The following is excerpted from the COID Manager’s Report of May 12, 2009:
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Central Oregon Irrigation District Manager’s Report
COID Website – May 12, 2009
The federal economic stimulus package picture continues to develop for COID’s Juniper Ridge Piping and Hydroelectric Project scheduled to begin construction in October 2009. Several other irrigation districts in Central Oregon also have good chances of their projects receiving some funding also. The planning and work on water conservation projects over the past few years allowed the irrigation districts to be fully positioned with readily available projects eligible for stimulus funding. The recently approved federal appropriations of nearly $400,000 for the Deschutes Project will inject available funding for further conservation work. The Deschutes Basin Board of Control has requested to our congressional delegation for a $5 million appropriation for FY 2010.
The Juniper Ridge Hydroelectric and Piping Project is continuing on schedule. May 1st was the deadline to receive bids on the project. As anticipated a total of five (5) bids were deemed complete and officially received. Review of the bids has commenced with a ranking of the bids completed. It is anticipated that a project team will be officially selected by the Board of Directors by May 15. Construction will begin in early October 2009 with completion of the piping by April 2, 2010 and the hydro facility up and running by late summer 2010.
STATUS REPORT
Juniper Ridge Piping & Hydroelectric Project
Pre-Proposal meeting with potential bidders on March 10
Submitted grant application to OWEB with Deschutes River Conservancy for $3.75 MM.
ODOE Small Energy Loan Program application submitted along with pursuit of commercial and federal loan guarantee financing. ODOE loans carry only a revenue obligation of the project and can not encumber patron assessments.
Business Energy Tax Credit application submitted in early February
DEQ State Revolving Fund application accepted. Ranked #5 project in state for funding – funding request $5million. $2.5 MM in grant and $2.5MM in 20 year 0% interest loan.
FERC and State permit application to be submitted after natural resource consultations completed in late April
City of Bend Juniper Ridge Management Advisory Board agreed to coordinate and plan with COID on their joint Juniper Ridge activities. Bend will participate in some of the cost of burying the pipe and execute an Intergovernmental Agreement with COID.
Federal economic stimulus funding thru Bureau of Reclamation request of $5 million pending. Notification expected early summer.
