January 2024 Newsletter
ODOE Study Shows Significant Need for Home Cooling Equipment
Many Oregonians do not have adequate cooling equipment at home and face significant health and safety risks during extreme heat waves, according to a new study commissioned by the Oregon Department of Energy.
Following the 2021 heat dome event, during which at least 100 Oregonians died of heat-related illnesses – often in their own homes – the Oregon Legislature directed the Oregon Department of Energy to report on the cooling needs of Oregon households that live in the housing types most vulnerable to heat. The study focused on publicly supported housing, manufactured and mobile homes, RVs being used as housing, and agricultural workforce housing, and found that over half of these types of homes have inadequate cooling equipment.
The study, published in December 2023, surveyed Oregonians across the state to gather data by housing type and region to better understand cooling needs, including whether cooling equipment is permanent, temporary or portable, or unavailable or inadequate. On average, across all housing types and Oregon regions, nearly 60 percent of households surveyed had an immediate or long-term need for better cooling equipment. Among all survey respondents, 84 percent reported interest in improving their cooling systems.
The study also provided high-level estimated investments needed to meet statewide cooling needs. The estimated cost when considering baseline health and safety needs to avoid the worst effects of extreme heat events is over $600 million to install heat pumps in manufactured, multifamily, and agricultural workforce housing, and temporary air conditioning in recreational vehicles. To more comprehensively address the need to properly cool homes, the cost estimate is over $1 billion to install heat pumps in bedrooms and common spaces in most housing types, and permanent air conditioning in recreational vehicles.
Learn more about the study and its results on ODOE’s blog, including how a pair of ODOE heat pump incentive programs and upcoming federal rebate programs will help install heat pumps in Oregon rental homes and owner-occupied homes across the state.
Ice Ice Oregon
Many Oregonians are still recovering from this month’s winter storm, which pummeled communities from the coast to east of the Cascades. Icy conditions caused thousands of power outages across the state. As utility crews responded to outages, some areas saw power restored faster than others. Utilities will often prioritize repairs that will get the highest number of people back online quickly, while some repairs are delayed because of downed trees or other obstacles that prevent line repair. On our blog this month, some of ODOE’s team members shared their experiences and tips for being prepared in case of a power outage.
In addition to electricity outages, other energy sources can experience delays or other issues following weather emergencies. Here at the Oregon Department of Energy, we are the responding agency for liquid fuel emergencies, such as petroleum products like gasoline and diesel, as well as propane for heating. During the January storm, ODOE Emergency Manager Deanna Henry participated in state emergency coordination meetings and worked to respond to several fuels needs, including:
Monitoring roads to assess safety for fuel truck travel.
Partnering with the Oregon Fuels Association, Pacific Propane Gas Association, and Suburban Propane to deliver 1,000 gallons of propane to power backup generators at the St. Vincent DePaul Egan Warming Center in Eugene.
Working with the Oregon Fuels Association and Carson Oil to deliver 500 gallons of fuel to Lane County to support fire operations at the Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District. The diesel also powered a backup generator at the Mohawk High School serving as a warming center.
Working with the Pacific Propane Gas Association and AmeriGas to deliver 1,500 gallons of propane to Everyone’s Market in Vida, the only store providing essential services to the eastern Lane County community.
Laying the Groundwork for the Oregon Energy Strategy
The Oregon Department of Energy has been busy laying the groundwork for developing a new Oregon Energy Strategy, which will identify pathways to achieving the state’s energy and climate goals. The Strategy will be built through a step-by-step, two-phase process with stakeholder engagement at its core. Phase one will include gathering data, conducting technical analyses, and using the information to define and model energy scenarios. Phase two will use modeled energy scenarios that will help develop the key energy pathways and policy recommendations to achieve Oregon’s climate and energy goals.
Two Requests for Proposals are being issued this week to support this work. One RFP is seeking a technical and modeling contractor that will collect stakeholder data and input to produce the potential energy pathways. The other RFP seeks a facilitation contractor to ensure robust, inclusive stakeholder engagement through the process. ODOE expects to work with the facilitator to form stakeholder working groups to support our efforts.
Once these contractors are selected, ODOE will launch statewide virtual and in-person outreach to ensure all stakeholders, communities, and other interested Oregonians have an opportunity to learn about and contribute to the Energy Strategy.
While ODOE is excited to get this project off the ground with contractors in place, we’ve also already begun laying the foundation for this work by consulting with other state agencies that are responsible for implementing various elements of Oregon’s energy and climate policies. We also want to ensure we engage with Oregon’s federally recognized Tribes on this important topic, so we’ve issued formal letters inviting each of them to participate in the process. Finally, ODOE expects to issue a public survey so Oregonians can provide important early input – we expect to publish the survey later this winter.
Follow the Oregon Energy Strategy process on ODOE’s website, and consider signing up for email updates to receive information on progress and opportunities to weigh in. You can also contact our team directly at: energy.strategy@energy.oregon.gov.
Inquiries relating to the RFPs should be directed to the Single Point of Contact defined in the RFP documentation on www.oregonbuys.gov. The RFP reference numbers will be: S-DASOBO-00008987 and S-33000-00009278.
On the Road in Oregon Continues
In our November newsletter, we introduced you to a new blog series, On the Road in Oregon, written by our Community Navigator Program team. The Community Navigator Program is focused on fostering connections and collaboration across the state, including how ODOE can better understand and support communities' goals and priorities around energy. This month on our blog, Rural Energy Coordinator Alice Weston — who is working with ODOE through the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments program — shares an experience she had meeting with Sustainable Northwest and local community members in the Upper Klamath Basin.
Alice learned about a series of Sustainable Northwest-hosted Upper Klamath Basin Listening Sessions, which allow community members and public service providers to have real conversations about needs without the barrier of screens and phone calls. Alice enjoyed the opportunity to sit with community members, enjoy a meal together, and begin to learn more about each other. The session provided a space to share information and knowledge in order to make better collectively informed decisions around Oregon’s energy future. In the end, that learning, support, and building of trust are the best ways to create real and lasting community energy resilience.
Community Navigator Sarah Moehrke also shared her experience and perspective following a three-day trip to the Oregon coast to meet with Tribal, local utility, and community leaders alongside ODOE Director Janine Benner and Associate Director for Strategic Engagement Ruchi Sadhir. The ODOE trio appreciated the opportunity to connect with people that live in the coastal communities and hear about their focus on workforce development, innovative and resilient projects, and providing supportive services that promise to shape Oregon’s future.
Leaders shared that there is a clear need for a skilled and sustainable workforce that aligns with the state’s ambitious clean energy goals. Workforce development, new energy technologies, and incentive programs and federal funding opportunities have the opportunity to create an Oregon future filled with collaboration, innovation, and commitment to sustainability and taking care of each other.
Reports from Around the Agency
Join our team! Keep an eye on ODOE's website for open recruitments and please share with your networks.
The 2024 Oregon Legislative Session kicks off on February 5. Check out ODOE's website for more on our work and priorities for session.
Ahead of the 2024 session, ODOE staff presented to interim legislative committees during January Legislative Days. ODOE Director Janine Benner and Central Services Assistant Director Michael Williams presented on the agency’s financial oversight, upcoming Grid Resilience program, and a new Climate Action Plan the agency will work on with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Government Relations Coordinator Christy Splitt presented on a few technical fixes and statutory adjustments for a few ODOE programs, and gave a preview of a potential adjustment to ODOE’s heat pump programs to ensure all dollars get out the door to serve Oregonians.
In addition to the Cooling Needs Study mentioned above, ODOE submitted several reports to the legislature ahead of the 2024 session. Check them out on our website.
ODOE Facilities Engineer Stephanie Kruse spoke with Oregon Public Broadcasting about the Cooling Needs Study and the type of investments it could take to meet those needs.
ODOE Codes and Standards Manager Blake Shelide presented on a panel at the 2024 ASHRAE Conference in Chicago this month. Blake and his fellow panelists discussed building decarbonization efforts and policies.
In case you missed it, the Oregon Global Warming Commission is now the Oregon Climate Action Commission. The 2023 Oregon Legislature passed a bill to rename and modernize the commission, including identifying new members to join the commission. Sign up for email updates on the commission's work.
Congratulations to Forth and Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. for being awarded federal grants to support electric vehicle charging and workforce development in Oregon. Learn more.
The Energy Facility Siting Council, a governor-appointed volunteer council responsible for the review and oversight of large-scale energy facilities, is recruiting for a new member. Contact Todd Cornett, ODOE's Assistant Director for Siting and Council Secretary, with questions.
We were excited to see that students in seven Oregon school districts will soon have cleaner rides to school thanks to federal grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Nearly 100 electric school buses will join the school fleets thanks to the funding.
ODOE has several incentive programs up and running. Learn more about our energy incentives on ODOE's website.
Did you know ODOE's Energy Facility Siting Team is currently reviewing more than 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 Facility Siting Council | February 23, 2024| Salem and Via Webinar
Other Stakeholder Groups (click to see details)
Current Rulemakings (click to see details)