July 2020 Newsletter
ODOE Helps Fuel Industry Workers Stay Safe
To support the nation’s safe reopening, the federal government provided personal protective equipment to each state, in part to ensure the safety of critical infrastructure workers – like those in the fuel industry. Oregon received 72,000 total reusable cloth masks. As a member of the Oregon Infrastructure Branch of the state’s COVID-19 response, ODOE Emergency Preparedness Manager Deanna Henry secured 14,000 of the masks for Oregon’s fuel and propane providers. The masks are helping keep workers safe as they ensure a reliable source of fuel and propane for Oregonians during the pandemic.
Temperature checks are another measure that helps to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 by identifying potentially ill individuals. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provided Oregon and other states non-contact infrared thermometers. Out of the 2,355 NCITs Oregon received, Deanna secured and distributed 1,075 thermometers for the fuel and propane sectors in June. Deanna worked with the Western States Petroleum Association, Oregon Fuels Association, and the Pacific Propane Gas Association to assess NCIT needs at fuel distribution terminals, pipeline operations, gas stations, and propane distributors.
ODOE will continue to provide guidance and information to the fuel and propane industry as appropriate to allow critical workforce employees to safely continue their important work for Oregon.
ODOE Submits 2021-23 Agency Request Budget
Thanks to those who joined us on July 16 for our public meeting about ODOE's 2021-23 biennial budget. Today, we'll submit our Agency Request Budget to the Governor's Chief Financial Office, which includes our Current Service Level budget (the budget to keep ODOE programs and activities as-is) and the Policy Option Packages that, if supported by the Governor and Legislature, could change it.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the economy, this will be a tough budget climate for everyone, from Oregon households and businesses to the State of Oregon itself.
The Policy Option Packages we are proposing wouldn’t add new programs, but would:
Continue the Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program with additional General Fund dollars, which will promote economic development when we need it most.
Allow the hiring of two limited duration staff members for energy facility siting, only if necessary to support an uptick in facility siting workload.
Shift funding off of the Energy Supplier Assessment and onto General Fund for radioactive waste disposal monitoring.
We hope you'll get involved as we continue developing our budget to best serve Oregonians over the next two years. Budget materials and a recording of the July 16 meeting are available on our website.
ODOE Summer Rulemaking Projects Make Progress
Following the Governor's climate change Executive Order 20-04, ODOE has been leading a public process to update Oregon Administrative Rules for energy efficiency standards for appliances and other equipment. The new and updated standards will promote energy conservation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and align with Washington and California markets. Following a virtual public hearing on draft rules held on July 23 and a public comment period that closed July 24, ODOE staff will now consider that feedback received before filing the new proposed rules with the Secretary of State's office by September 1, 2020.
ODOE also established a Rulemaking Advisory Committee to consider updating rules for radioactive materials enforcement, stemming from the agency's Notice of Violation to an Oregon landfill earlier this year. The RAC will discuss and consider updates to the rules through a series of virtual meetings this summer, which will be open to the public. Follow the process on ODOE's website.
You can also sign up to receive email updates about rulemakings, ODOE projects, and other announcements.
Meet the Interns
Summer: a time for grilling, leisure activities, sunsets, and internship opportunities! This summer is no different with our four interns already busy with some pretty significant projects. We spoke with our 2020 summer interns, Blaed, Ryan, Lauren, and Hunter, to learn more about what attracted them to the Oregon Department of Energy and their work interests. From developing an electric vehicle data dashboard to helping with the Biennial Energy Report to assisting in rulemaking activities and more, our interns have already accomplished great work. Read all about them on our blog!
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 through at least October 31, 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.
ODOE Hydrogeologist Tom Sicilia joined Columbia Riverkeeper for a webinar on July 6 to discuss the challenges and progress of treating the groundwater at the Hanford Nuclear Site. If you missed it, you can watch the webinar online here.
On July 22, ODOE Facilities Engineer Stephanie Kruse gave a virtual presentation on the Statewide Plug Load Strategy developed by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and ODOE during U.S. Department of Energy's Better Building Summer Series webinar. You can watch the webinar online and read the Statewide Plug Load Strategy on our website.
NW Natural, Oregon’s largest natural gas utility, has issued a request for proposals for Renewable Natural Gas to help it meet the RNG goals outlined in Oregon’s recently adopted Senate Bill 98. NW Natural seeks to purchase both bundled and unbundled RNG, and initial responses to the RFP are due September 4, 2020. Questions? Contact NW Natural.
A bipartisan group of fifteen states, including Oregon, recently signed a joint memorandum of understanding committing to work together to accelerate truck and bus electrification, including large pickup trucks and vans, delivery trucks, box trucks, school and transit buses, and long-haul delivery trucks. The multi-state initiative is the largest ever to focus on transportation electrification. Read more on the Go Electric Oregon blog.
Energy facility siting in Oregon is an ever-changing landscape. Each month, we post the latest updates on Oregon's proposed, operating, and approved state-jurisdiction facilities on our website. Check it out at the beginning of each month, or sign up to receive the monthly update by email.
OMSI Science Pub: Save the Date! Ken Niles, our Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness, will be joined by ODOE Nuclear Waste Remediation Specialist Jeff Burright on August 25 (new date!) for a Virtual OMSI Science Pub to share the latest on the Hanford Nuclear Site Cleanup.
Speaking of Hanford, July 16 marked 75 years since the world's first nuclear explosion, code-named the Trinity Test, in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Plutonium from the Hanford Site fueled the test – now, 75 years later, billions of dollars (so far) have been spent to ensure its safe cleanup. Learn more about Hanford, the waste left behind, and Oregon's role in the cleanup process on our website.
Pacific Power is accepting applications for electric mobility grants that cover up to 100 percent of the eligible costs of studying, planning, promoting, or deploying electric transportation technology and projects. Non-residential customers can apply for funding through Pacific Power’s website until August 31, 2020. Learn more.
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.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Oregon Energy Code Stakeholder Panel | August 12, 2020 | Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | August 21, 2020 | Via Webinar