May 2022 Newsletter
ODOE Accepting Applications Through July 8 for Community Renewable Energy Grant Program
In March, the Oregon Department of Energy announced four opportunity announcements for $12 million in grant funding through our Community Renewable Energy Grant Program. Our online application portal is now live and accepting applications, with the first round closing July 8, 2022.
Grant dollars are available to support planning and construction of renewable energy or energy resilience projects for Tribes, public bodies, and consumer-owned utilities. Four types of projects are eligible: planning a renewable energy project, planning a renewable energy project that also has a resilience component, construction of a renewable energy project, or construction of a renewable energy project with a resilience component. Eligible projects include renewable energy generation systems like solar or wind, and energy storage systems, electric vehicle charging stations, or microgrid technologies paired with new or existing renewable energy systems. Eligible applicants are encouraged to partner with community groups, non-profits, private businesses, and others on potential projects.
Because the application portal is opening later than expected, ODOE has extended the deadline to July 8, 2022 (see complete application and review timeline on ODOE’s website). In addition to the online application portal, ODOE has a checklist of information applicants will need to gather, a Q&A document summarizing questions we’ve received from potential applicants and our responses, and a list of other resources applicants may find helpful. ODOE will make additional grant funding available through 2024.
Oregon Partners Practice Nuclear Emergency Response
On May 19, Oregon Department of Energy staff joined representatives from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon State University, and two Eastern Oregon counties to participate in an annual Hanford emergency exercise to test our emergency preparedness system.
This year’s exercise, conducted virtually, featured a scenario of an explosion in the 300 Area of Hanford, which is in the southern area of the site. USDOE officials notified our agency that there were multiple injuries and a shelter-in-place order for the area around the simulated explosion. In the event of an emergency (real or exercise) like this, the Oregon Department of Energy sets up an Agency Operations Center with ODOE staff and other radiation and public health experts to determine if an incident is likely to put Oregonians at risk.
About 30,000 Oregonians live in Boardman, Irrigon, Hermiston, and Umatilla – communities located within the 50-mile nuclear emergency planning zone for the Hanford site. An actual fire, explosion, or other accident involving Hanford's contaminated facilities or underground radioactive and chemical waste storage tanks could cause an airborne release of hazardous radioactive materials.
That’s why ODOE staff work with our partners in Washington, other state agencies, and Morrow and Umatilla county representatives to practice important protective procedures. In addition to an annual Hanford emergency exercise, ODOE staff and our partners also participate in regular emergency exercises for the Columbia Generating Station Nuclear Power Plant, which provides power to the northwest and is also located in the Hanford/Richland area. This fall, ODOE expects to activate our in-person Agency Operations Center for two CGS-related emergency drills, including one graded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Learn more about our Emergency Preparedness work on our website.
ODOE Energy Audit Program Helps Rural Businesses and Agricultural Producers Identify Energy Savings
June is here, and that means the official start of berry season in Oregon (along with other bounties, like asparagus!). Small businesses across Oregon are also getting ready to welcome summertime visitors to the Beaver State.
The Oregon Department of Energy is here to help our state's rural small businesses and agricultural producers identify ways to save energy through our Rural & Agricultural Energy Audit Program. ODOE's program will pay up to 75 percent of the cost of an energy audit, which is conducted by an approved auditor who inspects buildings, processes, and equipment to measure efficiency and identify improvements that can save energy. For businesses considering investing in renewable energy like solar to offset energy usage, making energy efficiency improvements first can reduce the size (and costs) of the renewable project they’ll need. An audit will determine opportunities to reduce energy use and costs, and can help prioritize projects based on energy savings, payback period, and other factors.
Federal, local, and utility funding may be available to rural small businesses and agricultural producers for making energy improvements, and an energy audit is often a required step. The cost of an energy audit can vary from about $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the size and scope, and can be a significant barrier for businesses. By covering 75 percent of that cost, ODOE hopes more Oregon rural businesses and farms can participate in an energy audit to identify potential improvements, and take advantage of USDA and other funding. Learn more and fill out an interest form for the program on our website.
ODOE Holds Public Meeting on Floating Offshore Wind Study
Many thanks to the Oregonians who joined us in North Bend on May 11 to share their views on our Floating Offshore Wind Study. More than 100 people joined us in person and online to hear the latest on our process and provide thoughtful feedback for the study, which will identify the benefits and challenges of integrating up to 3 gigawatts of floating offshore wind in Oregon by 2030.
ODOE staff will turn to drafting the report this summer to submit to the Legislature by September 15. Find past meeting materials and continue following the report's progress on ODOE's website. You can also sign up for email updates.
Grounded: Meet Mr. Sun
Our latest Grounded podcast episode kicks off a new mini-series: Oregon Energy History Timeline Conversations. The ODOE team is hard at work developing an interactive Oregon energy history timeline that will illustrate the state's unique Oregon history – including dozens of photographs, video clips, and interviews like this one. The timeline will roll out later this year and be featured in our 2022 Biennial Energy Report.
In this episode, we meet John "Mr. Sun" Patterson, who earned his nickname as an early Oregon solar pioneer whose company has installed more than 3,000 solar projects! Mr. Sun also helped get legislation passed to make alternative energy more affordable. Give it a listen through your favorite podcast app or on our blog.
Reports Around the Agency
Join our team! ODOE is recruiting – see openings on our website.
Tune in to June Legislative Days to hear several presentations by the Oregon Department of Energy. We’ll be on deck for the House Interim Committee on Environment & Natural Resources on June 1, talking to the Senate Interim Committee on Energy & Environment on June 2, and updating the Senate Interim Committee on Housing & Development on June 2.
In April, ODOE Radiological Emergency Program Coordinator Mark Reese attended the National Radiological Emergency Preparedness Conference in Nashville. After a two-year hiatus, more than 300 attendees representing federal, state, and local agencies from the radiological emergency preparedness community came together for a week of informative presentations and training sessions.
Also in April, Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness Maxwell Woods toured the nation’s only underground nuclear waste repository, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, in New Mexico. Max represents Oregon on the National Governor’s Association Federal Facility Task Force, which helps coordinate states’ interests and relationship with USDOE regarding the ongoing cleanup operations at the nation’s legacy nuclear weapons complex sites.
ODOE currently has four incentive programs up and running. In addition to the Community Renewable Energy Grant Program and the Rural & Agricultural Energy Audit Program mentioned above, ODOE also has rebate programs for rooftop solar and solar paired with energy storage, and efficiency incentives for Oregonians who lost homes and businesses in the 2020 wildfires. Learn more about our energy incentives on ODOE's website.
ODOE Director Janine Benner connected with fellow state energy offices this month at the Western Interstate Energy Board's Joint CREPC-WIRAB spring meeting in San Diego, as well as the National Association of State Energy Officials Western Regional Meeting in Santa Fe.
On May 12, incentives program team members Doug Baer and James Cogle presented on ODOE's incentives to the Mid-Willamette Valley Sustainability Networking Lunch. The lunches are organized to help build community among regional businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, and other community groups in the mid-Willamette Valley.
Electricity & Markets Policy Group Lead Adam Schultz presented on a panel at the Smart Electric Power Alliance’s Annual Utility Conference in Portland on May 3. The panel was focused on The Impact of Distributed Energy Resources on Resiliency Adam discussed ODOE’s policy work on community energy resilience and the launch of our Community Renewable Energy Grant Program.
Associate Director for Strategic Engagement and Development Ruchi Sadhir and Project Manager Kaci Radcliffe joined the Land Conservation & Development Commission meeting on May 20 to provide an update on the Oregon Renewable Energy Siting Assessment, a multi-partner project that is creating assessments and a mapping tool to build an understanding of the opportunities and constraints that come with renewable energy and transmission development in Oregon.
Oregon’s two largest electric utilities, Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, are now accepting applications for their transportation electrification project programs, which are both funded through the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program. Learn more on our Go Electric Oregon website.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is expected to invest more than $5 billion into Oregon's infrastructure. ODOE Director Janine Benner sits on the Governor's Infrastructure Cabinet, which serves as a coordinating team to ensure funding opportunities are harnessed to serve Oregonians across the state. Learn more about what kind of investment we are expecting for the energy sector on our blog.
We were excited to see the Oregon Department of Transportation announce plans to put $100 million toward Oregon's electric vehicle charging infrastrucutre over the next five years. The agency is asking Oregonians to weigh in through a series of surveys and an interactive map to drop a pin where you'd like to see more charging infrastructure.
Did you know ODOE's Energy Facility Siting Team is currently reviewing about a dozen proposed or amended energy facilities? From wind to solar facilities – to combined wind, solar, and storage facilities – you can learn more about the state's process and how to get involved on our website. You can also sign up to receive a monthly facility siting update showing the latest and greatest.
The Oregon Legislature assigned ODOE several new studies to complete over the next year. Visit ODOE's website to learn more about the studies – including floating offshore wind, small-scale renewable energy, and renewable hydrogen – and sign up for email updates on study progress, public meetings, and opportunities to weigh in.
The U.S. Department of Energy is accepting applications from Tribes, states, and territories for $3.16 billion in new funding through the Weatherization Assistance Program, USDOE’s largest residential energy retrofit program. This expanded funding will allow communities to retrofit thousands of low-incomes homes to make them healthier and more energy efficient while lowering utility bills. Learn more on USDOE’s website.
The Energy Facility Siting Council, a governor-appointed volunteer council responsible for the review and oversight of large-scale energy facilities, is recruiting potential new members. Contact Todd Cornett, ODOE's Assistant Director for Siting and the Council Secretary, with questions.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Small-Scale & Community Renewables Study | June 3, 2022 | Via Webinar
Energy Code Stakeholder Panel | June 14, 2022 | Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | June 23-24, 2022 | Salem & Webinar
Other Stakeholder Groups (click to see details)
Current Rulemakings (click to see details)