RCW 43.325.020
Energy freedom program -- Established. (Expires June 30, 2016.)

(1) The energy freedom program is established within the department. The director may establish policies and procedures necessary for processing, reviewing, and approving applications made under this chapter.

     (2) When reviewing applications submitted under this program, the director shall consult with those agencies and other public entities having expertise and knowledge to assess the technical and business feasibility of the project and probability of success. These agencies may include, but are not limited to, Washington State University, the University of Washington, the department of ecology, the department of natural resources, the department of agriculture, the department of general administration, local clean air authorities, and the Washington state conservation commission.

     (3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the director, in cooperation with the department of agriculture, may approve an application only if the director finds:

     (a) The project will convert farm products, wastes, cellulose, or biogas directly into electricity or biofuel or other coproducts associated with such conversion;

     (b) The project demonstrates technical feasibility and directly assists in moving a commercially viable project into the marketplace for use by Washington state citizens;

     (c) The facility will produce long-term economic benefits to the state, a region of the state, or a particular community in the state;

     (d) The project does not require continuing state support;

     (e) The assistance will result in new jobs, job retention, or higher incomes for citizens of the state;

     (f) The state is provided an option under the assistance agreement to purchase a portion of the fuel or feedstock to be produced by the project, exercisable by the department of general administration;

     (g) The project will increase energy independence or diversity for the state;

     (h) The project will use feedstocks produced in the state, if feasible, except this criterion does not apply to the construction of facilities used to distribute and store fuels that are produced from farm products or wastes;

     (i) Any product produced by the project will be suitable for its intended use, will meet accepted national or state standards, and will be stored and distributed in a safe and environmentally sound manner;

     (j) The application provides for adequate reporting or disclosure of financial and employment data to the director, and permits the director to require an annual or other periodic audit of the project books; and

     (k) For research and development projects, the application has been independently reviewed by a peer review committee as defined in RCW 43.325.010 and the findings delivered to the director.

     (4) When reviewing an application for a refueling project, the coordinator may award a grant or a loan to an applicant if the director finds:

     (a) The project will offer alternative fuels to the motoring public;

     (b) The project does not require continued state support;

     (c) The project is located within a green highway zone as defined in RCW 43.325.010;

     (d) The project will contribute towards an efficient and adequately spaced alternative fuel refueling network along the green highways designated in RCW 47.17.020, 47.17.135, and 47.17.140; and

     (e) The project will result in increased access to alternative fueling infrastructure for the motoring public along the green highways designated in RCW 47.17.020, 47.17.135, and 47.17.140.

     (5)(a) The director may approve a project application for assistance under subsection (3) of this section up to five million dollars. In no circumstances shall this assistance constitute more than fifty percent of the total project cost.

     (b) The director may approve a refueling project application for a grant or a loan under subsection (4) of this section up to fifty thousand dollars. In no circumstances shall a grant or a loan award constitute more than fifty percent of the total project cost.

     (6) The director shall enter into agreements with approved applicants to fix the terms and rates of the assistance to minimize the costs to the applicants, and to encourage establishment of a viable bioenergy or biofuel industry. The agreement shall include provisions to protect the state's investment, including a requirement that a successful applicant enter into contracts with any partners that may be involved in the use of any assistance provided under this program, including services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment. Contracts with any partners shall become part of the application record.

     (7) The director may defer any payments for up to twenty-four months or until the project starts to receive revenue from operations, whichever is sooner.

[2007 c 348 § 302; 2006 c 171 § 3. Formerly RCW 15.110.020.]