March 2022 Newsletter
ODOE Announces $12 Million in Grant Funding for Community Renewable & Resilience Projects
This month, ODOE officially launched our new Community Renewable Energy Grant Program. We are making $12 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, and 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.
ODOE will offer grants up to $100,000 for eligible planning projects and up to $1 million for eligible construction projects. 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.
The Community Renewable Energy Grant Program was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2021 to support projects outside Portland city limits, with a total budget of $50 million. ODOE will make additional rounds of funding available through 2024. For this round, applications are due by June 10, 2022, and will be checked for completeness before going through a competitively-scored review. Four program opportunity announcements with additional eligibility details are available on ODOE’s website, and the online application will be available soon!
Coming Soon: Energy Efficient Wildfire Rebuilding Incentive
The Oregon Department of Energy is looking to launch our new Energy Efficient Wildfire Rebuilding Incentive Program in April. The program will offer funding support for energy efficient improvements as Oregonians rebuild homes and businesses that were destroyed during the 2020 wildfires.
Rebuilding with energy efficiency in mind helps building owners lower long-term energy costs and make homes and businesses more comfortable. Incentives are available to owners who have already rebuilt, are rebuilding now, or are planning to start rebuilding by June 2023. Incentive amounts range from $3,000 up to $18,000, depending on the rebuilding project. Applicants will need to meet eligibility requirements and complete the local jurisdiction building permit process to qualify. Lower-income applicants are eligible for higher incentive amounts.
Keep an eye on our website and sign up for email updates to hear when we've opened applications.
2022 Legislative Session: Energy on the Move
The 2022 Legislative Session followed an energy-packed 2021 session, and made some additional moves for energy in Oregon — including new work for the Oregon Department of Energy.
In response to the heat dome event of 2021, in which at least 100 Oregonians died of heat-related illness often in their own homes, the legislature passed SB 1536 to bring much-needed heat relief. The new bill directs ODOE to develop a $10 million heat pump deployment program, a $15 million grant/rebate program for installation of heat pumps by landlords, fund a $2 million grant for a Community Cooling Center program for extreme heat events, and to conduct a Cooling Needs Study to identify existing cooling — as well as barriers to cooling access — in government-supported housing.
Over 90 percent of all liquid fuel storage in Oregon can be found at the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub in industrial NW Portland. SB 1567 requires ODOE to lead the development of an updated energy security plan for Oregon. Our agency will receive federal funding to complete this work. The plan is intended to improve Oregon’s energy security from all hazards, both natural and human-made, and will identify high-priority areas for future investment. ODOE will be engaging with stakeholders through the plan’s development.
As session wrapped up, the legislature also directed money toward some climate change and energy programs and projects — including $5 million more for ODOE’s Solar + Storage Rebate Program.
Read more about Oregon’s energy moves on our blog and dive into our 2022 Legislative Report.
ORESA Project Seeks Feedback on Final Project Deliverables
Oregon expects to see continued renewable energy development in the coming decades, particularly solar energy, wind energy, and associated transmission line development. Funded by a U.S. Department of Defense grant, the Oregon Department of Energy has been working with several partners on the Oregon Renewable Energy Siting Assessment (ORESA), which will provide educational resources for users to explore data and information on renewable energy development in Oregon, and inform discussions in a way that minimizes conflict and identifies opportunities.
The project goals are to provide baseline data, information, and perspectives to create a transparent, consistent collection of trusted, accurate information about renewable energy development in Oregon. The ORESA project team is now looking for feedback on the near-final draft project deliverables by April 8, 2022.
The deliverables include the online ORESA Mapping and Reporting Tool and the final ORESA Report. The Mapping and Reporting Tool is housed on Oregon Explorer and provides data on renewable energy, military uses, economic development, land use considerations, natural resource areas, and other regulatory and process considerations. The ORESA report summarizes key data, stakeholder perspectives, and analysis from three topic-based assessments and a procedures review.
Visit the ORESA website for more information and supplemental materials, and give us your feedback through our online portal by April 8.
Women's History Month: Women in Energy
March is women's history month, the perfect time to look back at the important contributions women have made in the science and energy landscape.
Did you know that in addition to being a 1940s movie star, Austrian-born Hedy Lamarr was also an inventor? She pioneered technology used in today’s Bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi systems. Dr. Maria Telkes was nicknamed the “Sun Queen” for advancing solar energy at the University of Delaware in the 1970s. In 1918, Katharine Burr Blodgett became the first women scientist hired by General Electric Research Laboratories, working on molecular glass coatings that were foundational to making glass more efficient, including for solar panels. And today, Jennifer M. Granholm serves as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, becoming just the second woman to lead the department since its founding. In Oregon, we celebrate many women leaders in energy, including: Oregon Department of Energy Director Janine Benner; two of the three Commissioners serving the Oregon Public Utility Commission, including Chair Megan Decker; Portland General Electric CEO Maria Pope; and our own Governor Kate Brown… among many other trailblazing women who are making and will make history.
Here at the Oregon Department of Energy, we also pay homage to another woman in energy history: Dr. Lise Meitner. Her research led to the discovery of nuclear fission in the 1930s — but like many women in early science careers, her work wasn’t truly acknowledged in her lifetime. Today, in addition to our Meitner Conference Room, she also has an element named for her: meitnerium.
Many other women have left an indelible mark on energy history – and will continue to make strides as we work to build a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
Reports from Around the Agency
The Energy Advisory Work Group is meeting today, March 31. On the agenda: roundtable updates from work group members, updates on ODOE programs, a discussion about upcoming federal funding, and more. Learn more and find log-in information on our website.
ODOE was a proud sponsor of the Central Oregon Agricultural Show, which welcomed Oregonians March 26-27 in Redmond. ODOE Energy Analyst Tom Elliott was on hand hosting a booth with our partner, Energy Trust of Oregon. Tom also presented a seminar for attendees about energy audits for rural small businesses and agricultural producers.
On March 10, ODOE held a public meeting for our Floating Offshore Wind Study, which is due to the legislature later this year. You can catch up on the meeting on ODOE's website, and mark your calendar for our next meeting on April 7.
On March 29, ODOE Associate Director for Strategic Engagement Ruchi Sadhir presented at the Pacific Offshore Wind Summit in San Francisco. Ruchi shared the latest news on offshore wind in Oregon, including our ongoing work to develop the floating offshore wind study. Ruchi also discussed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s recently-released information about three potential “call areas” for offshore wind development – call areas are where the wind is strongest and where there’s nearby transmission access.
ODOE will hold a work group meeting April 28 for the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Projects Study, also due to the legislature later this year. Follow the process on ODOE's website.
ODOE held a public hearing on March 22 to update the administrative rules for the Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program. Rule changes are designed to encourage more participation from low-income service providers, such as affordable housing organizations. Learn more about the program and find an approved contractor on our website.
Join our team! ODOE is recruiting for several positions – check out our openings on our website.
Congratulations to the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Commission, which has been selected as one of 22 communities to be a part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Communities LEAP Program. The first-of-its-kind initiative is designed to provide technical assistance and help underserved communities build a plan for their clean energy future. Learn more on USDOE’s website.
The U.S. Department of Energy is accepting applications from Tribes, states, and territories for $3.16 billion in new funding through the Weatherization Assistance Program, USDOE’s largest residential energy retrofit program. This expanded funding will allow communities to retrofit thousands of low-incomes homes to make them healthier and more energy efficient while lowering utility bills. Learn more on USDOE’s website.
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.
The Oregon Legislature assigned ODOE several new studies to complete over the next year. Visit ODOE's website to learn more about the studies – including floating offshore wind, small-scale renewable energy, and renewable hydrogen – and sign up for email updates on study progress, public meetings, and opportunities to weigh in.
Tune in April 4 to hear from the Oregon Department of Transportation Team about federal funding coming to our state to support electric vehicle adoption. ODOT expects to receive $52 million over the next five years, and wants to share how that funding could transform Oregon’s EV future.
Pacific Power announced 10 new awardees of the utility's Electric Mobility Grant program. The organizations will receive funding for various community-driven electric transportation projects focused on long-term sustainability, equity, and increasing access to electric vehicles and EV charging. Grant funding is made possible by the Oregon Clean Fuels Program, which is administered by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and aims to reduce the carbon intensity of Oregon’s transportation fuels.
NW Natural will issue a new Request for Proposal on April 14 to provide renewable natural gas or support the procurement of RNG for delivery to its customers. The RFP seeks RNG resources and/or associated environmental attributes from around the country and from a wide variety of feedstocks and sources, including renewable hydrogen resources. NW Natural is asking for responses by May 23, 2022. Learn more on NW Natural’s website.
The Energy Facility Siting Council, a governor-appointed volunteer council responsible for the review and oversight of large-scale energy facilities, is recruiting potential new members. Contact Todd Cornett, ODOE's Assistant Director for Siting and the Council Secretary, with questions.
COVID-19 continues to influence how Oregonians live their daily lives. ODOE's Salem office remains closed to public walk-in traffic, but our services are available. ODOE meetings are being held remotely. Keep an eye on our online calendar and sign up for emails to receive meeting notices and information on how to participate.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Floating Offshore Wind Study Meeting | April 7, 2022 | Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | April 21-22, 2022 | Via Webinar
Small-Scale Renewable Energy Study Meeting | April 28, 2022 | Via Webinar
Energy Code Stakeholder Panel | June 14, 2022 | Via Webinar
Other Stakeholder Groups (click to see details)
Current Rulemakings (click to see details)