Blog — Energy Info

Rural Resilience Analyst Sara Millies-Lucke Reflects on Her Year at ODOE

Rural Resilience Analyst Sara Millies-Lucke Reflects on Her Year at ODOE

Last fall, ODOE welcomed RARE AmeriCorps member Sara Lark Millies-Lucke to the agency to serve as the Rural Resilience Analyst to provide research and recommendations on how ODOE could better serve and communicate with the state’s consumer-owned utilities and rural communities. We’ve shared several stories from Sara Lark and the Community Navigator team on our blog and want to thank her for her work with ODOE. In her final blog post, Sara Lark reflects on her work and lessons learned from the past year with ODOE.

Energy in Oregon, Get Involved, ODOE Team, Renewable Energy, Safety & Resilience, Saving Energy, Success StoriesJennifer KalezAugust 4, 2025RARE Program, Community Navigator, Community Navigator Program, Community Engagement, Public Engagement, On the Road in Oregon

July 2025 Newsletter

July 2025 Newsletter

In this month's newsletter, ODOE prepares to share draft policy recommendations for the Oregon Energy Strategy, launches a new weatherization program supporting consumer-owned utilities, celebrates 50 years of public service, shines a spotlight on storage paired with large energy facilities, and more.

Oregon Climate Action Commission to Meet Virtually on Aug. 8, 2025

Oregon Climate Action Commission to Meet Virtually on Aug. 8, 2025

The Oregon Climate Action Commission will meet online 9 a.m. to noon on Aug. 8, 2025.

Get Involved, Public Meeting, Press ReleasesKatelyn JacksonJuly 29, 2025OCAC, Oregon Climate Action Commission, Commissions, Public Meeting

Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board to Meet August 4

Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board to Meet August 4

The Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board will hold its next meeting on Monday, August 4, 2025.

Press Releases, Get InvolvedErica EuenJuly 29, 2025OHCB, Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board, Nuclear Waste, Nuclear Safety

Oregon Department of Energy to Release Draft Oregon Energy Strategy Recommendations Aug. 14

Oregon Department of Energy to Release Draft Oregon Energy Strategy Recommendations Aug. 14

The Oregon Department of Energy will release draft policy recommendations for the Oregon Energy Strategy on Aug. 14, 2025.

Save the Date: Webinar Aug. 14; Public Comment Period Open Aug. 14 through Sept. 22

Energy in Oregon, Press Releases, Get InvolvedKatelyn JacksonJuly 25, 2025Oregon Energy Strategy, Energy Strategy, Statewide Energy Strategy

Energy Facilities Spotlight: Storage

Energy Facilities Spotlight: Storage

As the state moves toward a clean energy future, including 100 percent clean electricity by 2040 for the state’s largest utilities, Oregon’s energy landscape will need to evolve to ensure enough clean power is available when it’s needed. One emerging solution is to pair energy storage with clean energy facilities. When the facilities generate more energy than is needed, the extra energy can be stored to later dispatch to the grid when it’s needed.

Energy Facilities, Energy in Oregon, Renewable EnergyJennifer KalezJuly 24, 2025Siting Spotlight, Siting Standards, Battery Storage, Energy Storage, Energy Facility Siting Council

ODOE at 50: History of Hanford Cleanup and Oregon’s Engagement

ODOE at 50: History of Hanford Cleanup and Oregon’s Engagement

2025 marks 50 years of Oregon Department of Energy public service. As we continue leading Oregon to a safe, equitable, clean, and sustainable future for the next 50 years (and beyond!), we’re taking time to reflect on what got us here. This month, we look back at the history of the Hanford Nuclear Site and Oregon’s engagement with the cleanup.

Safety & Resilience, USDOEJennifer KalezJuly 21, 2025ODOE at 50, Hanford, Hanford Site, Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Safety & Emergency Preparedness, Energy History

Celebrating 50 Years of ODOE

Celebrating 50 Years of ODOE

The Oregon Department of Energy officially reached 50 years this month — ODOE became an agency in July 1975 — and the team commemorated the milestone with a small celebration at the Salem office this week.

Success Stories, ODOE TeamJennifer KalezJuly 16, 2025ODOE at 50, Energy History

Grounded Podcast Episode 48: Existing Commercial Buildings Account for Nearly 20% of Oregon's Energy Use

Grounded Podcast Episode 48: Existing Commercial Buildings Account for Nearly 20% of Oregon's Energy Use

New podcast episode covers ODOE's Building Performance Standard and what Oregon is doing to incorporate the new program into Oregon's energy efficiency of its state-owned buildings.

PodcastsKatelyn JacksonJuly 16, 2025Grounded, Grounded Podcast, Podcast

Energy Facility Siting Council to Meet July 18

Energy Facility Siting Council to Meet July 18

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Oregon’s Energy Facility Siting Council will be held on Friday, July 18, 2025.

Energy Facilities, Energy in Oregon, Get Involved, Press ReleasesErica EuenJuly 10, 2025Energy Facility Siting Council, Press Release, News Release, Energy Facilities, Public Meeting

Oregon Climate Action Commission to Meet Virtually on July 11, 2025

Oregon Climate Action Commission to Meet Virtually on July 11, 2025

The Oregon Climate Action Commission will meet on July 11, 2025. The public meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. online.

Public Meeting, Press Releases, Climate ChangeKatelyn JacksonJuly 9, 2025OCAC, Oregon Climate Action Commission, Public Meeting

June 2024 Newsletter

June 2024 Newsletter

In this month's newsletter, ODOE launches a new heat pump incentive program, announces a new round of Community Renewable Energy Grant funding (and celebrates the program with a new video), begins implementation of building performance standard efforts, and more.

Energy Facilities, Energy in Oregon, ODOE Incentives, Renewable Energy, Safety & Resilience, Saving EnergyJennifer KalezJune 30, 2025Newsletter, newsletter, Federal Funding, Heat Pumps, Incentive Programs, Building Performance Standards, Community Renewable Energy Grant Program, Agriculture

ODOE's New Building Performance Standard Program Addresses Efficiency in Existing Large Commercial Buildings

ODOE's New Building Performance Standard Program Addresses Efficiency in Existing Large Commercial Buildings

The Oregon Department of Energy has launched Oregon’s new Building Performance Standard program, which will involve energy efficiency compliance deadlines for commercial buildings beginning in 2028.

Saving Energy, Press ReleasesKatelyn JacksonJune 25, 2025Building Performance Standards, BPS, Energy Efficiency

Getting Grounded: Oregon’s History with Nuclear Power

Getting Grounded: Oregon’s History with Nuclear Power

On this episode of Getting Grounded, our mini episodes on energy fundamentals series, we are joined by Joni Sliger, ODOE senior policy analyst. She discusses Oregon's history with nuclear power.

PodcastsKatelyn JacksonJune 25, 2025Nuclear Safety & Emergency Preparedness, Nuclear, Nuclear Waste, Podcast, Getting Grounded podcast

ODOE at 50: History of Federal Funding

ODOE at 50: History of Federal Funding

2025 marks 50 years of Oregon Department of Energy public service. As we continue leading Oregon to a safe, equitable, clean, and sustainable future for the next 50 years (and beyond!), we’re taking time to look back and reflect on what got us here. This month, we review decades of federal funding support.

Energy in Oregon, Federal Funding, Renewable Energy, Safety & Resilience, Saving Energy, USDOEJennifer KalezJune 23, 2025ODOE at 50, ODOE History, Federal Funding, Success Stories

ODOE Accepting Applications for New Heat Pump Incentive Program

ODOE Accepting Applications for New Heat Pump Incentive Program

ODOE is now accepting incentive applications through the agency’s new Heat Pump Purchase Program, which will provide $2,000 incentives for the installation of heat pumps in owner-occupied homes, rental homes, and homes under construction.

ODOE Incentives, Press ReleasesKatelyn JacksonJune 17, 2025Heat Pump Incentive, Heat Pumps, Heat Pump Incentives, Home Heating, Heating, Cooling

Governor Kotek and U.S. Climate Alliance Celebrate ODOE Grant Program

Governor Kotek and U.S. Climate Alliance Celebrate ODOE Grant Program

Governor Kotek recently joined the U.S. Climate Alliance to discuss the Oregon Department of Energy’s Community Renewable Energy Grant Program, and the wonderful project ODOE was proud to support at the Gloria Center in The Dalles.

Climate Change, Energy in Oregon, ODOE Grants, Renewable Energy, Safety & ResilienceJennifer KalezJune 5, 2025Community Renewable Energy Grant Program, Community Renewable Projects, ODOE Grants, ODOE Incentives, Renewable Energy, Resilience, Success Stories, CREP Success

ODOE Seeking Oregon Contractors to Participate in New Heat Pump Incentive Program

ODOE Seeking Oregon Contractors to Participate in New Heat Pump Incentive Program

The Oregon Department of Energy is now accepting applications from potential contractors to participate in the agency’s new Heat Pump Purchase Program, which will provide $2,000 rebates for the installation of heat pumps in owner-occupied homes, rental homes, and homes under construction.

ODOE Incentives, Press ReleasesKatelyn JacksonJune 4, 2025Heating, Heat Pump Incentive, Heat Pump Incentives, Home Heating, Contractors, C-REP

Getting Grounded: Petroleum's long history

On this episode of Getting Grounded, our energy fundamentals series of mini episodes, we are joined by Michael Freels, ODOE senior policy analyst. He discusses the history of petroleum, the variety of uses, challenges, and how it plays into our overall energy source planning.

PodcastsKatelyn JacksonJune 4, 2025Podcast, Getting Grounded, Getting Grounded podcast, petroleum, Fuel Action Plan, Energy Security Plan, Oregon Energy Security Plan, Electricity

Energy Facility Siting Council to Meet June 13, 2025

Energy Facility Siting Council to Meet June 13, 2025

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Oregon’s Energy Facility Siting Council will be held on Friday, June 13, 2025.

Energy Facilities, Energy in Oregon, Get Involved, Press ReleasesErica EuenJune 2, 2025Energy Facility Siting Council, Press Release, News Release, Energy Facilities, Public Meeting