May 2020 Newsletter
Energy: Climate Change Cause + Solution
On May 15, the Oregon Department of Energy submitted its report to Governor Brown outlining how the agency will work to implement the Climate Change directives in Executive Order 20-04. ODOE will focus on energy efficiency standards, facility siting processes, and more. We hope you'll get involved as we implement the Executive Order. Weigh in on energy efficiency standards rulemaking; share your views on building code changes; comment during a future Energy Facility Siting Council meeting; or tell us how you think this important work can connect with our strategic plan development.
As we shaped the report, ODOE Director Janine Benner reflected on how energy in Oregon can be both a cause of – and a solution to – climate change. About 80 percent of harmful greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon come from daily energy use, including turning on our lights, heating homes and businesses, and traveling to our destinations. The good news, Janine shared on our blog, is that energy – from renewables to energy efficiency to alternative transportation options – can be part of the solution. Read more on our blog.
ODOE Strategic Plan Taking Shape
As spring turns to summer, ODOE's strategic plan development is moving to its second phase. We finalized the clarity elements – vision, mission, values, and position statement – of our strategic plan this month. The feedback we received from the public and our energy partners as we developed this language was incredibly valuable. We're excited to be moving forward into phase two of strategic planning this summer, where we'll dive deeper into developing strategic imperatives to guide ODOE's work over the next five years. See our clarity elements and watch for updates this summer on our website.
Update on ODOE Notice of Violation for "TENORM" Disposal
In February 2020, the Oregon Department of Energy issued a Notice of Violation for disposal of radioactive materials in violation of state law at the Chemical Waste Management landfill in Arlington, Oregon. The waste is known as TENORM – technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials, in this case from the oil and gas industry. After being alerted by ODOE, the landfill operator immediately stopped receiving the waste, and ODOE, in consultation with the Oregon Health Authority’s Radiation Protection Services, determined there was no current threat to landfill workers, the public, or the environment.
With the violation, ODOE is requiring Chemical Waste Management to complete a corrective action plan and detailed risk assessment. At the time of the violation, ODOE shared that we expected to receive those documents in late April. However, CWM determined that completing the requested documents would take more time, and asked for an extension to submit the documents by September 1, 2020. ODOE granted the extension, but required CWM to submit several preliminary documents by April 30 and May 29. The preliminary documents are now available on ODOE’s website. We will continue to provide updates and will notify the public when the final documents have been submitted.
At its May 21 meeting, the Energy Facility Siting Council initiated a rulemaking project to revise Oregon Administrative Rules related to the enforcement of rules and laws governing the transport or disposal of radioactive materials and wastes in Oregon. A Rulemaking Advisory Committee will assist in developing rule updates. More information on the rulemaking process will be posted to ODOE's website.
Thank You, Angus Duncan!
At the May 13, 2020 Oregon Global Warming Commission meeting, Angus Duncan stepped down as Commission Chair after 13 years of service.
We would like to thank Angus for his many years working on climate change and energy in Oregon. He shepherded the Commission into existence, helped draft and present numerous reports to the legislature, and was the architect of the “Roadmap to 2020” that was adopted by the Commission in 2010. Before he stepped down as Chair, Angus authored a look at COVID-19 and climate change for the Commission's blog.
Needless to say, Angus has put in thousands of hours to make Oregon a better place. Thank you, Angus, for your service to the state, and for helping to inspire many Oregonians to push harder on fighting climate change!
Angus took this photo during one of Oregon's worst wildfire seasons.
USDOE Announces Energy Technology Funding Opportunity for Tribes
The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced up to $15 million in new funding through the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs to deploy energy technology on tribal lands. Selected projects will aim to stabilize or reduce energy costs and increase energy security and resiliency for tribes and tribal members. Applications are due July 1, 2020. More information is available on ODOE's blog.
Eligible projects could include installations like the pictured solar and wind projects at the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute in Pendleton, OR.
Two Oregon Organizations Awarded for Home Energy Scoring
Home Energy Scoring programs help homeowners and homebuyers better understand a home's energy use, and identify improvements that can be made to increase energy efficiency. The Oregon Department of Energy developed a statewide standard HES system, which earned a 2019 award from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The statewide HES system is voluntary, but ODOE designed the framework so Oregon cities or counties could easily adopt it for local mandatory HES programs. With guidance from ODOE, the City of Portland was the first in Oregon to adopt a mandatory energy score program, which earned them a 2020 award from the USDOE for facilitating the highest number of Home Energy Scores in the United States over the last year! In 2019, ODOE announced a partnership with Earth Advantage to expand and help manage Oregon’s voluntary statewide HES program. Earth Advantage’s efforts to make it easier for states and local governments to develop and implement HES programs by sharing best practices earned them a 2020 Innovation award from the USDOE. Congratulations and thanks to both organizations for helping make Home Energy Scoring in Oregon a success!
Reports from Around the Agency
COVID-19 continues to influence how Oregonians live their daily lives. ODOE's Salem office remains closed to public walk-in traffic, but our services remain available. ODOE meetings are being held remotely. Keep an eye on our online calendar for meeting notices and how to participate.
Since most ODOE staffers are working remotely to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we couldn't be together for Public Service Recognition Week. But that doesn't mean we couldn't celebrate together, even if we're far apart! ODOE's management team put together a short "thank you" video to acknowledge the stellar team here at ODOE. Check it out.
ODOE and the Energy Facility Siting Council will hold a public hearing on the Draft Proposed Order for the Obsidian Solar Center on June 23 at 5:30 p.m. in Christmas Valley. This hearing was rescheduled from May, and will include both a virtual attendance option and an in-person option. The in-person portion of the public hearing will be held following policies and guidelines to ensure social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details will be available on ODOE's website.
On May 1, ODOE Senior Policy Analyst Rick Wallace presented (via webinar) on the electric vehicle charging landscape at a Professional Engineers of Oregon conference. The focus of the presentation was to provide information to a technical audience about the anticipated landscape of electric vehicle adoption rates and charging and infrastructure needs in Oregon over the next several years.
The Energy Facility Siting Council, a governor-appointed volunteer council responsible for the review and oversight of large-scale energy facilities, currently has one vacancy. Submit an interest form through the Governor's office, and contact Todd Cornett, ODOE's Assistant Director for Siting and the Council Secretary, with questions.
Did you know legislation passed in 2017 makes it easier for commercial tenants and residential renters to make the switch to electric vehicles? Legislation establishes a right for renters to install EV charging stations as long as the property has at least one vehicle parking space per unit. Renters pay for and maintain the projects. Read more on the Go Electric Oregon blog.
On May 20, ODOE Senior Policy Analyst Adam Schultz was a presenter for the National Association of State Energy Officials webinar on microgrid planning and deployment for community resilience. You can watch a recording of the webinar on NASEO's website.
We were excited to learn that Portland General Electric announced five electric school bus winners for the utility's 2020 School Bus Electrification Project. Winners include Beaverton, Newberg, Portland, Reynolds, and Salem school districts and will be ready for clean student transportation in 2021. Project funding is provided through the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program, and will support an electric school bus, charging infrastructure installation, and technical and training support for each of the five school districts.
On May 28, ODOE Siting Analyst Katie Clifford attended a Government-to-Government Cultural Resources Cluster Meeting sponsored by the Legislative Commission on Indian Services.
As of May 1, Oregon has 32,253 registered electric vehicles on our roads, with 1,708 EV chargers in 636 locations.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Energy Facility Siting Council | June 25-26, 2020 | Via Webinar
Public Hearing on Obsidian Solar DPO | June 23, 2020 | Lake County/Webinar