PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon taxpayers will have to bail out a state energy loan program due to a series of delinquent loans to renewable energy companies.
The Oregonian reports (http://bit.ly/zVNU8r ) Wednesday that a State Debt Policy Advisory Commission report finds the Oregon Department of Energy’s Small Scale Energy Loan Program will need $2 million to $5 million a year over the next five years for a total of up to $20 million to stay solvent.
The program has made 848 loans totaling $574 million since it was approved by voters in 1980. At year’s end, five loans worth $13.4 million — 10 percent of the current portfolio — were delinquent.
Energy Department acting director Bob Repine blamed the losses on the poor economy, not poor management of the program.
