March 2024 Newsletter
ODOE Grid Resilience Grant Program to Support Oregon Electric Utilities
A new Oregon Department of Energy Grid Resilience Grant Program has nearly $19 million available to support projects that strengthen resilience of the electric grid in Oregon communities. Program funding is available thanks to the federal 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Electric utilities are eligible to apply for grants to support resilience projects, which can include weatherization technologies and equipment, fire-resistant technologies and fire-prevention systems, utility pole management, undergrounding of electrical equipment, and more.
Strengthening the resilience of the electric grid can reduce disruptive events, like power outages due to extreme weather. ODOE’s program is designed to fund projects that will have the greatest community benefits while addressing the most pressing grid resilience needs. The program is also designed to advance equity, environmental, and energy justice priorities in support of federal Justice40 Initiative goals to deliver benefits to disadvantaged communities. At least 40 percent of ODOE’s grant budget is reserved for small utilities – which often serve rural areas of the state – that sell less than 4 million megawatt hours of electricity per year.
An Opportunity Announcement is available on ODOE’s website with additional details and program requirements, including required matching funds for projects. Applications are due by 1 p.m. on June 14, 2024. Utilities can access required application materials online, and ODOE will open its application portal to accept completed submissions this spring.
ODOE Announces $18 Million for Community Renewable Energy Grants
The Oregon Department of Energy will soon begin accepting applications for a third round of funding through the agency’s Community Renewable Energy Grant Program. ODOE is making $18 million available to support planning and construction of renewable energy or energy resilience projects for Tribes, public bodies, and consumer-owned utilities.
Grant dollars are available for four types of projects: 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, as well as 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. Previous rounds in 2022 and 2023 selected recipients for $24 million total in grant funds.
ODOE will again offer grants up to $100,000 for eligible planning projects and up to $1 million for eligible construction projects. Planning grants can cover up to 100 percent of eligible costs to develop a plan to build renewable energy and energy resilience projects. Construction grants for renewable energy projects can cover up to 50 percent of eligible costs to build the project, while construction grants for resilience projects can cover up to 100 percent. Awards will be made on a competitive basis, and priority will be given to projects that support energy resilience and that serve qualifying communities, including communities of color, low-income communities, Tribes, rural areas, and other traditionally underserved groups.
Applications will be due May 10, 2024 and will be checked for completeness before going through a competitively scored review. Four program opportunity announcements with additional eligibility details and timelines are available on ODOE’s website, and the online application will be available soon. ODOE is holding an information webinar on April 4 at 2 p.m. for potential applicants, including ample time for Q&A. The agency also encourages written questions from potential applicants through the program’s online Q&A Portal. Some answers may already be covered in the program’s previous Frequently Asked Questions.
ODOE Announces $1.2 Million Available for Local Government Energy Efficiency Projects
The Oregon Department of Energy has about $1.2 million available for grants to eligible local governments for energy efficiency, renewable energy, or transportation-related projects. The funding is available thanks to the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.
Local governments are eligible to apply for grants to support projects that reduce fossil fuel emissions, lower a community’s total energy use, improve energy efficiency, and build a clean and equitable energy economy. The program is also designed to advance equity, environmental, and energy justice priorities in support of federal Justice40 Initiative goals to deliver benefits to disadvantaged communities.
Eligible applicants include Oregon units of local government that are not otherwise eligible to receive a direct Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. In Oregon, several larger cities and some counties are receiving grants directly from the U.S. DOE.
ODOE is now accepting applications. An Opportunity Announcement and application materials are available on ODOE’s website, including additional details and program requirements. ODOE will fund eligible projects on a rolling basis, with a focus on projects that will benefit Justice40 communities. This first program opportunity will remain open until the earlier of May 21, 2024 or until funds have been fully allocated.
State Energy Strategy Development: We Want to Hear From You!
As we’ve shared in past newsletters, ODOE is leading development of a State Energy Strategy that will identify potential pathways to achieving Oregon’s energy and climate policy objectives. It’s vital that we hear diverse perspectives as we develop a strategy that reflects the needs of the state it will serve. We want to hear from you about how you’d like to be involved and what’s important to you.
Please take this short survey by April 21, 2024 to share your thoughts.
ODOE held a kick-off meeting on the Energy Strategy in November and got some initial feedback about priorities and preferences from attendees. We have a few follow-up questions to gather more input and to help us design a process – including public engagement – for developing the strategy. If you haven’t yet provided us with feedback, now is a great opportunity! (If you didn’t make it to our kick-off webinar last fall, you can watch a recording here for more background.)
ODOE’s energy strategy team is bringing on technical and facilitation support contractors for the project, and we’re pleased to report that the state has issued a Notice of Intent to Award for RFP S-DASOBO-00008987 for Technical Assistance & Modeling for the energy strategy to the Clean Energy Transitions Institute (CETI). As our contractors come on board, we’ll soon kick off development of an outreach plan. Your answers to the survey will help us understand what topics you’re interested in, and what background materials may be needed as we form a communications and engagement plan. Learn more on our blog!
Oregon's Future Energy Experts Compete in Oregon Coast Renewable Energy Challenge
Oregon Department of Energy Director Janine Benner served as a presenter and judge for the 2024 Oregon Coast Renewable Energy Challenge in Newport earlier this month. Students from elementary and middle schools along the coast created their own renewable energy devices to compete for best design.
The Challenge is designed to educate students about renewable energy options that could be built in and provide energy for their own coastal communities (and beyond). Students developed wind, wave, or solar devices for testing in water tanks or an indoor wind tunnel. Janine was pleased to serve as a judge for the wind competition, where students were challenged to create turbines that could generate electricity in windy conditions.
It was Janine’s second time judging for the event and she was again impressed with the creativity and passion the students had for their projects. “It was fun to see the diverse approaches to designing wind turbines and the materials they chose — from plastic to cardboard to old Cheetos containers,” said Janine. “The students clearly did their research, and it was wonderful to connect with their supportive teachers and volunteers.”
Janine was also pleased to kick off the event with a short presentation on energy in Oregon, featuring Oregon’s electricity resource mix, our electric vehicle dashboard, and our solar dashboard. Janine also discussed the importance of energy resilience and asked students if they lost power during the January ice storm. Nearly everyone raised their hand, and some even reported being out for five days or more!
Learn more and see the project winners on our blog.
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 wrapped up earlier this month. Check out our legislative summary report for information on energy-related efforts.
On March 27, ODOE's federal grants team submitted Oregon's application for Home Energy Rebate program funds to the U.S. Department of Energy. If awarded, the funds will support two rebate programs to help Oregonians improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs at home. Learn more in our FAQ, and sign up to receive email updates as we work to bring these programs to Oregon.
ODOE Energy Analyst Tom Elliott has been named Co-Chair of the National Association of State Energy Officials' Rural Energy Working Group. The working group serves as a platform for state energy officials, partnering agricultural and rural-oriented state agencies, advocacy groups, and other entities to exchange ideas, share best practices, and learn about emerging technology innovations that support energy efficiency and rural energy development.
ODOE held an Energy Advisory Work Group meeting on March 18 in Salem. The group will meet again April 22 with a focus on the development of ODOE's 2025-2027 budget and possible legislative concepts. Learn more on our website.
ODOE's Energy Facility Siting Division staff will be hosting a public information meeting on the Notice of Intent for the Summit Ridge Renewable Energy Facility at the Dufur K-12 School Gymnasium in Dufur, OR on April 3 at 5 p.m. The proposed project would consist of 201 megawatts of wind, solar, and battery storage in northeastern Wasco County. More information is available on the project webpage.
On March 13-14, members of our Rural & Agricultural Energy Assistance Program team hosted an information booth and gave a presentation on ODOE programs to attendees at the Northwest Agricultural Show in Salem.
We're excited to see our friends at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will reopen the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program from April 3 to June 4. Rebate funding is limited, so now is a great time to consider the switch to an eligible electric vehicle. Learn more.
NW Natural is issuing an RFP today, March 29, for those interested in the sale of pipeline-quality renewable natural gas (RNG) and/or associated attributes. The RNG may be sourced from around the country and from a wide variety of feedstocks and sources. Responses are due by May 10, 2024 – more information is available on NW Natural’s website.
ODOE staff are looking forward to celebrating Earth Day once again at the Oregon Garden on April 20. Admission into the garden is free, and ODOE will have a booth on site with information about our programs.
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.
ODOE has several incentive programs up and running. Learn more about our energy incentives on ODOE's website.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Community Renewable Energy Grant Program Info Webinar | April 4, 2024 | Via Webinar
Grid Resilience Grant Program Webinar | April 17, 2024 | Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | April 19, 2024| Salem and Via Webinar
Energy Advisory Work Group | April 22, 2024 | Via Webinar
Oregon Energy Code Stakeholder Panel | April 23, 2024 | Via Webinar
Community Heat Pump Deployment Program Advisory Council | May 8, 2024 | Via Webinar
Other Stakeholder Groups (click to see details)
Current Rulemakings (click to see details)