Oregon Department of Energy

The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) is the chief regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for matters related to energy production, conservation and related safety and environmental impact.[1] The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) is responsible for over 40 programs. The mission of the department is: "Leading Oregon to a safe, clean, and sustainable energy future." [2]

ODOE was established in 1975 by the Oregon Legislative Assembly as the culmination of recommendations of several task forces and study groups over several years.[3]

Energy in Oregon

The largest source of renewable energy in Oregon is hydropower, followed by coal and natural gas.[4] Hydropower makes up 42.9% of the energy used in Oregon. The majority of Oregon's energy consumption comes from transportation, heating and cooling, and electricity.[4]

The Dalles Dam in Wasco County, Oregon - one of the hydropower producers in Oregon.

Renewable Energy Programs

In accordance with the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), renewable energy sources in Oregon are growing. The RPS was created in 2007, but was updated in 2016 to require that 50% of energy consumption in Oregon must come from renewable energy by 2040.[5] The ODOE is responsible for tracking the progress towards this goal in addition to helping institute ways to reach it through various programs. The ODOE offer incentives for using and creating renewable energy to businesses and residents in the form of cash payments, tax credits, grants and loans.[5] Suppliers that provide renewable energy sources contributing to RPS are awarded renewable energy certificates (REC).[6] A REC is received by a supplier for one MegaWatt hour worth of renewable energy.[6] The complete rules for establishing eligibility for a REC are listed in The Oregon Administrative Rules. These companies must submit annual compliance forms in order to continue to receive RECs.

As one of the 40 programs of the ODOE, the Red program serves as a grant program for funding renewable energy programs.[7] The program was created five years ago and can fund up to 35% of eligible project costs.[7] The goal of the program is to fund businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations within Oregon in an effort to improve the energy technology in Oregon. In May 2017, the Oregon Department of Energy announced the Red program would fund 13 new renewable energy ideas.[7] Of the projects selected, electricity is created by a range of renewable energies, including: biomass, biogas, photovoltaic, and hydroelectric.

Projects funded

The ODOE has funded, for example, rent[8][9] for companies that build solar panels in Oregon, such as SoloPower.[10]

References
  1. "Department of Energy - Present Duties". Oregon Blue Book (Online). Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
  2. "State of Oregon: Oregon Department of Energy - Home". www.oregon.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  3. "Office of Energy -- Administrative Overview" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. August 2009. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  4. "State of Oregon: Energy in Oregon - Electricity Mix in Oregon". www.oregon.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  5. "ODOE Grant Program Supports Renewable Energy Projects from Tillamook to Ontario". Oregon Department of Energy Blog. 2017-05-11. Archived from the original on 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  6. "State of Oregon: Energy in Oregon - Renewable Portfolio Standard". www.oregon.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  7. "Oregon Secretary of State: Oregon Administrative Rules". sos.oregon.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  8. Jeff Manning (23 August 2018). "State agency kept shoveling money to SoloPower to bitter end". The Oregonian. Retrieved 29 November 2018. Oregon answered. The state that already had given the Portland company $13.5 million in tax credits, $10 million in direct financial assistance and millions of dollars' worth of tax breaks ponied up another $641,835 in rent.
  9. Nick Budnick (24 August 2017). "Portland Tribune". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 29 November 2018. Though the company already owed the state agency more than $8 million, energy officials recently paid off the company's back rent for a combined $640,00
  10. "Taxpayer dollars heaped on SoloPower problem". East Oregonian. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018. in July 2017, the state Department of Energy heaped on some more financial misery. SoloPower asked the department for money to cover its rent for a couple months. The department had already declared SoloPower in default. It gave SoloPower $641,835 for rent, anyway. It was not a quick or casual decision. It took months of discussion. But a new state audit shows the state department got no collateral. It chose to believe verbal assurances that some injection of capital would revive SoloPower.



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