April 2021 Newsletter

Join Us May 13 for a Webinar on Energy + Climate in Oregon

The Oregon Department of Energy will host a public webinar on May 13, 2021 to walk through parts of the agency’s 2020 Biennial Energy Report that focus on energy and climate in Oregon.

Tune in to hear from ODOE Director Janine Benner and members of our Planning and Innovation Division as they discuss some of the findings from the report, including how climate change affects and is affected by energy, a review of clean and renewable energy policies and technologies, energy efficiency and consumer trends, and more.

We also want to hear from you, the Oregonians we serve. Throughout the presentation, we’ll ask attendees to weigh in about where Oregon should focus its energy efforts moving forward. Learn more and see meeting details on ODOE's blog.

ODOE Helps Cut the Virtual Ribbon on Ashland Food Co-op's Solar Installation

Oregon Department of Energy Director Janine Benner joined Ashland Food Co-op, True South Solar, the City of Ashland, and other partners to “cut the ribbon” on Ashland Food Co-op’s new virtual net metered solar installation. ODOE was proud to support the project with an over $100,000 Renewable Energy Development Grant.

The Ashland Food Co-op invested in the 528-panel, 197 kilowatt system as part of its effort to be completely powered by renewable energy by 2030. What makes the project unique is that Ashland Food Co-op already had solar on its own roof — so using an approach called virtual net metering, the Co-op was able to install even more solar on another building’s roof about three miles away! Learn more and read Janine's remarks on our blog.

County Profiles Provide Snapshot of Energy Use and Trends in Oregon

ODOE's online 2020 Biennial Energy Report features county-by-county information on demographics, housing, and energy and transportation use and costs. By diving into layers of energy costs and burden in our communities, we provide a look into the economic and affordability challenges facing Oregon households throughout the state. For example, the profiles provide insight into typical area income paired with household energy use costs, transportation costs, homeownership vs. rental housing, average vehicle miles traveled per year, and others. These attributes can be key energy indicators of how energy affects public health, economic stability, and quality of life for our most vulnerable communities. Visit our profiles online to view each county, download a table showing averages across counties, and more.

ODOE Updates Electricity Resource Mix with 2019 Data

The Oregon Department of Energy's interactive Electricity Resource Mix dashboard now includes data through 2019. The dashboard helps Oregonians learn about our state's different energy resources, including the resources electric utilities use to provide power for homes and businesses in Oregon. The resources are diverse, and are highlighted throughout the dashboard – from natural gas, coal, and hydropower, to other renewable resources, such as wind, biomass, geothermal, landfills, and solar. The dashboard also displays the electricity mix over time – start with 2012 and work your way to 2019 to see how Oregon’s mix has changed. Check it out on ODOE's website.

Grounded Podcast: Back in Time with Janine Benner

On the latest episode of our Grounded podcast, we sit down with ODOE Director (and history buff) Janine Benner to walk through our Energy History Timeline from the 2020 Biennial Energy Report. From the Missoula Floods to the closure of the Boardman Coal Plant, the timeline provides insight into how Oregon's energy system has been shaped by history. Give the episode a listen on your favorite podcast app, or stream on our blog.

Celebrating Earth Day Every Day

Earth Day looked a little different again this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Usually we'd enjoy visiting with Oregonians at one of the many Earth Day celebrations around the state, but we still found a way to embrace the 51st annual Earth Day from afar. ODOE Senior Climate Policy Analyst Maya Buchanan guest authored a piece on our blog reflecting on our changing climate and the hazards it poses to our society and surrounding environment. Maya will be leading an effort to develop a Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Oregon over the next year.

Also on our blog is a roundup of useful resources for saving energy and fighting climate change, including energy activities for kids, low- and no-cost ways to save energy, making the switch to electric vehicles, and more. ODOE was happy to contribute to a Green Business Bureau article on expert-approved Earth Day tips for going green at home. Check out Tip #3, featuring Oregon's Home Energy Scoring program.

Reports from Around the Agency

This week, we learned that another single-shell waste storage tank at the Hanford Site is leaking into the soil. While it’s not the first confirmed leaking tank at Hanford, it emphasizes how important it is to continue making progress on cleanup, especially as the site’s storage tanks continue to age. Learn more about ODOE’s role in the Hanford cleanup on our website.
On April 20, ODOE Senior Policy Analyst Jason Sierman presented an overview of offshore wind energy and the 2020 Biennial Energy Report to the Oregon Coast Energy Alliance Network, a community-based organization exploring the opportunities and challenges of offshore wind energy.
On April 26, ODOE Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness Maxwell Woods and our Radioactive Waste Remediation Specialist, Jeff Burright, presented at a House Hearing on SB 246 after an info session about radioactive waste in Oregon. Learn more and stream the presentation online.
ODOE also joined the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment on April 27 for public hearings on HB 2062 A, which would establish energy efficiency standards for 11 products in Oregon, and on HB 2063 A, which would remove the requirement to seek an exemption from the Energy Facility Siting Council for standby generators. Learn more about ODOE's legislative priorities on our website.
Senior Policy Analyst Adam Schultz presented to the House Energy and Environment Committee on April 28 about regional approaches to energy supplies. The committee then held a public hearing on SB 589 A, which would require ODOE to prepare a report on the development or expansion of a regional transmission organization, or RTO, in the state.
ODOE Facilities Engineer Blake Shelide and Energy Analyst Michael Freels have been tapped to lend their expertise to two ASHRAE national Building Decarbonization Task Force working groups. Blake will serve on a Building Performance Standards working group, while Michael will serve on a Standards and Codes working group.
For the second year in a row, a team of architecture students at the University of Oregon were awarded top prizes in the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon Design Challenge. The winning project is a redesign for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Portland, which would make it a Net-Zero school. Learn more.
We were excited to see that Oregon-based Daimler Trucks of North America is now accepting orders for its first all-electric trucks, the Freightliner eM2 and the eCascadia. And they sure look pretty (and climate-friendly!).
To encourage greater diversity among state boards and commissions, the Department of Administrative Services is hosting three free online recruitment events (the last one is Saturday, May 1!). 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!
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.