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Oregon Woodstove Laws
The Oregon department of Environmental Quality established new
laws in 1991 related to installation of hearth appliances. As
of 1991, only EPA certified woodburning appliances may be installed
in homes. Woodstoves made prior to 1990 are still legal as long
as they have not been moved from their original location.
Uncertified
stoves, those made prior to 1991, cannot be resold or reinstalled
in homes or outbuildings. For more information on Oregon laws
and how to burn smart, visit Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality:
www.deq.state.or.us/aq/
In several cities in Southern Oregon and in
the tri-county area in Central Oregon, special rules are in
place concerning hearth appliances that are in homes or for sale.
Uncertified wood stoves (those manufactured before 1991)
must
be removed from the home when the home is sold. In many cases, homeowners elect to upgrade
their woodstove or fireplace insert with a certified wood, natural
gas, or pellet stove or insert.
Tax Credits
In the 2007 Legislative Session,
groundbreaking new laws were
passed that promote the use of alternative and renewable energy. New tax credits
are available starting
December, 2007 and retroactive to January 1, 2007, for installation
of many brands and models of EPA
certified woodstoves and pellet stoves and for using
cordwood and pellet fuel (biomass fuels) in heating homes.
NOTE: The list of qualified
appliances is still being assembled. Woodstoves that meet the 4.5
grams per hour requirement (or 2.5 gph for catalytic woodstoves)
can be found on the Dept. of Energy's List since it is derived
from the EPA's certified woodstove list. Pellet stoves that meet
the 2.5 grams per hour requirement are being added to the list,
and a few are on there, but the list of qualifying pellet stoves
is in the process of being created. Pellet stove manufacturers
will need to submit their third party certification results to DOE
to placed on the list.
The
fuel usage tax credit is not a credit on purchase, but use,
meaning a person could claim a tax credit for burning a tree that
fell in the back yard. The rules are being drafted now, and it is
likely that credits may be claimed for fuel that is burned in
approved appliances (not open fireplaces or uncertified stoves).
Residential Energy Tax Credits (RETC)
The Residential Energy Tax Credit applies to people who
purchase energy efficient appliances and generation capability
for renewable energy in homes starting December 1, 2007.
For a Word doc letter from Dept.
of Energy about the tax credit (Dec 11, 2007):
Click HERE
Application to apply for RETC Tax Credit:
Click HERE
The entire rules document can be found on the Internet at:
www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/RES/tax/docs/RETC_Rule_summary.pdf
The requirements are listed on page 35 of the
rules.
Appliances that qualify include heat pumps, wind electric
systems, high efficiency residential gas furnaces, dishwashers,
washing machines, water heaters, and “Very efficient biomass combustion devices” that
include EPA certified woodstoves and pellet stoves with the
following criteria: Woodstoves must be on the EPA list and have emissions that
meet the Washington state Standards: 4.5 for non catalytic, 2.5
for catalytic. Woodstoves must have a dedicated outside air intake system.
And they must be for residential heating (less than one quarter
million Btu per hour). Pellet stove emissions must be 2.5 grams per hour or less.
Eventually, the Dept. of Energy will provide a list of pellet
stoves that qualify. Outdoor wood or pellet hydronic heaters, wood boilers, and
masonry heaters do not qualify unless they have a certificate
from an independent lab.
The tax credit is up to $300 maximum. The formula is based on an
estimate for the first year of operation as a kilowatt hour
equivalent. The tax credit is equal to the first year energy
yield in kilowatt hours multiplied by $0.40 up to $300; or 25%
of the net cost of the device whichever is less.
Bio Fuels Tax Credit
The tax credit applies to companies and people who collect and
consume bio fuels such as bio diesel, bio home heating oil, and
biomass, such as cord wood and pellets in the case of home
heating. Rules take effect December 14 and are intended for calendar
year starting January 1, 2008.
The entire list of rules for Bio Fuels tax credit can be found
at:
www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW/docs/330-150Draft.pdf
The credit is $10 per bone dry ton of pellets or $10 per cord
of wood. The credit is for fuel burned (not bought) regardless of the
source. In other words, if you burn cordwood that came from a
tree that fell in your backyard, that qualifies. There will be
more detail on type of wood that qualifies once the rules are
out. The credit only applies if a pellet stove is used or a
woodstove on the list of EPA certified wood stoves.
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