elementary school main of¿ce from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Parents/guardians must register students at their attendance area school. To verify a boundary school, adults may locate their home address on the district boundary map or call a school directly for assistance. Desert View: 1225 S.W. Ninth St., 541-667-6900 Highland Hills: 450 S.E. 10th St., 541-667-6500 Rocky Heights: 650 W. Standard Ave., 541-667-6600 Sunset: 300 E. Catherine Ave., 541-667-6700 West Park: 555 S.W. Seventh Ave., 541-667-6800 To be eligible for enroll- ment into kindergarten for the fall, students must be ¿ve years old by Sept. 1, 2016, or born on or before September 1, 2011. Parents/guardians are encouraged to bring the student’s birth record birth certi¿cate, baptismal certi¿cate or passport Social Security number proof of residence and health/immunization records to complete the enrollment process. Spanish translation services will be available. Pendleton / Hermiston • stratton-insurance.com ATHENA — The Athena-Weston and Milton-Freewater Uni¿ed school districts will be holding kindergarten registrations in April. Milton-Freewater will hold its kindergarten drive April 5 and April 7, from 4-6 p.m. at Grove Elementary School, 129 S.E. 15th St. Children must be ¿ve years old by Sept. 1 to enroll in kindergarten. Immuniza- tion records and a state birth certi¿cate must be provided by parents. Interpreters will be available. For additional informa- tion, contact Grove Principal Ami Muilenburg at 541-938- 3233. Further south, Athena-Weston will hold its registration day April 6 from 3:30-6 p.m. at Athena Elementary School, 375 S. Fifth St. In addition to immu- nization records and birth certi¿cate, the district will also evaluate children on their kindergarten readiness. Kindergarten enrollees are required to turn ¿ve no later than Aug. 31. Parents can call Athena Elementary School at 541-566-3581 to schedule an appointment. Undersheriff’s retirement party open to the public BOARDMAN — Morrow County’s long- serving undersheriff is taking off his star. Steve Myren, 53, has decided 30 years is enough in law enforcement and emergency services. He and his wife, Mim Myren, have invited the public to his retirement party Saturday from 1-4 p.m. at the Port of Morrow’s Riverfront Center, Boardman. Mim Myren Myren said there will be snacks, ¿nger foods and soft drinks, and she would like folks to bring their stories about Steve. There also will be a plaque presentation for Steve Myren at 2 p.m. Myren last summer won $5.5 million playing the Oregon Lottery. Myren took the money in annual payouts over 25 years. After taxes, that’s approximately $130,000 per year. He said at the time the winnings will make retirement easier. Myren as undersheriff was involved in many criminal cases in Morrow County, but he also applied his expertise in emergency management to help disaster areas in the United States. 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