August 2022 Newsletter
Inflation Reduction Act to Bolster Oregon Energy Efforts
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law by President Biden on August 16, is an exciting piece of historic legislation that outlines the largest federal investment in clean energy and climate policy ever made by the federal government — with many programs scheduled to last a decade.
The Oregon Department of Energy applauds the work done by the Biden-Harris Administration and Oregon’s Congressional delegation in securing its passage. The IRA will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to help fight climate change, offer consumer rebates for Oregon families, and provide capital to support clean energy infrastructure and manufacturing.
As the state energy office, ODOE will apply for new funding to bring into our state. Among the programs ODOE will apply for are new consumer rebate programs, including at least two new programs to improve household energy efficiency. These programs will help consumers make their homes more energy efficient by installing energy efficient applicances and high efficiency heat pump technology.
ODOE looks forward with working with our partners to facilitate the deployment of these funds into our state!
ODOE Team Tours New Radiation Detection Portal System at Gilliam County Landfill
In late July, Director Janine Benner and some members of the ODOE Team toured two landfills owned by Waste Management in Gilliam County, south of the town of Arlington. The Columbia Ridge municipal solid waste landfill accepts waste from across the northwest, including most garbage from the Portland Metro region and the city of Seattle.
The Chemical Waste Management of the Northwest hazardous waste landfill, which is adjacent to but separate from the Columbia Ridge facility, safely handles and disposes of chemically hazardous waste from not only the northwest, but sometimes from around the world.
In 2021, the Chemical Waste Management facility installed a radiation detection portal system, which screens all incoming hazardous waste loads to check for potential radiation. The detection system helps the company verify and maintain compliance with Oregon’s statutes and rules regarding disposal of radioactive material.
In addition to safe management of garbage and hazardous waste, the facilities are becoming a regional energy hub – the Columbia Ridge facility captures landfill gas to generate electricity that powers the facility and is sent to the power grid. Waste Management has leased land surrounding the landfills for wind and solar power development, and is in the process of investigating the potential to produce renewable natural gas that can be directly put into the existing natural gas pipeline system.
Learn more about ODOE’s work around radioactive materials disposal and transport on our website.
Energy Efficiency Incentive Helping Oregonians Rebuild from Wildfires
Earlier this year, the Oregon Department of Energy launched a new incentive program to help Oregonians recover from the devastating 2020 wildfires. To date, ODOE has received nearly 350 applications for rebuilding, and we've already reserved or issued about $1.2 million in rebates to wildfire survivors.
To aid in rebuilding efforts, the Oregon Legislature passed a law to allow those who lost their homes and businesses to rebuild to the 2008 energy code or the code that was in place when the structure was first built. The Legislature also allocated about $10.8 million to ODOE to create a program that offers incentives that encourage rebuilding to the current code or to above-code standards. Incorporating these energy efficiency improvements help make buildings more comfortable and support long-term affordability by lowering energy bills.
Oregonians replacing site-built homes can receive between $3,000 and $15,000, manufactured home replacements can receive $12,500 and an additional $5,000 to install a qualifying heat pump, and owners of commercial, public, and multi-family structures can receive between $3,000 and $10,000. Qualifying affordable housing structures are eligible for an additional $500 per unit (up to $18,000).
ODOE is still accepting applications for the program. Learn more and review eligibility details on ODOE's website.
Oregon, Washington, and Others Ask President Biden to Increase Funding for Hanford Cleanup
Oregon, Washington, and a coalition of organizations have sent a joint letter to President Biden calling for increased funding at the Hanford Nuclear Site. The letter asks President Biden and Congress to request and allocate adequate funding for Hanford, starting with $3.76 billion in Fiscal Year 2024.
Signees of the letter include Oregon Governor Kate Brown, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Washington Department of Ecology, Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs, Tri-Cities Development Council, Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hanford Communities, Hanford Challenge, Columbia Riverkeeper, Central Washington Building Trades Council, and the UA Local Union 598 Plumbers and Steamfitters. The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation also sent a similar letter to President Biden.
The Hanford Site in southeast Washington State produced two-thirds of the nation’s plutonium stockpile during World War II and the Cold War, leaving behind one of the most contaminated nuclear cleanup sites in the world. From Hanford, the Columbia flows through prime Oregon farmlands and fisheries. Radioactive and chemical contamination poses a potential long-term threat to these important resources. Continued underfunding at Hanford will exponentially balloon the overall cost of cleanup, delay work by decades, and increase the risk of a catastrophic infrastructure failure or release of contamination.
Read the full letter and view a joint statement from Governor Inslee and Governor Brown.
Oregon Welcomes U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm
On August 9, Oregon Department of Energy Director Janine Benner was pleased to welcome Secretary Jennifer Granholm to Oregon alongside Governor Kate Brown, Senator Jeff Merkley, and Senator Ron Wyden. The group hosted the Secretary for an Oregon energy tour, including stops at Daimler Truck North America's "Electric Island" in North Portland, Bonneville Power Administration's headquarters in Vancouver, local Wilsonville business Energy Storage Systems, and Oregon State University's Corvallis campus.
Reports from Around the Agency
Join our team! ODOE is recruiting, including for a new Chief Information Officer. Follow openings on our website.
The Energy Facility Siting Council is in the final review stages before it issues a decision on the proposed Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line, which would be about 300 miles in length and run through five Oregon counties (and one in Idaho). EFSC met for a three-day meeting August 29-31 in LaGrande to continue reviewing recommendations on the Proposed Order and to hear testimony from Contested Case participants. Follow the process on ODOE's website.
ODOE Director Janine Benner will be serving as vice chair for the newly-formed Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association's board. The Association is a non-profit, public-private partnership that will lead a regional effort to acquire a share of the U.S. Department of Energy's forthcoming investment in clean hydrogen hubs. Learn more about this partnership and sign up for email updates.
We're pleased to report that ODOE Emergency Preparedness Manager Deanna Henry has been appointed to Governor Brown's new Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council.
ODOE Radiological Emergency Planning Coordinator Mark Reese completed the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Executive Education Program this month through the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security.
ODOE is working to stand up new heat pump incentive programs, targeted for launch in 2023. We’ll be holding public meetings soon to develop administrative rules for the programs. Please sign up to receive email updates with information about how to participate.
ODOE is pleased to sponsor a September 8 Offshore Wind Symposium in Portland, presented by the Northwest Environmental Business Council. ODOE Senior Policy Analysts Jason Sierman and Rebecca Smith will serve as panelists to discuss our upcoming floating offshore wind and renewable hydrogen studies.
In addition to new Inflation Reduction Act funding coming to Oregon, ODOE is already working toward securing Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act funding to Oregon. Today, August 31, ODOE is holding a public meeting to discuss program design and an application to secure funding for grid resilience work in the state. Follow our IIJA work on our website, and sign up for email updates.
ODOE staff were pleased to join Umatilla County's Emergency Management team at an info booth at the Umatilla County Fair this month. Program Analyst Kaci Radcliffe and Radiological Emergency Planning Coordinator Mark Reese were on hand to talk about ODOE's emergency preparedness work, our upcoming studies, and available incentives.
Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness Assistant Director Max Woods and Emergency Preparedness Manager Deanna Henry joined the City of Portland's Bureau of Emergency Management for a tabletop petroleum fuel emergency drill. Learn more about our preparedness work on our website.
ODOE staff also enjoyed connecting with Oregonians at the Salem Saturday Market on August 20. We talked about solar, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, and more!
The Oregon Legislature assigned ODOE several new studies that will be released this 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 Oregon Global Warming Commission is recruiting members for a Natural & Working Lands Advisory Committee, and has extended the application deadline. Learn more and apply by September 6.
ODOE currently has four incentive programs up and running, including the Community Renewable Energy Grant Program, the Rural & Agricultural Energy Audit Program, Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program, and Energy Efficient Wildfire Rebuilding. Learn more about our energy incentives on ODOE's website.
While ODOE works to stand up our new heat pump incentive programs over the next several months, we are pleased to report we are providing $2 million to Energy Trust of Oregon to support a Landlord Provided Cooling Space Initiative. Energy Trust will use the funding for cooling resources at or near multi-family housing communities.
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.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Energy Code Stakeholder Panel | September 13, 2022 | Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | September 27, 2022 | Salem & Via Webinar
Heat Pump Incentive Programs Meetings | Coming Soon | Sign Up for Emails
Other Stakeholder Groups (click to see details)
Current Rulemakings (click to see details)