Renewable or “green” power is a term used for the electricity or power that is produced by a renewable or “green” generation facility. Facilities that minimize or eliminate contributions to green-house gasses and climate change. Facilities that do not add noxious or harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Examples of “green” or renewable systems are hydro, solar, photovoltaic, wind, methane production through land gassification and wave or tidal systems.
Lane Electric is one of a group of Oregon electric co-ops who have joined forces to offer “green” or renewable electrity to their members. Annual contributions to the Bonneville Environmental Fund (BEF) have been made by Lane Electric for the research and development of new renewable or “green” resources for many years. Lane Electric is involved with some of the new “green” projects that have been developed recently. In fact, as of January 2009, a dozen and half net-metering, photovoltaic projects have cropped up on our service area, including a 4,000 watt PV system at the Oakridge Elementary School and a 14,000 watt system in our west area.
Lane Electric is always interested in looking at and evaluating new and exciting “green” opportunities - among them, wave energy, geo-thermal generation, wind production and, solar generation. Make no mistake, while renewable energy is a good idea, the cost of generating this “green” or renewable energy is higher than the energy generated by the dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. In fact, on a blended basis, green power can cost as much as three times more.
How can you purchase “green” power? It’s simple. When you subscribe to our MemberChoice Program, you may purchase “blocks” of “green” kilowatt-hours. Each “block” equals 100 kWh and costs an additional $2.00 per “block” on your electric bill. So, in addition to your regular monthly electric bill, you will see a separate line item charge for “MemberChoice” on your bill. Your monthly bill from Lane Electric will clearly reflect your support of renewable energy.
Lane Electric is pleased to offer our Member Choice green power program for subscription.
If you are interested, you may sign up to purchase as little as 1 block of “green power” or you may buy green power blocks (100 kWh each) equal to what your monthly average electrical usage is. That is to say that if on average, your monthly electrical usage is 1500 kWh, you are eligible to buy up to 15 blocks of green power. Remember, each block of green power costs $2 so in this example, an additional $30 would be added to your electric bill for green power. You may subscribe to as many blocks as you like by completing the accompanying Member Choice request form.
Each block of Member Choice energy you purchase includes 100 kWh of electricity that has been generated from a certified “renewable” or “green” generating facility.
To sign up for the Member Choice program, you can return the completed form with your electric bill or call 484-1151 and speak to one of our Customer Service Representatives about signing up.
Click Here to download the Member Choice Form
A $500 rebate for the installation of Oregon Department of Energy's (ODOE) tax credit qualified and approved solar water heaters.
A $1/Watt rebate for ODOE tax credit and approved residential solar photovoltaic systems up to a maximum of $4,000.
A Zero percent (0%) loan available for photovoltaic (PV) and/or solar water heating systems up to a maximum of $9,000 (OAC).
NOTE: Other renewable energy systems may qualify. Contact Lane Electric's Energy Services Department at 541.484.1151 for more details.
As part of Lane Electric’s commitment to conservation and renewable energy, a 4kW (4000 watt) photovoltaic (PV) solar system was donated and installed on the Oakridge Elementary School in an effort to provide students, faculty and general public the opportunity to monitor and learn how renewable energy can be helpful to the school and the environment. Information from the Oakridge Elementary School Solar Demonstration Project is operational and available online for your review. You are able to look at how the PV system is operating on a real-time basis, historically or, by the day, week, month or year. Take a look and see how the system works and performs in Oakridge.