March 2021 Newsletter
New Strategic Plan Sets ODOE's Four-Year Direction
The Oregon Department of Energy finalized our new 2021-2024 Strategic Plan earlier this month, which provides clarity and focus for our agency – including an updated mission, vision, and values. The plan also outlines five imperatives, or high-level focus areas, to help us deliver on our mission over the next four years: expand outreach, achieve inclusive and equitable outcomes, enhance our data capabilities, modernize our programs and activities, and optimize our organizational efficiency and impact.
We developed these focus areas and companion actions steps (shown as objectives and initiatives in our plan) following a series of surveys, focus groups, and interviews with our peer organizations, legislators, Tribal partners, and stakeholders, including the Energy Advisory Work Group.
Now we’ll turn to implementing and operationalizing our strategic plan this spring, including prioritizing which initiatives to focus on in the first year to hit the ground running. We’re excited for this next step in the plan, and we’ll have more to share this summer.
Oregon Department of Energy Issued Determination to Chemical Waste Management of the Northwest
On March 24, the Oregon Department of Energy issued a determination to Chemical Waste Management of the Northwest (CWM) in response to the company’s detailed risk assessment and corrective action plan regarding radioactive materials that were illegally disposed in CWM’s hazardous waste landfill outside Arlington, OR.
ODOE’s determination accepts CWM’s corrective action plan approach to leave the waste where it is buried now within the landfill, with amendments to strengthen environmental monitoring and tracking of wastes entering the site. As part of its corrective action plan, CWM has outlined a series of actions it will take to prevent this from happening again in the future, including installing a radiation portal monitor to scan waste entering the landfill to ensure shipments are not radioactive. Since the violation, ODOE has worked with CWM to proactively review waste profiles of incoming materials and specifically, potentially-radioactive materials.
ODOE’s complete determination, CWM’s risk assessment and corrective action plan, a new frequently-asked questions document, and more background information and materials are available on our website.
Building Energy-Resilient Oregon Communities
One of the recurring themes in the Oregon Department of Energy’s 2020 Biennial Energy Report is resilience – a term used to describe how our energy systems can withstand the effects of emergencies that disrupt energy delivery, and how fast these systems can recover following the disruption.
We often talk about the “big one” – a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and how it would affect Oregon’s energy systems. But we also have other, more frequent emergencies that can affect the delivery of energy. In fact, in the last year major wildfires and ice storms across the state have highlighted the need to improve the resilience of our energy systems. Unfortunately, as Oregon continues to see the effects of climate change, we expect to see more frequent wildfires, droughts, heatwaves, flooding, and severe storms.
In our 2020 Biennial Energy Report, you can learn more about resilience in several sections, from energy storage to resilient microgrids to wildfire mitigation planning. Learn more on our blog.
Spotlight: TITAN Freight Systems Goes Renewable and Saves
In our 2020 Biennial Energy Report, we highlighted some of the cool stories happening around energy in Oregon. One of our stories was about Oregon-based TITAN Freight Systems, which has been providing overnight transportation services in the Pacific Northwest since 1968.
In 2020, TITAN turned to 100 percent renewable diesel – a next-generation renewable fuel that creates fewer emissions. And because renewable diesel is ultimately indistinguishable from petroleum-based diesel once it’s in the pipeline or in a vehicle, the company didn’t need to make any vehicle or infrastructure modifications to begin using the fuel in its fleet.
The change has already paid off. Not only has the switch led to a 36 percent emissions reduction over the entire three-state fleet – and 67 percent in Oregon! – renewable diesel has a lower overall cost for TITAN. While the per-gallon cost of renewable diesel costs a little more than petroleum-based diesel, fleet maintenance costs are way down, with infrequent exhaust system maintenance and longer intervals between oil changes. Read more about TITAN on our blog, and dive in to the complete Energy Report online.
Grounded Podcast: Biomass Special
On the latest episode of our Grounded podcast, we're talking to ODOE Senior Energy Policy Analyst John Cornwell to learn about the fundamentals of one of Oregon's renewable resources: biomass. The episode is a double feature, with Restoration Fuels's Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Wayne Lei, who dives deeper into the electricity potential for Oregon. This episode's buzzwood: torrefaction. Give it a listen on our blog or your favorite podcast app.
March Legislative Update
ODOE entered the 2021 Legislative session with five priorities, including passing new energy efficiency standards (HB 2062), modernizing our approach to regulating radioactive waste (SB 246), clarifying facility siting rules regarding standby generators (HB 2063), updating the Energy Facility Siting Council’s meeting quorum requirement (HB 2064), and serving as a resource for legislators and stakeholders on legislation related to the Department’s work.
As the session heads toward its midpoint, three of these bills have passed their first major hurdle. SB 246 passed unanimously from the Senate floor, and HB 2062 and HB 2063 are scheduled on the House floor this week, both having secured unanimous support out of committee. HB 2064 is in House Rules, which does not have deadlines during session.
Our team has also provided education and technical advice to legislators, advocates, and others on the legislation important to them this session. We hear at nearly every legislative meeting that our Energy Report is a resource that elected leaders count on for data and analysis of energy issues. There are bills that propose studies on renewable hydrogen, offshore wind, community renewable energy, and regional transmission organizations, all of which will be relevant for the 2022 Energy Report. Legislation has also been proposed to create a new Environmental Justice Council, which would include ODOE. Should it pass, we anticipate doing work with other natural resource agencies under that umbrella.
In our role as what Senator Lee Beyer called the “think tank for the Legislature” on energy, we are also watching closely as bills are considered to transform Oregon’s electric system, hasten transportation electrification, and integrate racial justice into energy policy. When session ends, we will put out a report that summarizes the most important bills on energy issues and around the other work that our agency does.
Reports Around the Agency
After eight years of service to the Oregon Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Manager Warren Cook is heading into retirement on April 1 (no joke). Warren's leadership, passion for energy efficiency, and amazing ability to turn anything into a clever energy pun will be missed. Congratulations, Warren!
Did you miss our March 1 budget presentation to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources? You can watch ODOE's 2021-2023 budget presentation online, as well as the March 3 public hearing on our budget.
ODOE Emergency Preparedness Manager Deanna Henry worked with county and state leadership and industry reps to provide a convenient fueling option for Idanha- and Detroit-area residents who were affected by the September 2020 wildfires. The area has been without a working gas station since the fires. The Pacific Pride card lock facility on N. Santiam Hwy is now available for residents to use.
To encourage greater diversity among state boards and commissions, the Department of Administrative Services is hosting three free online recruitment events. Attend and learn more about what it means to serve, hear from current board or commission members, and more. Greater diversity among ODOE’s stakeholder advisory and decision-making groups is one of the initiatives in our strategic plan, so we hope this event will inspire some interest!
The Oregon Global Warming Commission has been meeting about once each month, with a lot of interesting topics on the agenda, including an upcoming report on Oregon's natural and working lands. Follow the commission's work on its website, and mark your calendars for its next meeting on April 16.
As of the end of 2020, Oregon has 33,579 registered electric vehicles on our roads! Learn more about Oregon's zero emission vehicle adoption targets (250,000 by 2025 – help us get there!) on our website.
Speaking of electric vehicles, we were excited to (virtually) meet Desert Rose, TriMet's new electric "bendy" bus, which was converted from a diesel engine to run on electricity. Learn more on the Go Electric Oregon blog.
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.
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 news 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.
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 and sign up for emails to receive meeting notices and information on how to participate.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Oregon Global Warming Commission | April 16, 2021 | Via Webinar
Energy Code Stakeholder Panel | June 15, 2021 | Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | April 22-23, 2021 | Via Webinar
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