April 2024 Newsletter
Oregon Awarded $86.6 Million Solar for All Grant
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that Oregon will receive an $86.6 million Solar for All grant to support renewable energy adoption for low-income Oregonians. The Oregon Solar for All Coalition – which includes the Oregon Department of Energy, Energy Trust of Oregon, and Bonneville Environmental Foundation – applied for the funding last fall.
The U.S. EPA Solar for All program is designed to advance equity, environmental, and energy justice priorities in support of federal Justice40 Initiative goals to deliver benefits to disadvantaged communities. Awardees will develop programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, deliver the benefits of those reductions to low-income and disadvantaged communities across the nation, and mobilize financing and private capital to stimulate additional projects that reduce emissions.
The Oregon Solar for All Coalition will use the first year of the five-year grant to plan and develop the grant-funded programs, including leveraging existing solar technology incentives and support platforms already in use. The coalition's application outlined its plans to use the funding to bolster solar through five pathways: 1) support solar installations at low-income single-family households with little to no upfront customer cost, 2) provide rebates for solar projects on multifamily buildings to provide tangible benefits to low-income tenants, 3) offer financial and technical assistance to develop community solar projects that benefit low income participants under the Oregon Community Solar Program, 4) offer financial and technical assistance to develop community solar projects that benefit low income participants in consumer-owned utility service areas, and 5) strengthen the state’s workforce development activities.
This Solar for All funding comes from the U.S. EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that was created by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
More information, including the coalition’s submitted program narrative and a past program overview, is available on the Oregon Department of Energy’s website. The coalition will provide updates on the website as planning and development continue over the next year. Oregonians can also sign up for email updates to stay in the loop on opportunities to weigh in and ahead of future program roll-out.
ODOE and Partners Activate Agency Operations Center for Nuclear Emergency Exercise
On March 26-27, the Oregon Department of Energy participated in one of our regular nuclear emergency exercises. Each year, ODOE staff activate our Agency Operations Center in Salem and send staff north to Washington to simulate and practice how we would respond in the event of a radiological emergency at the Hanford Site or the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant near Richland, WA. Both sites sit along the Columbia River, just 35 miles north of Oregon’s border.
This year’s exercise was a two-day “Ingestion Exercise” with the Columbia Generating Station. In an Ingestion Exercise, the artificial radiological emergency leads to a simulated airborne release and deposition of radioactive materials from the power plant into Oregon air and onto land – which can affect livestock, milk, and crops. While the amount of radiation reaching Oregon from an incident at the plant would be below harmful levels for direct exposure to humans, our primary concern would be agricultural products in the area. In the case of a real emergency, one of our primary goals would be to protect Oregonians from consuming contaminated food, water, or dairy products.
Together with our partners — including Umatilla and Morrow counties, Oregon State University, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Oregon Emergency Response System, Oregon National Guard Civil Support Team, and the State of Washington — we practiced tracking possible radiation based on simulated data, analyzing risks to Oregon and identifying potential protective actions, releasing information to the public and the media (including mock press conferences), and testing soil, air, vegetation, and water samples. Our staff were also present in Richland, Washington, at Energy Northwest’s response center.
The exercise was evaluated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the federal agency responsible for overseeing nuclear power plant emergency preparedness across the country. Three FEMA evaluators joined the Agency Operations Center to observe our actions and decisions. They’ll provide a report later with feedback and suggestions for improvements. March’s graded exercise followed a “dress rehearsal” exercise we completed in February. And we’re not done yet! We’ll do a third exercise in May to practice an emergency at Hanford.
We practice these drills each year, and the feedback we’ll receive from FEMA will help us improve operations even more. We hope we never have to put our practice into action – but the drills will ensure we’re ready if we do! Learn more about ODOE’s emergency preparedness work on our website.
Energy Facilities Spotlight: Meeting the Standards
Oregon’s Energy Facility Siting Council, commonly called EFSC, is a seven-member council appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. They are responsible for overseeing the development of large electric generating facilities, high-voltage transmission lines, gas pipelines, radioactive waste disposal sites, and other energy projects. The Oregon Department of Energy staffs EFSC to ensure they have the information and analysis they need to make their decisions.
A proposed energy facility in state jurisdiction must go through a thorough review, including a robust public involvement process, before gaining EFSC approval and receiving a site certificate. The site certificate is similar to a permit, and outlines the requirements and standards that must be met for pre-construction, construction, and compliance for operating a facility.
EFSC has a set of standards that energy facilities must meet, including standards to protect natural resources, ensure public health and safety, and protect against adverse environmental effects.
On our blog this month, we discuss some of Oregon's standards, including the general standard of review, wildfire prevention and risk mitigation, and historic, cultural, and archaeological resources, among others. Check it out on our blog and see all of our standards on ODOE's website.
Join ODOE for Energy Security Plan Community Meetings
The Oregon Department of Energy is leading development of a new Energy Security Plan for the state, which will identify risks to electricity, liquid fuel, and natural gas/propane systems, and will propose ways to mitigate those risks — and we want to hear from you!
ODOE will be hosting a series of in-person and online hybrid meetings in Oregon’s six major regions in May. At the meetings, ODOE will present results of a statewide risk assessment to energy systems, along with a list of recommended mitigation measures. We’ll ask meeting attendees in each region to rank the mitigation measures based on what they feel would be most effective in their region.
Learn more about the Energy Security Plan and find meeting details and Zoom registration links on ODOE’s website. You can also sign up to receive email updates about the plan.
On the Road in Oregon: Lake County
This month in ODOE's "On the Road in Oregon" blog series, RARE Member Alice Weston shares about community connections she made in Lake County, an area in Oregon deemed frontier. In recent years, Lake County has increased its renewable energy resources and boosted the local economy by implementing biomass, geothermal, and solar projects. Leading the way on these projects is one of Lake County’s most unique features, Lake County Resource Initiative (LCRI), a community-based organization supporting energy savings — from residential to commercial and agricultural. LCRI has been leading the conversation around Oregon’s rural energy needs for decades, and the legacy of that work is scattered throughout the county and spilling into the counties around it. Read more on our blog.
Grounded Podcast: New Host Edition
ODOE's podcast, Grounded, is back in action! We're excited to welcome Public Affairs & Outreach Specialist Bryan Hockaday as our new host. In this first episode of the Grounded reboot, Bryan begins his expedition across the state to learn all about energy in Oregon — starting right here at the Oregon Department of Energy with three special ODOE guests. Give it a listen on our blog or your favorite podcast app.
Reports from Around the Agency
Join our team! Keep an eye on ODOE's website for open recruitments and please share with your networks.
ODOE signed up as a 2024 host institution for the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship program. The program funds recent graduates and energy professionals to support critical energy organizations in advancing clean energy solutions. Learn more and apply on CEIF's website by May 3, 2024.
Applications for ODOE's Community Renewable Energy Grant Program are due May 10! We have $18 million available for renewable and resilience planning and construction projects for Oregon Tribes, public bodies, and consumer-owned utilities. Learn more on our website.
As we mentioned in last month's newsletter, ODOE has about $1.2 million available for grants to eligible local governments for energy efficiency, renewable energy, or transportation-related projects. ODOE is now accepting applications for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program through May 21, 2024 or until funds have been fully allocated, whichever is first.
ODOE's Communications Team was pleased to join the Oregon Garden on April 20 for its annual Earth Day celebration. The team enjoyed connecting with Oregonians and sharing information about ODOE's programs.
ODOE Energy Policy Analyst Wendy Simons and RARE Member Alice Weston hosted an information booth at the Central Oregon Agricultural Show in Deschutes County in early April. The pair were able to connect with local ag producers to share information about ODOE's Rural & Agricultural Energy Assistance Program.
Christie Sphoon, ODOE's Schools Program Lead, attended the Oregon School Facility Managers Association's Conference in Albany on April 17-18 to provide school districts with information about ODOE's schools programs. She also presented on the Public Purpose Charge Schools Program with a focus on lighting alongside our partner, Energy Trust of Oregon.
At the IEEE SusTech 2024 Conference in Portland on April 15-16, ODOE Facilities Engineer Stephanie Kruse moderated a panel on electric heat pumps for attendees, while Energy Policy Analyst Wendy Simons moderated a panel on electrification in agriculture.
The Energy Advisory Work Group met on April 22 to provide feedback on potential Policy Option Packages for ODOE's 2025-27 biennial budget. ODOE will provide updates on our website as the budget process continues.
On Earth Day, ODOE Facilities Engineer Stephanie Kruse and Community Equity and Inclusion Analyst Lauren Rosenstein attended Habitat for Humanity's Home Repair Summit in Lincoln City. Stephanie joined a summit panel to talk about ODOE's incentive programs, and Lauren enjoyed an opportunity to host an information table and connect with community members.
As ODOE's new Building Performance Standards Program gets up and running, the agency will be hosting public meetings as administrative rules are developed. Learn more and see upcoming meeting dates on our website.
ODOE Director Janine Benner and Assistant Director for Planning and Innovation Alan Zelenka attended the National Association of State Energy Officials Western Regional Meeting April 16-18. Janine served on a panel to share the latest around Oregon's energy policy and program priorities, as well as a panel on Building Equitable Energy Programs and Policies.
ODOE's Hanford Hydrogeologist Tom Sicilia attended the annual Oregon Prepared Conference with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. Tom presented an update on the Energy Security Plan effort ODOE is leading.
The Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board will meet on May 21 in Pendleton. On the agenda will be an update on the proposed changes to the Tri-Party Agreement and Consent Decree for the Hanford Cleanup.
ODOE Director Janine Benner, Technology and Policy Manager Jessica Reichers, and Energy Policy Team Lead Edith Bayer attended the Western Interstate Energy Board's Spring 2024 Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation - Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body Joint Meeting. Janine moderated a panel on energy reliability, focusing on recent challenges the region has faced from heat waves and cold snaps.
In case you missed it, our friends at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality reopened the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program through June 4. Rebate funding is limited, so now is a great time to consider the switch to an eligible electric vehicle. Learn more.
Speaking of electric vehicles, we're pleased to report that Oregon had nearly 85,000 registered EVs on Oregon's roads at the end of 2023. Check out ODOE's EV Dashboard to learn more.
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
Energy Security Plan Community Meetings | Throughout May 2024 | Various Locations and Via Webinar
Community Heat Pump Deployment Program Advisory Council | May 8, 2024 | Via Webinar
Grid Resilience Grant Program Webinar | May 15, 2024 | Via Webinar
Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board | May 21, 2024 | Pendleton and Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | May 30-31, 2024| Boardman and Via Webinar
Other Stakeholder Groups (click to see details)
Current Rulemakings (click to see details)