(1) A county, a city in a rural area or a combination of contiguous counties may apply to the Director of the Oregon Business Development Department for designation of the entire territory of the applicant that is located in a rural area as a rural renewable energy development zone.

(2) An application for designation of a rural renewable energy development zone shall be in such form and shall contain such information as the Oregon Business Development Department prescribes by rule. The application shall include a copy of the resolution of the governing body of the city or each county that constitutes the applicant that states that the city or county seeks rural renewable energy development zone designation.

(3) The director shall approve designation of the territory of the applicant as a rural renewable energy development zone, excluding any territory of an applicant that is not within a rural area at the time of designation.

(4)(a) The designation of an area as a rural renewable energy development zone authorizes the exemption of up to an amount, determined as prescribed in paragraph (d) of this subsection, in real market value of property described in ORS § 285C.359 that meets the requirements for exemption under ORS § 285C.362.

(b) An applicant may seek subsequent additional designations under this section. An application for additional designation shall be made in the same manner as an application for initial designation, and shall be approved by the director if the application for additional designation meets the qualifications for designation under subsection (3) of this section.

(c) Each additional designation approved under this section authorizes the exemption of a new amount, determined as prescribed in paragraph (d) of this subsection, in real market value of property described in ORS § 285C.359 that meets the requirements for exemption under ORS § 285C.362.

(d) Each amount authorized for exemption under this section shall be determined as follows:

(A) The amount shall be set forth in the resolution described in subsection (2) of this section.

(B) If no amount is specified in the resolution described in subsection (2) of this section, the amount shall be $250 million.

(C) The amount may not exceed $250 million for any single designation under this section.

(D) The amount applies only to exemptions first claimed for a tax year that begins after January 1 following the date of adoption of the resolution described in subsection (2) of this section.

(5) If an application for designation was made by one city or county, that city or county shall serve as sponsor of the rural renewable energy development zone. If the application for designation was made by two or more counties, the application shall identify which county shall serve as the sponsor of the zone. [2003 c.662 § 70; 2005 c.595 § 4; 2007 c.739 § 9a]