July 2025 Newsletter
Coming Soon: Draft Oregon Energy Strategy Recommendations
The Oregon Department of Energy has been working on developing a new Oregon Energy Strategy and will release draft policy recommendations for public comment on Thursday, August 14, 2025.
The Oregon Energy Strategy:
Identifies pathways to achieve the state’s energy objectives, including decarbonization goals, reliability, and affordability
Evaluates benefits and challenges of different pathways, including how they may affect energy costs for households in Oregon, air quality and public health, and employment
Presents policy recommendations
Reflects input from Oregonians who informed the strategy
View the full draft recommendations beginning August 14 and join ODOE for a public webinar to walk through the draft recommendations and present jobs modeling results from 10 a.m. to noon the same day. Information on how to join the webinar is available on ODOE's website.
The public is invited to share feedback on the draft recommendations using ODOE's public comment portal through September 22, 2025. Feedback on the draft recommendations will inform the final Oregon Energy Strategy, which will be submitted to Governor Kotek and the Oregon Legislature by November 1, 2025.
Visit ODOE's website for more background on the energy strategy efforts, including past meetings and materials.
Energy Facility Siting Spotlight: Storage
Since 1975, Oregon’s Energy Facility Siting Council has been reviewing, approving, and decommissioning state-jurisdiction energy facilities across the state – including wind, solar, natural gas, and other energy generation facilities that help keep power running in Oregon homes and businesses. As the state moves toward a clean energy future, including 100 percent clean electricity by 2040 for the state’s largest utilities, Oregon’s energy landscape will need to evolve to ensure enough clean power is available when it’s needed.
Some clean or renewable energy is variable, meaning it’s not available on demand all the time. This includes solar energy, which only generates electricity when the sun is up, or wind facilities, with generation that ramps up and down as the wind blows. Hydropower, which is also renewable, is considered a more constant or dispatchable resource, but it can also vary depending on seasonal and annual river flows.
Oregon electricity providers will need to ensure they have enough available energy 24 hours a day as the state moves to those more variable clean energy sources. One emerging solution is to pair energy storage with clean energy facilities. When the facilities generate more energy than is needed on the grid, the extra energy can be stored to later dispatch to the grid when it’s needed.
While Oregon’s Energy Facility Siting Council doesn’t have jurisdiction over storage specifically, the Council has seen an influx in facilities adding and considering storage alongside new or amended renewable energy facilities going through the state siting process.
As of July 2025, Oregon has 56 megawatts of battery storage operating at state jurisdiction facilities, another 2.4 gigawatts of storage at approved facilities that have not yet been built, and another 4.7 gigawatts of storage at facilities currently under review.
Learn more about energy storage technology on our blog.
ODOE Accepting Applications for COU Weatherization Grants
ODOE is now accepting grant applications from eligible consumer-owned utilities to support existing weatherization programs for utility customers.
The U.S. EPA awarded Oregon a $197 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The funding supports the state’s Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action (CERTA) Program. Under this funding, ODOE has $800,000 to support existing weatherization programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution.
Weatherization makes a building’s temperature more consistent during summer heat and winter chill and improves energy efficiency, which can lower utility bills and reduce emissions. Eligible weatherization measures for the program include attic, floor, and/or window insulation; window replacement; door replacement; duct sealing; and air sealing.
Eligible COUs are encouraged to submit an application to ODOE by September 29, 2025. More information, including the grant opportunity announcement and a program guide are available on ODOE’s website. Homeowners interested in weatherization programs should visit their local utility provider's website.
Celebrating 50 Years of ODOE
As we’ve been sharing in this newsletter and on our blog this year, 2025 marks 50 years of the Oregon Department of Energy serving the state.
In 1975, the Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Department of Energy following the oil crisis of the early 1970s. The statute creating the agency noted that continued growth and demand for non-renewable energy poses a serious and immediate – and future – problem. “It is essential that future generations not be left a legacy of vanished or depleted resources, resulting in massive environmental, social, and financial impact," reads the statute. It also declared a goal that ODOE promote the efficient use of energy resources and develop permanent energy resources – a goal that continues today as ODOE works to develop a new state energy strategy and Oregon prepares for new electricity needs and load growth.
ODOE officially reached 50 years this month — we became an agency in July 1975 — and the team commemorated the milestone with a small celebration at the Salem office. A few former ODOE directors and longtime staff were able to join us to take a look back at our agency history and look ahead toward the next 50 years.
Governor Kotek wrote a letter to ODOE Director Janine Benner and the rest of the team to celebrate our 50th year, writing “I want to thank all of you for the dedication you have shown to our state … Transitioning to a clean energy system that is both reliable and affordable requires collaboration and long-term work. It will take all of us to confront the climate crisis and build a brighter future. Onward, to the next 50 years!”
ODOE at 50: History of Hanford Cleanup
2025 marks 50 years of Oregon Department of Energy public service. As we continue leading Oregon to a safe, equitable, clean, and sustainable future for the next 50 years (and beyond!), we’re taking time to look back and reflect on what got us here.
For more than 40 years, the federal government produced plutonium for America’s nuclear weapons program at the Hanford Site in southeast Washington state, about 35 miles from Umatilla, Oregon. Plutonium production ended at Hanford in 1988 but the site was left with tremendous amounts of radioactive and chemically hazardous waste. Since 1989, the focus has been on environmental cleanup.
The U.S. Department of Energy (which owns the Hanford site), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the State of Washington signed what is known as the Tri-Party Agreement on May 15, 1989, outlining the cleanup and compliance agreement for Hanford. While Oregon isn’t part of the official Tri-Party Agreement, our state has played an important role in the cleanup over the last few decades.
The radioactive and chemically hazardous wastes generated at Hanford were disposed of or leaked into the soil over time – which in turn contaminated Hanford’s groundwater. That contamination poses a long-term threat to the Columbia River, which flows from Hanford down to Oregon past local communities and prime farmlands and fisheries. Since the focus of Hanford shifted to cleanup in 1989, Oregon has been at the table to ensure cleanup decisions are protective of the river.
As ODOE looks toward the next 50 years serving Oregon, we anticipate that our work with the Hanford Site cleanup will continue during that time – and we’ll continue advocating for the state’s best interests.
Dive into our history of engagement on the Hanford Site cleanup on our blog, including historical images of the site and ODOE podcast episodes.
ODOE to Open Grant Applications August 11
In June, ODOE announced a new $12 million round of Community Renewable Energy Grants to support planning and construction of renewable energy and energy resilience projects for Tribes, public bodies, and consumer-owned utilities.
ODOE will open our online application Monday, August 11, 2025. Please visit the program webpage for an updated timeline, as well as links to the four opportunity announcements for the grant round.
The program team will continue to hold weekly virtual Q&A drop-in hours on Wednesdays from 11 - 11:45 a.m. through the end of the application submission period. Meeting details are available on the program webpage.
Grounded Podcast: Energy Efficiency in Buildings
ODOE's latest Grounded Podcast episode covers ODOE's new Building Performance Standard and how Oregon is already working to strengthen energy efficiency in its state-owned buildings.
Host Katelyn Jackson is joined by two ODOE colleagues to dive into energy efficiency in Oregon buildings. With ODOE's newly launched Building Performance Standard Program, the state is putting renewed focus on energy efficiency for existing commercial buildings. Oregon is the fourth state to enact a policy focusing on existing buildings, not just implementing standards for new construction. The program was a contributing factor to Oregon's top 10 American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranking earlier this year.
Listen in on our blog or your favorite podcast app.
Reports from Around the Agency
We're hiring! Check out open recruitments on our website and please share with your networks.
As we shared in last month's newsletter, the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session came to a close in late June. ODOE published a new Legislative Session Summary on our website, which covers energy-related bills that passed or were introduced during session. We'll continue updating the summary as bills are signed by Governor Kotek.
How are we doing? ODOE is conducting a customer service survey and we'd love to hear from you! Your feedback helps us improve our services – it should take about 15 minutes of your time.
On July 20-21, ODOE Energy Security Manager Traci Naile joined the Oregon Fuels Association for its 2025 convention. Traci presented to attendees on ODOE's role in fuels response and recovery following an emergency.
ODOE Program Analyst Tracy Richardson and Facilities Engineer Stephanie Kruse hosted an information table at the 2025 Oregon Association of School Business Officials this month. Tracy and Stephanie connected with school officials to talk about how ODOE can support potential energy projects or fleet electrification in schools.
On July 24-25, ODOE team members, including agency Director Janine Benner and Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety & Energy Security Max Woods, attended the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit in Pendleton. ODOE was proud to sponsor the event, which had a theme of "Deep Roots, Stronger Futures." Janine spoke on a panel about powering Oregon's future, with a focus on energy efficiency. Max shared his expertise on a panel about the future of nuclear energy in Eastern Oregon. ODOE also hosted an information table to share more about how the agency can support energy projects in local communities.
As July wrapped up, Janine also attended the Board of Directors meeting of the National Association of State Energy Officials in the D.C. area. Janine serves as a regional representative for the West.
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.
Oregonians can now search for available renewable energy and energy efficiency incentive programs through ODOE’s Energy Hub for Incentive Programs and Projects in Oregon (Energy HIPPO!). Plug your address into the online calculator along with a few other basic pieces of information, and the tool will show the various programs you may be eligible for. The Energy HIPPO also provides other helpful resources for homeowners, renters, and contractors.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Oregon Climate Action Commission | August 8, 2025 | Via Webinar
Oregon Energy Strategy Draft Recommendations Webinar | August 14, 2025 | Via Webinar
Energy Code Stakeholder Panel Meeting |August 19, 2025 | Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | September 18-19, 2025 | TBD and Via Webinar
Current Rulemakings (click to see details)
Other Stakeholder Groups (click to see details)
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