ORS 468.449 Zero-Emission Incentive Fund; rules

The Zero-Emission Incentive Fund is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned by the Zero-Emission Incentive Fund shall be credited to the fund.

Moneys in the Zero-Emission Incentive Fund shall consist of:

Amounts donated to the fund;

Amounts transferred to the fund by the Department of Revenue under ORS 320.435;

Amounts appropriated or otherwise transferred to the fund by the Legislative Assembly;

Other amounts deposited in the fund from any public or private source; and

Interest earned by the fund.

The Department of Environmental Quality shall encourage gifts, grants, donations or other contributions to the fund.

Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the department to be used to carry out the provisions of ORS 468.442 to 468.449.

No more than 10 percent of the moneys deposited in the fund per biennium may be expended to pay administrative expenses incurred in the administration of ORS 468.442 to 468.449 by:

The department; and

Any third-party organization that the department hires or contracts with under ORS 468.444 and 468.446.

As used in this subsection, “administrative expenses” does not include expenses incurred by the department or third-party organizations in:

Conducting community outreach under ORS 468.446 (14); or

Otherwise engaging in efforts to promote transportation electrification through participation in the programs established under ORS 468.444 and 468.446.

The Environmental Quality Commission may adopt by rule provisions for the allocation of moneys deposited in the fund between the programs established under ORS 468.444 and 468.446.

Rules adopted under this subsection must require that at least 20 percent of the moneys deposited in the fund per biennium are allocated to fund the provision of rebates through the Charge Ahead Oregon Program established under ORS 468.446.

The amount required to be allocated under paragraph (b) of this subsection in any biennium shall be reduced, but not below zero, by the amount deposited from any other source in the Charge Ahead Zero-Emission Incentive Fund established under ORS 468.447.