September 2022 Newsletter
Energy Facility Siting Council Approves Boardman-to-Hemingway Transmission Line
On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, the Energy Facility Siting Council voted to approve the proposed Boardman-to-Hemingway Transmission Line. The 500-kilovolt, 300-mile transmission line will be owned by Idaho Power and is expected to run from Boardman, OR to a substation in southwest Idaho.
The proposed transmission line has been moving through the federal and state EFSC permitting process for over a decade (actively with EFSC since 2017), with dozens of public meetings and hundreds of hours of Oregon Department of Energy staff time. EFSC members, who are community volunteers appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, also spent significant time over several years reviewing complex documents and analysis, hearing from experts, asking thoughtful questions, listening to public testimony, and addressing concerns raised. On Tuesday, EFSC voted 6 to 0 to approve the line.
ODOE and EFSC are grateful to the many Oregonians who have gotten involved and shared their views on the project. Like most energy facilities, Boardman-to-Hemingway saw community opposition, and we acknowledge that not all Oregonians will be satisfied by EFSC’s vote. The decision may be appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court by parties to the contested case proceeding (per ORS 469.403, parties to the contested case have 60 days to file an appeal).
More information on the project, including record documents, is available on ODOE’s website. Learn more about the public siting process and the standards facilities must meet for approval.
New ODOE Report Outlines Benefits & Challenges to Floating Offshore Wind Off Oregon's Coast
Floating offshore wind facilities could help Oregon achieve its clean energy goals but face challenges ahead of potential deployment off the state’s coast, according to a new ODOE report published this month.
The first renewable offshore wind facilities came online in Denmark in the 1990s and have since been installed in shallow waters across the world. Now, experts are looking at how offshore wind facilities could be deployed in deeper waters by affixing wind turbine technology to floating platforms. Off the Oregon coast, which has some of the strongest wind resources in the world, deeper sea floors would require floating offshore wind technology.
The Oregon Legislature directed ODOE to conduct a study outlining the benefits and challenges of integrating up to 3 gigawatts of floating offshore wind into Oregon’s grid by 2030. The agency’s study provides a summary of important information and key findings from a review of existing literature; consultation with other state, regional, and national experts; and thoughtful feedback from Oregon stakeholders over the past year.
The study found that floating offshore wind could bring compelling benefits to the state, including helping Oregon achieve its clean energy goals, strengthening grid reliability and resilience, and bolstering economic development in coastal communities, among others. The study also acknowledges significant challenges, including concerns about the effects potential offshore wind development could have on coastal communities, the environment, natural and cultural resources, and existing coastal industries like fishing, recreation, and tourism; technology, transmission system, and port infrastructure readiness; and complex siting and permitting challenges.
While a thorough literature review and robust expert and stakeholder input provided a strong foundation for ODOE’s study, it also made clear there is a need for further study, engagement, and collaboration to more fully understand how floating offshore wind could affect the state. In particular, stakeholders urged additional regional and local collaboration to find a balance between the benefits and challenges of deploying this technology. The potential benefits are compelling, but it is critical that the effects on existing economies, cultures, communities, and the environment are carefully assessed and mitigated where necessary.
ODOE’s complete study, background materials, and stakeholder feedback are available on the agency’s website.
New ODOE Study Outlines Potential for Small-Scale and Community-Based Renewable Energy Projects
Today, September 30, the Oregon Department of Energy is submitting a new study to the Oregon Legislature that provides a foundation for understanding how small-scale and community-based renewable energy projects could support Oregon communities.
The Oregon Legislature directed ODOE to convene a diverse workgroup of stakeholders to examine opportunities and address barriers to developing small-scale and community-based renewable energy projects. ODOE held four workshops to discuss project ownership and access; opportunities and barriers; benefits, costs, and rate impacts; and recommendations for projects in Oregon. ODOE also conducted a literature review and invited expert speakers to provide additional background on the topic.
Overall, the workgroup determined that small-scale projects can help Oregon achieve important goals, like improving equitable access to clean energy, making more efficient use of state land and resources, supporting community energy resilience, and increasing local economic performance, among other benefits. The workgroup also discussed barriers to implementing projects, such as lack of resources to plan for, develop, and maintain facilities in addition to lack of finances to pay for the projects.
ODOE's study includes a list of ideas shared by workgroup members for the Legislature to consider that could bolster small-scale and community-based renewable energy projects for Oregonians. We're grateful to the workgroup members for giving their time and thoughtful feedback in developing the final report to the Legislature. The report, background materials, and information from the workgroup meetings are available on ODOE's website.
ODOE Activates Agency Operations Center for Nuclear Emergency Exercise
For the first time in over two years, the Oregon Department of Energy activated its in-person Agency Operations Center to participate in a nuclear emergency exercise for the Columbia Generating Station Nuclear Power Plant in Washington state.
In the event of an incident at the Hanford Nuclear Site or the Columbia Generating Station, ODOE staff are trained to review incident details and take actions to ensure Oregonians are safe. Hanford and CGS are located just outside Richland, WA along the Columbia River, just 35 miles from Oregon's border. From the Richland area, the Columbia flows through prime Oregon farmlands, communities, and fisheries.
For September's exercise, experts from the Oregon Health Authority, Oregon State University, and Oregon Military Department as well as emergency managers from Umatilla and Morrow Counties joined ODOE staff to practice analyzing data and developing communications in the event of a CGS emergency. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were also on hand to observe, and will return for a second drill in October to grade ODOE's response performance.
ODOE staff and our partners typically activate the Agency Operations Center two to three times a year to practice our response. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency exercises were held remotely over the last couple of years, which offered an opportunity to figure out ways to stay connected and do this important work remotely — but it was great to be able to practice and collaborate in person again. Learn more about ODOE's emergency preparedness work on our website.
Grounded Podcast: Nuclear Energy in Oregon
Our latest Grounded podcast episode continues 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 in November and be featured in our 2022 Biennial Energy Report.
In this episode, we check in for a short chat with ODOE’s Hanford Hydrogeologist, Tom Sicilia. Tom shares the state of nuclear energy in Oregon and a bit about its past and potential future. Give it a listen through your favorite podcast app or on our blog.
Reports from Around the Agency
ODOE staff presented three times during September Legislative Days. In case you missed it, you can find the presentations online: Rob Del Mar and Stephanie Boles provided updates on ODOE’s Community Renewable Energy Grant Program and our new Small-Scale and Community Renewable Energy Projects study; Jason Sierman presented on the 2022 Floating Offshore Wind Report; and Rebecca Smith gave an overview of the upcoming 2022 Renewable Hydrogen Report.
It's not too late to join in the fun for National Drive Electric Week, which wraps up October 2. But really every day is a great day to learn about EVs. Check out Go Electric Oregon to learn more and see if there's an EVent near you.
Speaking of EVs, we were excited to see that the Oregon Department of Transportation's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan was approved, which will bring federal dollars to Oregon for new EV charging stations. Learn more on Go Electric Oregon.
ODOE continues to work on standing up new heat pump incentive programs, targeted for launch in 2023. Earlier this month, ODOE held two public meetings to begin developing administrative rules for the programs. Please sign up to receive email updates for official rulemaking updates and opportunities to weigh in.
Earlier this month, we submitted our annual report to the Legislature on the Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate program. The report covers the 2021 calendar year, during with ODOE reserved or rebated 684 projects, representing over $2.52 million in funds. Nearly $1 million (37%) of the funds went to projects owned by Oregonians with low or moderate incomes or low-income service providers.
As we mentioned in last month's newsletter, Oregon expects to receive new federal funding for energy from the Inflation Reduction Act (in addition to the 2021 Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act). We don't yet have details on the funding, but you can sign up to receive email updates on Federal Funds to stay in the loop as we know more.
In August, ODOE held a public meeting to discuss program design and an application to secure federal IIJA funds for grid resilience. Days after our meeting, the federal government announced an extension of the due date for applications to March 2023, so ODOE is working to develop an updated approach for a proposed program and funding application, and will share more soon.
Are you and your family ready if disaster strikes? September is National Preparedness Month, so we shared some tips to #BePrepared on our blog — check it out.
Oregon's last coal-fired power plant, Boardman Coal, closed in 2020. Earlier this month, Portland General Electric demolished the facility. PGE has more information on its website (including video of the demolition if you missed it!).
On September 8, ODOE sponsored the Offshore Wind Symposium in Portland, presented by the Northwest Environmental Business Council. ODOE Senior Policy Analysts Jason Sierman and Rebecca Smith served as panelists to discuss ODOE's floating offshore wind and renewable hydrogen studies.
On September 21, ODOE Electricity & Markets Policy Group Lead Adam Schultz joined Environment Oregon for a webinar on Uniting States for 100% Renewable Energy, which covered how renewable energy is growing, the latest research on America’s renewable energy potential, and what’s next on the road to 100% renewable energy in the states. If you missed it, you can watch the recording online.
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
Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board | October 3, 2022 | Richland, WA
Energy Advisory Work Group | October 5 and 17, 2022 | Via Webinar
Oregon Global Warming Commission | October 7, 2022 | Via Webinar
C-REP Advisory Committee | October 13, 2022 | Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | October 27-28, 2022 | Salem & Webinar
Energy Code Stakeholder Panel | December 13, 2022 | Via Webinar
Other Stakeholder Groups (click to see details)
Current Rulemakings (click to see details)