Search Federal and State Laws and Incentives

Alternative Fuel Loans

The Oregon Department of Energy administers the State Energy Loan Program (SELP) which offers low-interest loans for qualified projects. Eligible alternative fuel projects include fuel production facilities, dedicated feedstock production, fueling infrastructure, and fleet vehicles. Loan recipients must complete a loan application and pay a loan application fee. SELP is not currently accepting new loan applications (confirmed April 2018). For more information, including application forms and interest rate and fee information, see the SELP website. (Reference Oregon Revised Statutes 470)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Acquisition, Fuel Use, and Emissions Reductions Requirements

All state agencies and transit districts must purchase AFVs and use alternative fuels to operate those vehicles to the maximum extent possible, except in regions where it is not economically or logistically possible to fuel an AFV. Each state agency must develop and report a greenhouse gas reduction baseline and determine annual reduction targets. Reports to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) must include the number of purchases or leases of AFVs or AFV conversions and the quantity of each type of alternative fuel used annually by state agency fleets.

DAS and the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) must improve the plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) bulk procurement process to reduce costs for state agency PEV purchases. DAS must develop a "Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) First" policy to encourage state employees to use PEVs or other LEVs in the state fleet. DAS and ODOE must also develop a tool to calculate the long-term return on investment and life-cycle costs of PEVs to inform agencies of potential cost savings. In addition, DAS must inform and support legislative changes that enable increased charging infrastructure and state agency PEV purchases.

(Reference Executive Order 17-21, 2017, Oregon Revised Statutes 283.327 and 267.030, and Executive Order 06-02, 2006)

Clean Transportation Fuel Standards

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) administers the Oregon Clean Fuels Program (Program), which requires fuel producers and importers to register, keep records of, and report the volumes and carbon intensities of the fuels they provide in Oregon. Phase 2 of the Program, implemented in 2016, requires fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon content of transportation fuels.

DEQ must conduct rulemaking for the Program to support greater plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) adoption. DEQ must also develop a method to aggregate and monetize all eligible PEV credits in the Program to assist in achieving the state goal of 50,000 registered PEVs in Oregon by 2020. For more information, see the DEQ Oregon Clean Fuels Program website.

(Reference Executive Order 17-21, 2017, Oregon Revised Statutes 468A.270, and Oregon Administrative Rules 340-253)

Electricity Provider and Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Charging Rate Regulations

Regulated electric utility tariffs must explicitly permit customers to resell electricity for use as a motor fuel, as long as the entity is not considered a public utility as defined in Oregon Revised Statutes 757.005 and does not provide any utility service. Additionally, each regulated electric utility must provide customers with a choice of flat rate or time of use electricity rates specific to PEV owners. Finally, an investor-owned utility can own and operate PEV charging equipment using its own funds or petition the Oregon Public Utilities Commission for rate recovery. (Reference Public Utility Commission of Oregon, Order No. 12-013, 2012)

State Agency Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Installation

State agencies may install publicly-accessible EVSE on their premises or contract with a vendor to do so. The Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) will establish criteria to determine the appropriate number of locations for EVSE at each agency. A state agency may establish and adjust a uniform price for charging, provided that the price recovers, to the extent practicable, the cost of operating the EVSE and does not exceed 110% of the average market price for the use of public EVSE. DAS will report to the Legislative Assembly on the number, cost, and utilization of EVSE installed by state agencies by February 2019, February 2021, and February 2023.

DAS must add PEV charging capacity for employee and public visitor parking lots, develop contracts to procure and install charging infrastructure, and incorporate PEV charging as a tenant improvement for state-leased buildings.

(Reference House Bill 4022, 2018, Executive Order 17-21, 2017, and Oregon Revised Statutes 276.255)

Planned Community and Condominium Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Installations

The owner of a lot in a planned community or unit in a condominium may submit an application to install EVSE for their personal use in a parking space subject to the exclusive use of the owner. The homeowners association must approve a complete application within 60 days. The owner is responsible for all costs associated with the EVSE installation and use, must disclose the existence of the EVSE and related responsibilities to a prospective buyer, and must ensure that the infrastructure meets insurance and safety requirements. EVSE installed under these regulations on or before June 4, 2015, is considered to be the personal property of the lot or unit owner with which the EVSE is associated, unless the owner and homeowners association have negotiated a different outcome. Additional requirements and restrictions apply. (Reference Oregon Revised Statutes 94.550, 94.762, 100.005, and 100.627)

Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Deployment Support

Oregon joined California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont in signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support the deployment of ZEVs through involvement in a ZEV Program Implementation Task Force (Task Force). In May 2014, the Task Force published a ZEV Action Plan (Plan) identifying 11 priority actions to accomplish the goals of the MOU, including deploying at least 3.3 million ZEVs and adequate fueling infrastructure within the signatory states by 2025. The Plan also includes a research agenda to inform future actions. On an annual basis, each state must report on the number of registered ZEVs, the number of public electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and hydrogen fueling stations, and available information regarding workplace fueling for ZEVs.

In June 2018, the Task Force published a new ZEV Action Plan for 2018-2021. Building on the 2014 Action Plan, the 2018 Action Plan makes recommendations for states and other key partners in five priority areas:

• Raising consumer awareness and interest in electric vehicle technology;
• Building out a reliable and convenient residential, workplace and public charging/fueling infrastructure network;
• Continuing and improving access to consumer purchase and non-financial incentives;
• Expanding public and private sector fleet adoption; and
• Supporting dealership efforts to increase ZEV sales.

For more information, see the Multi-State ZEV Task Force website.

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Parking Space Regulation

An individual is not allowed to park a motor vehicle within any parking space specifically designated for public parking and fueling of AFVs unless the motor vehicle is an AFV fueled by electricity, natural gas, methanol, propane, gasoline blended with at least 85% ethanol (E85), or other fuel the Oregon Department of Energy approves. Eligible AFVs must also be in the process of fueling or charging to park in the space. A person found responsible for a violation is subject to traffic violation penalties. (Reference Oregon Law 208, 2015, and Oregon Revised Statutes 469B.100)

Transportation Electrification Acceleration Programs

The Oregon Public Utility Commission must direct electric utilities to file applications for programs to accelerate transportation electrification. Eligible programs include investments in or customer rebates for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). Among other criteria, programs must stimulate innovation, competition, and customer choice in EVSE and plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging.

Additionally, the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) must engage with publicly and investor-owned utilities on how to improve transportation electrification plans and increase PEV adoption in their service territories. ODOE must also provide the utilities with technical assistance on how to accommodate increased electric system loads from PEVs.

(Reference Executive Order 17-21, 2017, and Oregon Law 28, 2016)

Plug-In Electric Vehicle and Vehicle Efficiency Fees

Beginning January 1, 2020, all-electric vehicle (EV) owners must pay an annual fee of $110. Beginning January 1, 2022, EV owners must pay a fee of $115. Medium-speed EV owners must pay an annual fee of $58. All other vehicles must pay an annual fee in the following amounts:

These fees are in addition to standard registration fees. (Reference Oregon Revised Statutes 803.420-803.422)

Clean School Bus Grants

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality must use funds awarded to Oregon through the Volkswagen Clean Air Act Civil Settlement and deposited in the Clean Diesel Engine Fund, to award grants to owners and operators of at least 450 school buses powered by diesel engines. Eligible vehicles include buses that have at least three years of remaining useful life. Grants will be available for 30%, up to $50,000, for the purchase of a new bus or up to 100% of the cost to retrofit a school bus with emissions-reducing parts or technology that reduce diesel particulate matter emissions by at least 85%. (Reference Oregon Revised Statutes 468A.795-468A.803)

Rented Commercial Property Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Installations

The tenant of a commercial space may submit an application to install EVSE for the use of the tenant, employees of the tenant, and customers of the tenant. Unless the premises does not have at least one parking space per rental unit, the landlord must approve a completed application no more than 60 days after the tenant submits the application. In the absence of a different tenant-landlord agreement, the EVSE will be personal property of the tenant and the tenant is responsible for all costs associated with installation and use of the EVSE. The tenant is responsible for maintaining a renter's liability insurance policy of at least $1 million. Upon the termination of the rental agreement, the landlord may require the tenant to remove the charging station and restore the premises. (Reference Oregon Revised Statutes 90.100 and 90.462)

Support for Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Adoption

In order to support the state goal of at least 50,000 PEVs registered and operating in Oregon by 2020, the Zero-Emission Vehicle Working Group (Working Group) will develop goals and progress metrics for PEV adoption. The Working Group will include representatives from the Departments of Administrative Services, Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Quality, and the Oregon Public Utility Commission. The Working Group will aim to remove barriers to PEVs and PEV charging stations, and establish a website to share information about their efforts with the public. (Reference Executive Order 17-21, 2017)

Volkswagen Settlement Allocation

The Department Environmental Quality (DEQ), with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE), and Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division, must engage stakeholders and receive public comments to inform the development of a plan to leverage up to 15% of the Volkswagen Mitigation Fund to support vehicle electrification. The plan should include the development and maintenance of plug-in electric vehicle charging stations, with a focus on rural and low-income communities.

ODOT, with ODOE, DEQ, the Public Utility Commission, and local governments, must develop proposals for future 30-month investment periods of Electrify America's Zero-Emission Vehicle Investment Plan.

(Reference Executive Order 17-21, 2017)

Mandatory Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Building Standards

The Oregon Department of Business and Consumer Services, Building Code Division, must amend the state building code to require that all newly constructed residential and commercial building parking structures can support the installation of at least one level 2 EVSE by October 1, 2022. (Reference Executive Order 17-21, 2017)

Establishment of Recognition Programs for Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Adoption

The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) must design and establish Governor's Awards for automobile dealerships to encourage sales of PEVs. ODOE must also design and establish Governor's Awards for businesses and organizations that support PEV adoption through installing charging infrastructure and using PEVs in their fleets. (Reference Executive Order 17-21, 2017)

Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Rebate

The Clean Vehicle Rebate Program provides rebates to Oregon residents, businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies for the purchase or lease of PEVs. New PEVs with a battery capacity of less than 10 kilowatt-hours (kWh) are eligible for a rebate of $1,500 and new PEVs with a battery capacity greater than 10 kWh are eligible for a rebate of $2,500. Oregon residents that meet low or moderate household income requirements are eligible for rebates of $2,500 for the purchase or lease of used all-electric vehicles (EVs) and $5,000 for the purchase or lease of new EVs. For more information, see the Clean Vehicle Rebate Program website. (Reference Oregon Law 750.149, 2017)