October 2021 Newsletter
Community Outreach Meetings Scheduled for Energy Efficient Wildfire Rebuilding Program
The Oregon Department of Energy is holding a series of virtual public meetings to help inform development of the Energy Efficient Wildfire Rebuilding Incentive. This new program was created by the Oregon Legislature earlier this year to provide financial support for the energy-efficient rebuilding of structures that were lost during the 2020 Labor Day fires.
At the meetings, ODOE staff are providing a high-level overview of the legislation and potential program design, and seeking feedback from Oregonians about the program, incentive levels, the application process, and more. ODOE held the first two meetings in October, focusing on wildfire-affected residents on the Oregon Coast and near McKenzie Pass. Meetings focused on Southern Oregon and Santiam Canyon are scheduled for November, in addition to a general meeting focused on developing the program's administrative rules. Interested Oregonians can also weigh in through our comment portal.
Learn more and find meeting log-in information on ODOE's website. You can also sign up to receive program updates by email.
Does Oregon's Energy Future Include Floating Offshore Wind Turbines?
Most Oregonians are probably familiar with onshore wind turbines – tall, fan-like structures dotting the landscape of the Columbia River basin and other windy areas of the state – that generate renewable electricity for the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
As more utilities look to replace fossil-fuel resources with more economic renewable resources, another type of wind energy – offshore wind – is emerging as a potential option for the United States. Offshore wind turbines are located in windy waters off coastal shores, away from land. In our 2020 Biennial Energy Report and on our blog this month, we dive in to some of the features of floating offshore wind and what it could mean for Oregon.
Thanks to strong average wind speeds, ocean locations off the California and Oregon coastlines offer some of the highest potential for U.S. floating offshore wind projects. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimated that Oregon has a potential capacity of up to 60 gigawatts of energy off our coast (that’s a lot!).
Does this mean floating offshore wind is in Oregon’s energy future? We don’t know yet. The Oregon Legislature has directed the Oregon Department of Energy to complete a study on the benefits and challenges if the state were to integrate up to three gigawatts of floating offshore wind by 2030. We’ll review existing studies and engage with interested stakeholders over the next year, then submit our report to the Legislature in September 2022. You can sign up for email updates and keep an eye on our website for more information.
Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board Thanks Steve March for His Years of Service
At its October 4 meeting, the Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board and Oregon Department of Energy staff took a moment to thank Board Chair Steve March as he wrapped up his second and final term.
Steve was appointed to the Board in 2013 by former Governor Kitzhaber, but already had a history with the Board during his tenure as an Oregon State Representative in the early 2000s when he served on the OHCB as an appointed legislative member. Steve is no stranger to public service, having also served as an elected Multnomah County Auditor and as a financial and budgetary officer at Portland State University. His expertise and passion for the successful cleanup of Hanford served the Board well.
As we thank Steve for his many years serving Oregon’s interest in the Hanford Site cleanup, we also welcome new members to the Board: Dr. Susan Katz; Jeff Wyatt; Morrow County Commissioner Jim Doherty; Oregon State Senator Chris Gorsek; and Governor Brown’s Policy Advisor, Amira Streeter. More information about our new members will be posted to ODOE’s Cleanup Board webpage.
Oregon Renewable Energy Siting Assessment Project Update
The ORESA project has largely completed its “assessment phase," which is focused on assessing renewable energy markets and industry, military needs and interests, natural resource and development opportunities and constraints, and siting procedures. The project team has used the assessments to build an early version of the ORESA mapping and reporting tool. This fall, the team is convening a series of focus groups involving renewable energy developers and utilities, state agencies, local governments, tribal staff, and others to help further refine the tool for beta testing in the winter. If you are interested in being part of a focus group or a beta testing group, please contact Project Manager Kaci Radcliffe.
Baldock Solar Highway Project Turns Ten
This summer marked the 10-year anniversary of the Baldock Solar Highway Project, spotted just off I-5 near Aurora. The Oregon Department of Transportation, in partnership with Portland General Electric, broke ground on what was to be the 1.75-Megawatt solar array in early August 2011. Six months later, the array was completed and connected to the PGE grid to deliver renewable energy to Oregonians.
The Baldock Solar Highway Project was the largest of its kind in the U.S. when it was completed. It was called a “Made in Oregon” project because the public and private partners involved – including the company that produced the panels – were all Oregon-based.
Today, power generated from the solar station is still used by PGE customers. A visit to the solar station is just a short drive north of Aurora, next to the I-5 northbound French Prairie rest area. Near the rest area’s flower gardens, visitors can view the 6,994 solar panel structure and learn more about the project through a collection of interpretive displays. Check out more photos on our blog.
Reports from Around the Agency
On October 26, ODOE staff from across the agency participated in a FEMA-graded emergency exercise for the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant in Richland, WA. The CGS plant is located on the Columbia River, just 35 miles from Oregon's border – if there were an incident at the plant, ODOE would activate our Agency Operations Center to ensure the safety of nearby Oregonians, farms, and fisheries. Learn more about our emergency preparedness program on our website.
On October 28, ODOE Director Janine Benner and Senior Policy Analyst Rob Del Mar joined the Oregon Municipal Electric Utilities Association's Board meeting to provide an update on agency activities, including our new Community Renewable Energy Grant Program.
ODOE has formed an advisory committee to provide input on our new Community Renewable Energy Grant Program. The committee will meet over the next few months to help guide program design. Meetings are open to the public – sign up for email updates.
ODOE Director Janine Benner served as a panelist discussing transmission planning during the National Association of State Energy Official's annual meeting earlier this month. Janine shared information on ODOE's forthcoming study on potential regional transmission organizations. Alan Zelenka, our Assistant Director for Planning and Innovation, also participated on a panel discussing the benefits of energy efficiency.
Speaking of studies, ODOE is working on several energy studies and reports over the next couple of years. Check them out on our website – see something interesting? Sign up for email updates to stay in-the-know.
ODOE staff joined in a conversation on Oregon energy codes and standards with Build/Shift, a local community team including local government, non-governmental organizations, and other community organizations focused on the changing built environment. The group discussed recent changes to the Residential and Commercial Energy Codes and ODOE’s recent appliance standards rulemaking, along with exploring ways that communities can participate in decision-making processes. Learn more about energy codes and standards in our 2020 Biennial Energy Report and contact us with your energy code or standards-related questions
We're hiring! We are recruiting for a Natural Gas and Alternative Fuels Senior Energy Policy Analyst as well as a Developer Analyst. Learn more.
ODOE was proud to support the 2021 Oregon Citizens' Utility Board policy conference, which focused on reliability and resilience in our energy systems. ODOE Energy Analyst Rob Del Mar served as a panelist discussing "Resilience: Who is it Good For?" (Hint: absolutely everyone.)
Did you participate in the Great Oregon ShakeOut on October 21? We know the Pacific Northwest is at risk of a significant earthquake. Take action now to ensure you are ready in the event of an emergency. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management hosted an Earthquake Safety Webinar earlier this month – check it out on YouTube.
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation has teamed up with nonprofit Forth to launch a Zero Emission Vehicle Innovation Grant program to support charging infrastructure and ZEV access in utility territories served by Bonneville Power Adminsitration. Read more on Go Electric Oregon.
We were excited to see Portland General Electric announce its winners of the utility's electric school bus funding. Six school districts will each receive funding from the Oregon Clean Fuels Program to purchase an electric school bus, install charging infrastruture, and receiving training and technical support.
The Northwest Power & Conservation Council has opened a public comment period on the Draft 2021 Northwest Power Plan. The plans are developed every five years to “ensure an adequate, efficient, economical, and reliable power supply for the region.” View the draft plan on the Council’s website and submit your comments by November 19.
Volunteers are currently being recruited to serve on the Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board. The 20-member board provides input to the U.S. Department of Energy and its regulators on the Hanford Nuclear Site cleanup. Learn More.
ODOE's Energy Facility Siting Team continues to be hard at work reviewing multiple proposed new and amended energy facilities in Oregon. One of the best ways to stay in-the-know on the latest developments is through our monthly siting project update. You can also sign up for a monthly email reminder when the dashboard is updated.
The Energy Facility Siting Council, a governor-appointed volunteer council responsible for the review and oversight of large-scale energy facilities, is also recruiting potential new members. 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.
Trying to reach an ODOE team member? Emails to ODOE staff should be directed to @energy.oregon.gov (replacing @oregon.gov). Old email addresses will continue to redirect for a while, but please update your address books with the new version. Some ODOE team members' phone numbers have also changed – check out our Contact Us webpage for updated information.
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 are available. ODOE meetings are being held remotely. Keep an eye on our online calendar and sign up for emails to receive meeting notices and information on how to participate.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Wildfire Rebuilding Program Community Outreach Meetings | Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | November 18-19, 2021 | Via Webinar
Energy Code Stakeholder Panel | December 14, 2021 | Via Webinar
Current Rulemakings (click to see details)