August 2020 Newsletter
ODOE Announces Governor's EV Leadership Awards
The Oregon Department of Energy was pleased to announce this month that nonprofit Forth and Oregon-based business Platt Auto Group are the recipients of Governor Brown’s 2019 Electric Vehicle Leadership Awards.
The EV Leadership Awards stem from the Governor’s Executive Order 17-21, which focused on accelerating adoption of zero emission vehicles in Oregon. The awards honor businesses and organizations that support EV adoption through charging infrastructure and fleet conversion, and auto dealers that help Oregonians make the switch from internal combustion engines to electric. Forth and Platt Auto Group are the first recipients of the awards.
Forth is a non-profit organization promoting electric, smart, and shared transportation options. Forth’s work includes advocacy and engagement on clean, alternative transportation options, as well as demonstration projects like its downtown Portland Electric Showcase. The showcase offers Oregonians a brand-neutral, sales-free environment to learn more about EVs and even test drive vehicles. Platt Auto Group has been serving Oregon’s electric vehicle community since 2013, when the auto dealer made the switch to focus exclusively on selling pre-owned EVs and educating customers about the benefits of going electric. Platt’s business model of selling pre-owned stock helps expand access to more Oregonians, including lower-income families.
We had hoped to announce the inaugural Governor’s EV Leadership Awards in a more public celebration. But given the current COVID-19 pandemic, we hope Oregonians will join us in virtually celebrating and thanking Forth and Platt for their leadership.
A Fond Farewell to Ken Niles
After 31 years at the Oregon Department of Energy, including 19 as Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ken Niles is hanging up his Hanford hat to enjoy a very well-earned retirement.
To say Ken will be missed is a serious understatement. He has left his mark in state government, from the stellar team he has developed here at the agency to the decades he has spent fighting for Oregon’s best interests in the Hanford Nuclear Site cleanup. Ken reflected on the past three decades and shared his thoughts and lessons learned with the Tri-City Herald, the local paper of record for the Hanford and Richland-area community.
Ken also sat down for one final ODOE Grounded podcast interview. Listen online on our blog, or wherever you get your podcasts.
All of us here at ODOE wish Ken a very happy retirement and extend a giant thank you for his many years of public service. Ken's last day at the agency is August 31.
2018 Oregon Electricity Resource Mix
This month, we updated our interactive Electricity Resource Mix dashboard with 2018 data and a fresh design. The “ERM” helps Oregonians learn about our state’s different energy resources, including which resources electric utilities use to provide power for homes and businesses across Oregon.
New in the interactive dashboard is the ability to see the electricity mix over time – start with 2012 and work your way to 2018 to see how Oregon’s mix has changed. The data update offered an opportunity to refresh the dashboard’s look and usability features. The ERM team focused on visitor experience improvements during development to increase user engagement and interaction throughout the dashboard. In addition to seeing how the electricity mix has changed over time, other charts have animations for how data has changed, including electricity market purchases and greenhouse gas emissions. As visitors browse each page, they can hover over the lightbulb icons labeled “Explore,” which share data insights, definitions, and navigation tips. Check it out on our website.
Solar + Storage Rebate Program Funding Available for Low- and Moderate-Income Customers
Earlier this month, the Oregon Legislature adjusted funding for the Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program to focus more dollars on low- and moderate-income residential customers and low-income service providers. The action moves $60,000 from the non-income restricted rebate bucket into the bucket for those lower-income customers and service providers. Based on existing reservations already in the agency's system, we expect eligible contractors will be able to reserve additional rebates totaling about $53,000 starting September 2, 2020. More information, including a list of eligible contractors, is available on our website.
Oregon Global Warming Commission Accepting Public Comments for Biennial Report
The Oregon Global Warming Commission is developing its Biennial Report to the Oregon State Legislature. Members of the public are welcome to provide comments on suggested content regarding the topics listed in the Commission-approved report outline. Comments may be submitted through a contact form online or by email until September 4 at 12 p.m. Learn more about the Commission and its work: www.keeporegoncool.org.
ODOE Updates Public Guide for Energy Facility Siting
Reviewing and potentially siting energy facilities in Oregon is a complex and sometimes lengthy process. The Oregon Department of Energy developed a guide to help Oregonians better understand the energy facility siting process, and the roles and responsibilities of the Energy Facility Siting Council and ODOE staff. The public guide is intended to help Oregonians effectively participate in the state siting process, and to understand their roles in offering public input on proposed facilities or proposed amendments to existing facilities. Read more on our blog.
Reports from Around the Agency
In his final public appearance as ODOE's Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ken Niles joined Nuclear Remediation Specialist Jeff Burright on August 25 for a virtual OMSI Science Pub, sharing the latest on the Hanford Site cleanup. OMSI's virtual Science Pubs are available to stream on Facebook.
Check out the latest update on our Oregon Renewable Energy Siting Assessment project. ODOE and our ORESA partners are making progress on the project, which will analyze renewable energy and transmission development opportunities and constraints in Oregon. Learn more about ORESA on our website.
On September 1, ODOE will file final Administrative Rules with the Secretary of State's office for new energy efficiency standards. The new rules were developed through a public process following Governor Brown's Climate Change Executive Order 20-04.
We were excited to hear that Lane Transit District will receive nearly $4 million in federal grants to help the transit district go electric. LTD plans to replace 25 old diesel buses with electric models by 2023. Learn more in Eugene's Register Guard.
Coming soon: ODOE expects to receive Chemical Waste Management's detailed Risk Assessment and Corrective Action Plan in September following ODOE's February 2020 Notice of Violation for the landfill's disposal of radioactive materials in violation of state law. Sign up to receive email updates or check back on our website for updates.
An electrifying read: Oregon-based Chargeway was highlighted this month in Charged: Electric Vehicles Magazine. Founder Matt Teske talks the Chargeway app, how it has helped dealerships and EV owners, and more. Check it out.
Portland General Electric and Pacific Power teamed up this month to launch Oregoin’ Electric, an interactive mobile game app with real-life prizes. App development was supported by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program. Learn more.
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.
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.
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.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Oregon Energy Code Stakeholder Panel | September 22, 2020 | Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | September 24-25, 2020 | Via Webinar
Oregon Global Warming Commission | October 30, 2020 | Via Webinar
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