75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 599
 
                         House Bill 2181
 
Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5).
  Presession filed (at the request of Governor Theodore R.
  Kulongoski for State Department of Energy)
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Authorizes local governments to establish local improvement
district within which owners of qualifying residential and
commercial property may receive loan financing of energy
efficiency and renewable energy improvements to property.
  Authorizes State Department of Energy to make loans to finance
energy efficiency improvements to existing real property in
districts.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to energy conserving improvements in existing buildings.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + Section 2 of this 2009 Act is added to and made
a part of ORS 223.387 to 223.399. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + (1) As used in this section, 'qualifying real
property' means existing single family or multi-family
residential dwellings of any size and commercial buildings that
do not exceed 20,000 square feet that:
  (a) Are located within the boundaries of a local improvement
district formed under this section; and
  (b) Can benefit from the type and extent of energy efficiency
and renewable energy improvements that can be financed with a
loan to be repaid by assessment for a local improvement.
  (2) A local government may establish a local improvement
district for the purpose of providing owners of qualifying real
property with loans to finance payment of energy efficiency and
renewable energy improvements in the real property.
  (3) A local government that forms a local improvement district
under this section may require that an energy audit be performed
on the dwelling or commercial building before a loan is approved
under this section.
  (4) A local government may assess real property within the
district for a share of the costs under this section only if the
property owner obtains a loan under this section.
  (5) The State Department of Energy, in cooperation with the
Housing and Community Services Department, shall establish, by
rule, the type and extent of energy efficiency improvements a
property owner may finance with a loan to be repaid by assessment
for a local improvement. In establishing the type and extent of
energy efficiency improvements that may be financed, the
departments shall consider the amount of energy that can be
conserved and the cost-effectiveness of particular types of
improvements.
  (6) The State Department of Energy may lend money under the
provisions of ORS 470.060 to 470.080 and 470.090 to a local
government that forms a local improvement district under this
section or to owners of qualifying real property within a
district formed under this section.
  (7) The amount of bonds, including loans provided directly to a
local government under subsection (6) of this section,
outstanding at any one time for making loans under this section
may never exceed one-half of one percent of the assessed value of
taxable real property within the jurisdiction of the local
government. + }
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