The Oregon Department of Energy has released an application for and information about tax credits for small energy conservation projects. Under the new Conservation Energy Incentive Program, Small Premium Projects must have qualified costs of less than $20,000 and meet certain requirements. Approximately $1.7 million in tax credits are available for these projects on a first-come, first-serve basis. The maximum tax credit per project is $7,000. The filing deadline is Dec. 31, 2012. The application, along with other information in this opportunity announcement, can be found on the ODOE website. There is a $60 application fee.

Using biomass to produce energy has been used for hundreds of years to meet humans' energy needs. We are finding new and more efficient ways of creating and using bioenergy. While wood is the most plentiful sources of biomass, many other types of biomass can be used to produce energy and fuel. To learn more, click on the red text below.

Have you ever looked at your home heating/cooling bill and asked yourself: Why is this bill so high? Or: How can I reduce this bill?

Click on the link below (in red) to find out about the most common areas of inefficiency in a home and suggestions on how you can fix them. Also, the Energy Trust of Oregon offers a variety of assistance products for Oregon homeowners.

The Oregon Department of Energy conducted energy audits at 100 Oregon school districts that receive their electricity from Oregon's Consumer Owned Utilities and Idaho Power. Recovery Act (stimulus) funds paid for the audits that were part of the Governor's School Energy Audit Initiative. ODOE staff presented a webinar for school districts involved on Dec. 15. ODOE's Cool Schools team will continue to work with schools to implement energy efficiency measures recommended by the audits.

The Oregon Department of Energy has produced an interactive webpage that is designed to help Oregonians understand how and where their electricity is produced. You can enter the webpage by clicking on the red text below. Once you reach that page, simply click on the five colored bars near the top to learn where the power comes from.