April 2023 Newsletter
Oregon Global Warming Commission Publishes Roadmap to 2030 to Guide State Climate Action
After several years of work, the Oregon Global Warming Commission published a new Oregon Climate Action Roadmap to 2030, which includes extensive recommendations to inform state climate action, including:
Support robust and continuous implementation of existing climate programs and regulations.
Adopt updated state greenhouse gas goals consistent with the best available science.
Advance a set of additional climate actions that can help Oregon meet an accelerated greenhouse gas emission reduction goal of 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.
Support further study and analysis to continue to guide effective climate action over time.
Strengthen governance and accountability for Oregon climate action.
Position Oregon to take full advantage of federal investments in climate action.
In addition to implementing existing programs and regulations, the Roadmap identifies 35 additional actions the state can take to achieve the Roadmap-recommended 2030 goal. More than a third of the actions focus on energy efficient buildings, with cleaner transportation options and renewable energy accounting for most of the others. The technical analysis underpinning the Roadmap found that these actions would create thousands of new jobs and more than $120 billion in cumulative net economic and health benefits in the state through 2050 and beyond.
Parallel to the new Roadmap, the Oregon Global Warming Commission also delivered its required biennial report to the Legislature, reporting on recent climate impacts and current progress toward the state’s greenhouse gas goals. According to preliminary emissions data, despite an overall reduction in emissions in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon still missed its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction goal by 13 percent. And, with an increase in emissions in 2021 closer to pre-pandemic levels, Oregon is now 19 percent off the 2020 goal.
“While it’s disappointing that Oregon missed its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction goal, the Roadmap to 2030 provides a path forward to ensure we don’t miss our next goal,” said Commission Chair Catherine Macdonald.
Learn more on the Commission's website.
Apply by May 31 for Energy Efficient Wildfire Rebuilding Incentive
After more than 5,000 structures were damaged or lost to wildfires over Labor Day 2020, the Oregon Legislature created a program at the Oregon Department of Energy to provide financial incentives to encourage energy-efficient rebuilding efforts.
Building owners can receive incentives to rebuild to current building code or above code. Such energy efficiency improvements help make buildings more comfortable and support long-term affordability through lower energy bills. Oregonians who lost structures in the fires must apply for an incentive by May 31, 2023.
Eligible projects include rebuilding a commercial building or residential dwelling that was destroyed or damaged in the 2020 wildfires. Owners may apply for an incentive if they have already rebuilt a structure, are in the process of rebuilding, or will soon rebuild their structure. Oregonians do not need to (and should not) wait for construction to begin.
Since its launch in 2022, ODOE’s incentive program has received nearly 1,000 applications totaling about $4 million worth of requested, reserved, and issued incentives in seven wildfire-affected counties. Learn more.
Important Note: While the program currently has a due date of May 31, 2023 for a building owner to apply for an incentive, this date is subject to change if the Legislature chooses to extend the program. Please check ODOE’s website for up-to-date information.
Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association Submits Application for USDOE Funding
On April 5, Oregon Department of Energy Director Janine Benner joined fellow partners of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association to celebrate submission of a Funding Opportunity Application to the U.S. Department of Energy to support a regional clean hydrogen hub in the northwest. The funding is part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. If selected, the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association’s hub would bring up to $1 billion in federal funding and create tens of thousands of jobs while helping the region transition to a clean energy future.
Janine, who serves as Association Vice Chair, shared, "This hub will help launch a clean hydrogen economy in the Pacific Northwest that can be a model for other parts of the country. If done right, it can support an equitable clean energy transition that invests in our communities and improves health and safety for our region's most vulnerable people."
The USDOE is expected to make initial award decisions toward the end of 2023, with additional vetting and negotiations to follow until final funding decisions are announced in 2024.
ODOE Director Janine Benner Talks Clean Energy Transition with University of Oregon Green Business Initiative
On April 13, ODOE Director Janine Benner was pleased to give a keynote address at the University of Oregon Green Business Initiative’s annual symposium. Janine gave a brief overview of Oregon’s current energy landscape, discussed our climate and energy goals, and shared how recent federal funding investments can be a game-changer for Oregon's path to an equitable clean energy transition.
"It’s clear this clean energy transition needs to move forward in a way that doesn’t leave any Oregonians behind," said Janine in her remarks. "This once-in-a-generation federal investment paired with strong Oregon leadership can get us there."
The Green Business Symposium is held annually by the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center and Green Business Initiative Student Association. Janine enjoyed the opportunity to connect with students and faculty about Oregon’s bright – but challenging – energy future.
Read Janine's full remarks on our blog.
The Price for Power: What Drives Energy Costs for Consumers?
In 2020, Oregonians spent more than $12 billion on energy – from electricity and natural gas used in homes and businesses, to the fuels that run our vehicles.
The way energy is produced and delivered varies widely, and multiple factors can affect how much Oregon consumers end up paying for their energy needs. The Oregon Department of Energy’s 2022 Biennial Energy Report included an Energy 101 discussing consumer energy cost drivers, from geography to regulation to market forces – and more.
Energy supply chains and geography play a big role in overall energy costs, which influence how much a consumer ultimately pays. Electricity, for example, tends to be local in nature – with generating sources built close to transmission infrastructure that can deliver quickly to a home or business – and therefore is more likely to be regulated at the local or state level. On the other hand, petroleum products can be transported as a commodity around the world, which creates global markets with unregulated prices.
The price that Oregonians pay for energy varies by type of fuel, by time of day or year, and by location in the state. This variability across time is particularly true with gasoline and diesel, where a significant portion of the consumer end-use cost is driven by those global crude oil commodity markets. Retail prices can be quite volatile – for example, in early March 2022, gas prices jumped 49 cents in just over a week as Russia attacked Ukraine, disrupting global markets.
For electricity and natural gas, wholesale rates are subject to federal regulation while retail rates are subject to state regulation. This allows for some public input on how end-use consumer prices are determined. Investor-owned natural gas and electric utilities are regulated by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, and the utilities participate in retail ratemaking cases that provide insight on utility costs that ultimately lead to setting the retail natural gas and electricity rates paid by Oregonians.
Learn more in our Energy 101 and on our blog this month.
Reports from Around the Agency
Join our team! ODOE posts open recruitments on our website. Please check them out and share with your networks.
Cascade Renewable Transmission LLC (CRT) has submitted a Notice of Intent to the Energy Facility Siting Council proposing a new transmission line under part of the Columbia River. ODOE and EFSC will hold public information meetings on May 2 in The Dalles and May 3 in Portland where members of the public can learn more about the proposed project and ask questions of the applicant. More information is available on our website.
Save the dates! ODOE and our consultant, Hagerty, will be hosting two open houses on federal funding Oregon expects to receive for grid resilience projects. Join us on Tuesday, May 23 at 10 a.m. at ODOE’s Salem office or Wednesday, May 24 at 10 a.m. at Warm Springs (meetings will also have a virtual attendance option). More information will be posted to ODOE's website. You can also sign up to receive email updates.
ODOE is working to stand up two heat pump incentive programs this year. The agency is currently reviewing potential regional administrators for the Community Heat Pump Deployment Program, and hosted a webinar on April 26 to share an overview about the Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program. (Miss the webinar? You can view a recording of it online.) Sign up to receive email updates as we continue to roll out these programs.
On April 17, Associate Director for Strategic Engagement Ruchi Sadhir and Operations & Policy Analyst Wally Adams presented to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment about the Oregon Renewable Energy Siting Assessment Project.
On April 20, Government Relations Coordinator Christy Splitt and Senior Clean Energy Policy Analyst Amy Schlusser provided information to the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment about the proposed Statewide Energy Strategy (HB 2534).
On April 27, ODOE Director Janine Benner and Assistant Director for Energy Facility Siting Todd Cornett provided an overview to the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment about the state energy facility siting process.
ODOE Senior Policy Analyst Rob Del Mar, Energy Analyst Tom Elliott, and RARE Member Angela Singleton attended the second annual statewide rural energy conference in Summer Lake hosted by Lake County Resource Initiative (LCRI) and supported by Sustainable NW and the RARE program. ODOE was proud to sponsor this important conference, which focused on energy efficiency and renwable energy in rural Oregon.
We loved this story about Oregon lineworkers helping bring electricity to a remote village in Guatemala. The project was a partnership between the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association and electric co-ops across the state.
ODOE Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness Maxwell Woods presented at NASEO’s Energy Security Bootcamp this month. Max shared about ODOE’s emergency fuel response to the 2020 wildfires and to the January 2023 landslide on Hwy 101 south of Port Orford, which affected fuel deliveries to southern Oregon communities.
ODOE was once again pleased to host a booth at the Oregon Garden's annual Earth Day celebration. Communications team members Erica Euen and Jenny Kalez connected with Oregonians about our various incentive programs, online energy dashboards, and the science behind a fruit-powered clock.
Our friends at the Oregon Department of Transportation have a new rebate program for community electric vehicle chargers. The program will lower the cost of buying, installing, and maintaining EV charging stations at multifamily homes and publicly accessible parking areas throughout the state. Learn more.
On April 25, ODOE hosted a listening session online for federal dollars expected to come to Oregon from the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Program. Learn more and follow progress on federal funding coming to Oregon on our website.
Director Janine Benner and Assistant Director for Planning and Innovation Alan Zelenka attended the Western Interstate Energy Board's spring joint CREPC-WIRAB meeting on April 13-14. The meeting gathered state, provincial, and federal representatives, as well as consumer advocates and industry experts, to connect on energy issues in the Western Electricity Interconnection.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $3 million in Climate Pollution Reduction Grant funding to support Oregon updating its Climate Action Plan. After submitting an application, Oregon expects to receive the funding agreement this summer.
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 the Council Secretary, with questions.
The Bonneville Power Administration's Science and Energy Education Grant application is now available through June 30, 2023. Non-profit organizations, schools, government organizations, and others working in the area of education for K-12 students (where BPA has a physical presence or provides service) are eligible to apply.
With the Oregon legislative session in full swing, the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment is encouraging young Oregonians to get involved and share their views with committee members. Students from kindergarten to 12th grade can sign up to tell the committee, virtually or in person, about an energy or environment issue that is significant to them. Sign up online to participate.
ODOE has several incentive programs up and running, including the Community Renewable Energy Grant Program, the Rural & Agricultural Energy Audit Program, Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program, and Energy Efficient Wildfire Rebuilding. ODOE is also working on launching two new heat pump programs this year. Learn more about our energy incentives on ODOE'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.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Informational Meetings on Proposed Cascade Renewable Transmission Line | May 2 and 3, 2023 | The Dalles, Portland, & Via Webinar
Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board | May 9, 2023 | Hood River & Via Webinar
Energy Facility Siting Council | May 30 - June 1, 2023 |Eastern Oregon & Via Webinar
Energy Code Stakeholder Panel | June 15, 2023 | Via Webinar
Other Stakeholder Groups (click to see details)
Current Rulemakings (click to see details)
Sign up to receive this newsletter by email.