February 2020 Newsletter
Solar + Storage Rebate Program Hits the Ground Running
Last month, ODOE officially launched our new Solar + Storage Rebate Program – and we already have more than 200 rebate reservation requests totaling over $850,000 for Oregonians across the state.
An important goal of ODOE's program is to expand access to renewable solar and energy storage to lower-income Oregonians, so at least 25 percent of rebate funds are set aside for low- and moderate-income Oregonians and low-income service providers (known as the LMI group). So far, nearly $500,000 has been requested for the LMI group, with over $250,000 left to reserve. Earlier this month, ODOE clarified its guidelines and developed three options for Oregonians to determine LMI eligibility, including an option to submit state tax transcripts to show household income.
Oregonians not considered low- or moderate-income are also eligible for the program. ODOE released an initial $375,000 for the non-income restricted group, which has already been reserved. We will release an additional $375,000 in non-restricted funds at 8 a.m. on April 15.
More information and a regularly-updated dashboard of remaining program dollars is available on ODOE's website. And please help spread the word! We hope this program helps expand access to renewable energy for low-income families and underserved areas of the state.
ODOE Issues Notice of Violation for Disposal of Radioactive Materials at Arlington Landfill
On February 13, ODOE issued a Notice of Violation for disposal of radioactive materials in violation of Oregon state law at the Chemical Waste Management hazardous waste landfill near Arlington. In consultation with other State of Oregon agencies, ODOE determined there is no current threat to landfill workers, the public, or the environment from this waste. ODOE directed the landfill operator to prepare a risk assessment to formally evaluate potential past, present, and future risk from the waste, and to develop a corrective action plan to outline the processes the company will put in place to prevent this from happening again. Going forward, this incident is also an opportunity to evaluate whether changes are necessary to strengthen Oregon’s radioactive waste disposal law and rules, and our agency’s enforcement options. Read more on ODOE's blog.
The Gilliam County Court will be hosting two town hall meetings on March 4, 2020 in Condon and Arlington. ODOE staff and Chemical Waste Management representatives will attend to share the latest information and answer questions from the public. There will be future opportunities for the public to weigh in later this spring, after ODOE receives the landfill operator's risk assessment and corrective action plan.
Oregon Wind Farms Begin Repowering
On our blog this month, we discussed "repowering" in the energy world, which means upgrading components of an existing electrical generation facility to increase capacity and/or make a facility more efficient. These upgrades can also extend the life of an energy facility. Some of the first wind farms to join the Oregon landscape are beginning to show their age. Repowering turbines with newer components – longer and lighter blades, new gearboxes, and other technologically advanced equipment – will make the turbines more efficient and able to generate energy at lower wind speeds.
Cynthia Condon Appointed to Energy Facility Siting Council
The Oregon Senate has confirmed Cynthia (Cindy) Condon of Salem as the newest member of the Energy Facility Siting Council. Cindy was appointed by Governor Brown and confirmed by the Senate for a term beginning February 14 through December 12, 2020. Cindy is completing the remainder of a recently-vacated term, and will be eligible to be reappointed for two additional four-year terms. Read more on ODOE's blog.
Oregon Reaches 30,000 Registered Zero Emission Vehicles
In January, Oregon officially reached 30,000 registered ZEVs on our roads. While that's a huge accomplishment (we had less than 7,000 just five years ago), reaching our goal of 50,000 by the end of this year is going to be a challenge. On February 20-23 we partnered with the Columbia Willamette Clean Cities Coalition at the Portland International Auto Show to talk electric fuel, ZEV models, charging infrastructure, and more. Find incentives that can save you $10,000 or more on a new ZEV on our Go Electric Oregon website.
ODOE Updates Electricity Resource Mix
This month, we updated our interactive Electricity Resource Mix web page to reflect data from 2017. Renewable hydropower leads the overall mix, followed by coal and natural gas. Click through the different data tabs to learn more about the mix, including utility-specific data, electricity generation, greenhouse gas emissions, and more.
Seeking Interns
We are currently recruiting for five interns: an IT Developer Intern, a Tech Support Intern, a Data Visualization Intern, an Appliance Standards Intern, and a Biennial Energy Report Intern. Our College Internship Program is designed to give students the opportunity to gain practical experience working in a state agency. We accept internship applications from students in accredited degree programs who have completed at least their freshman year in an Associate or Bachelor's degree program, as well as students enrolled in graduate school. Interns will be matched with an ODOE mentor throughout their internships. Check out available openings on our website, and please spread the word.
Reports From Around the Agency
We're hiring! In addition to the internship recruitments above, we also have openings for a Government Relations Coordinator, a Senior Policy Analyst, and a Human Resource Analyst. Check out our website for more information.
Assistant Director for Planning & Innovation Alan Zelenka and ODOE Project Manager Kaci Radcliffe were in Washington, D.C. earlier this month for the 2020 NASEO Energy Policy Outlook Conference. Alan presented during a breakout session about state leadership on energy-related climate action, and Kaci served as a moderator for a discussion on building grid-connectivity, green leasing, and performance standards.
ODOE Energy Analyst Michael Freels shared updates on ODOE activities on energy efficiency and equity at the Oregon Energy Coordinators and Affiliates' February 5-6 winter meeting in Newport.
ODOE Senior Policy Analyst Adam Schultz joined a panel discussion with Solar Oregon on February 10 to talk about how solar and storage systems can boost community and energy resilience.
ODOE Director Janine Benner and Assistant Director for Central Services Cathy Connolly presented to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee on February 24 in response to a budget note in our 2019-21 biennial budget. Janine reviewed ODOE's budget, programs, and more. You can watch the presentation and find related meeting materials on the subcommittee's website.
#GoElectricOR: we shared some exciting electric vehicle milestones on the Go Electric Oregon website this month. Oregon DEQ is processing its Charge Ahead Rebates for EV buyers, Bonneville Environmental Fund announced a Zero Emission Vehicle Innovation Fund, the Oregon Department of Transportation shared that about $4 million is coming soon for West Coast Electric Highway upgrades, and more.
Speaking of electric vehicles, our Technology & Policy team has been reaching out to various stakeholders this winter to lay a foundation for a new report on electric vehicles, due to the Oregon Legislature in 2021. More information coming soon!
Our Schools Team and Energy Trust of Oregon representatives met with several school districts across the state this month to encourage participation in the Public Purpose Charge (SB 1149) Schools Program and inform them about recent changes made to the program guidelines.
ODOE Senior Policy Analyst Adam Schultz presented on the importance of energy resilience at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's 2020 Rural Energy Conference in Chicago on February 25.
On February 25, ODOE participated in an emergency exercise for the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant near Richland, Washington. We activated our Emergency Operations Center at about 10:30 a.m. to practice how we'd respond in the event of a real emergency. The exercise was a "dress rehearsal" for an upcoming March exercise that will be graded by FEMA.
Energy Facility Siting Division team members Sarah Esterson, Maxwell Woods, and Michiko Mata were in Maupin on February 25 for a public hearing on the proposed Bakeoven Solar Project in Wasco County. The project would include 303 megawatts of solar and 100 megawatts of battery storage on 2,717 acres.
We were excited to see a new national study published that shows the potential of renewable natural gas – the study was cosponsored by NW Natural. The study follows ODOE's 2018 RNG Inventory report, which outlined how RNG resources could produce up to 20 percent of the natural gas used by Oregonians each year.
On February 28, the federal action agencies (Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement that reviews Columbia River System Operations. In particular, Chapter 7 of that Draft EIS outlines the preferred alternative for future operations of the Columbia River System. The Draft EIS is now open for public comments through April 13, 2020. There will be six public comment meetings in March, including one on March 31 at 4 p.m. at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.
Upcoming Meetings
Arlington Landfill Town Halls | March 4, 2020 | Condon & Arlington
Energy Facility Siting Council | March 12-13, 2020 | The Dalles
Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board | Postponed
Zero Emission Vehicle Working Group | March 20 | Portland
Rulemaking