The Oregon State Department of Energy has a program to help Oregon businesses get a head start on telecommuting. The program explains the benefits of telecommuting for business and employees and provides incentives, loans and information on how to set up a corporate program.
Oregon State is also offering tax credits to offset the telecommuting project costs. Oregon businesses can access up to $750,000US in state tax credits for projects which reduce vehicle miles traveled on the job or for reductions in commuting to and from work, including telecommuting. The Business Energy Tax Credit equals 35% of eligible project costs against Oregon income taxes owed. The credit is taken over 5 years.
Costs for purchasing and installing new or used equipment at the telecommute site are eligible for tax credits. Equipment must be used for telecommuting at least 45 working days per calendar year. Approved equipment includes: computers; facsimile devices; modems; phones; printers; software; etc. Costs for replacing equipment moved from the principal place of business to the telecommute site are not allowed under the scheme. Also ineligible are charges for operating and maintaining equipment, cost of office furniture and office supplies, training fees and cost of equipment at the principal place of business (other than modems). Expenses for home-based businesses are not eligible.
Oregon State also has a Small Scale Energy Loan Program (SELP) in place to finance telecommuting projects. The loans include competitive interest rates which the government suggests is most effective for loans of $25,000US or more. Loans can finance full project costs including: study and design; purchasing and installing equipment; and costs of obtaining the loan.
The Oregon Department of Energy is committed to helping Oregon businesses learn more about telecommuting. They have a series of video tapes on the topic along with written materials. Oregon has also established communications with the Washington State Energy Office and the Arizona Department of Administration who have been pioneers in the dissemination of telecommuting information within their own states.
Editors Note:
The Oregon example is representative of how several state governments are encouraging local businesses to implement telecommuting as a way of conserving fuel, reducing air pollution and reducing traffic congestion. The Oregon program is of particular interest due to the financial incentives being provided. These incentives will help move more businesses to the point of implementing telecommuting.
Finally, it is important to remember telecommuting is not exclusively used in "big" cities. The two main cities in Oregon, Portland and Salem, do not have huge populations. The traffic, fuel and pollution issues however, are of vital importance to all cities. The business benefits to be derived from telecommuting are not tied to the level of traffic congestion. Often we think of telecommuting as being an appropriate solution for Los Angeles, New York or Toronto but not necessarily for some of our "medium-sized cities". The Oregon program reminds us these concepts can be effectively applied anywhere.
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