What's New
Our understanding of the global need to act, and the state of renewable energy policy and news are rapidly evolving in Oregon, nationally and internationally. This monthly resource will keep you up-to-date with what's new both in OREP and renwewable energy conversations from around the planet. These articles are further archived under the navigation menus listed in red below.
From local communities to national policy decisions, informed and engaged citizens will advance the transition to locally-owned and locally-generated clean renewable energy. We encourage you to check back regularly.
August 2016
8/27/16
RE News: Energy
Power Play: Experts Say Killing Clean Power Plan Won't Revive Coal; Glynis Board, West Virginia Public Radio, Aug 26, 2016
Biomass Power Slumps as EPA, Industry Spar on Science; John Upton, Climate Central, Aug 17, 2016
Environment: Water & Energy
Israel Proves the Desalination Era Is Here; Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, Jul 29, 2016
8/23/16
100% RE Cities: RE100 News
Costa Rica celebrates 113 days of 100-percent renewable energy (and counting); Cat DiStasio, Inahabitat, Aug 23, 2016
English Village Becomes Climate Leader by Quietly Cleaning Up Its Own Patch; Tatiana Schlossberg, Aug 21, 2016
RE News: Wind
The First U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Is Complete; Samantha Page, ThinkProgress, Aug 23, 2016
RE News: Solar
Here's how solar roofs fit into Elon Musk's master plan; David Roberts, Vox, Aug 23, 2016
Solar Delivers Cheapest Electricity 'Ever, Anywhere, By Any Technology'; Joe Romm, ThinkProgress, Aug 23, 2016
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Will a new trend in community solar inspire LA County to start its own utility?; Steve Scauzillo, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Aug 20, 2016
Environment: Water
Solar-powered Pipe desalinizes 1.5 billion gallons of drinking water for California; Tafline Laylin, Inhabitat, Aug 23, 2016
RE News: Energy
Nuclear's Glacial Pace; Allison Macfarlane, MIT Technology Review, Aug 23, 2016
IKEA to Grow Renewable Portfolio with Fuel Cell System for Generating More Onsite Power at New Haven; FuelCellsWorks, August 23, 2016
King Coal is dethroned in the US – and that's good news for the environment; Lucas Davis, The Conversation, Aug 21, 2016
8/22/16
RE News: Storage & Integration
Should Energy Storage Share the Tax Credits for Renewable Energy?; Nick Stumo-Langer, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Aug 15, 2016
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Rocky Mountain compromise: Inside Xcel's landmark Colorado solar settlement; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Aug 22, 2016
RE News: Wind
Bigger, better, cheaper: wind power is flourishing in the US; David Roberts, Vox, Aug 19, 2016
Annual Wind Power Market Report Confirms Technology Advancements, Improved Project Performance, and Low Wind Energy Prices; Jon Weiner, Berkeley Lab, Aug 17, 2016
RE News: Energy
Nuclear weapons and nuclear power in the UK; Craig Morris, Energy Transition, Aug 4, 2016
Report Release: An Integrative Business Model for Net Zero Energy Districts; Iain Campbell, Rocky Mountain Institute, Aug 3, 2016
Policy News: World FiT News
Developers in the Philippines ask for specific geothermal technologies feed-in-tariff; Alexander Richter, Think Geoenergy, Aug 16, 2016
8/19/16
100% RE Cities: RE100 News
How Garbage Trucks Can Drive a Green Future; Robert B. Catell and Joanna D. Underwood, New York Times, Aug 19, 2016
RE News: Storage & Integration
Energy Storage Requirements for Achieving 50% Solar Photovoltaic Energy Production in California; Paul Denholm and Rober Margolis, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Aug 2016 [Report]
'Range anxiety' is scaring people away from electric cars — but the fear may be overblown; Chris Mooney, The Washington Post, Aug 15, 2016
Snowpack As Battery: A Primer; Katie Fulton, Citizen's Utility Board, Aug 9, 2016
RE News: Energy
PG&E files plan to shut down Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant; Rob Nikolewski, Los Angeles Times, Aug 11, 2016
Enivoronment: Climate
Energy-related CO2 emissions from natural gas surpass coal as fuel use patterns change; Eliza Goren & Perry Lindstrom, US Energy Information Agency, Aug 17, 2016
RE News: Wind
A Danish Wind Turbine Maker Harnesses Data in a Push to Stay Ahead; Stanley Reed, New York Times, Aug 18, 2016
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Kansas regulators tackle distributed generation cost-benefit analysis; Robert Walton, Utility Dive, Aug 18, 2016
Pay As You Save: Co-ops are reaching new customers with a novel way to pay for efficiency; Robert Walton, Utility Dive, Aug 17, 2016
8/18/16
RE News: Storage & Integration
Large-Scale Battery Project Ready To Go Online In Imperial Valley; Erik Anderson, KPBS, Aug 18, 2016
Oil-rich Norway could become Europe's 'green battery'; Anca Gurzu, Politico, Aug 16, 2016
RE News: Wind
GE is building America's first offshore wind farm with turbines twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty; Leanna Garfield, Business Insider, Aug 17, 2018
Policy News: Community RE
Q&A: How solar could change the face of low-income energy assistance; Frank Jossi, Midwest Energy News, Aug 15, 2016
Policy News: World FiT News
Greece: new renewable energy law provides feed-in premiums and virtual net-metering; Ilias Tsagas, Aug 9, 2016
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Is New York's "Compromise" the Future for Net Metering?; John Farrell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Aug 11, 2016
Picking Up PACE After New Federal Guidance; Karlee Weinmann, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Aug 8, 2016
8/17/16
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Arizona's Utility Regulator Adopts New Method of Crediting Rooftop Solar; Julian Spector, greentech:Media, Aug 15, 2016
Merkley Announces Plan to Introduce Major Renewable Energy Legislation at Netroots Nation Gathering; Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR), Press Release, Jul 18, 2016
RE News: Energy
What if all German households went renewable?; Craig Morris, Energy Transition, Aug 17, 2016
To Get to Net Zero, Think Bigger; Allison Hibbs, Rocky Mountain Institute, Aug 15, 2016
The Duck is learning to fly in California and Hawaii; Jim Lazar, Utility Dive, Aug 8, 2016
8/16/16
Environment: Society
We're under attack from climate change—and our only hope is to mobilize like we did in WWII; Bill McKibben, The New Republic, Aug 15, 2016
100% RE Cities: RE100 News
Sierra Club examines cities working toward renewable energy; Harrison Kaminsky, Digital Trends, Aug 13, 2016
3 American cities that use 100% renewable energy — and 7 that plan to join them within 20 years; Lydia Ramsey, Business Insider, Aug. 12, 2016
139 Countries Could Get All of their Power from Renewable Sources; Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, Nov 19, 2015
RE News: Wind
Britain's vast national gamble on wind power may yet pay off; Ambroxe Evans-Pritchard, The Telegraph, Aug 14, 2016
RE News: Energy
If the US took its climate goals seriously, coal beneath federal land would stay there; David Roberts, Vox, Aug 10, 2016
Hydrogen-Powered Cars Fueled by Sewage; EarthShip360, Aug 10, 2016
Utility Chooses Wrong: Save Energy vs. Burn Fuel; Mike Jacobs, Union of Concerned Scientists, Aug 10, 2016
8/12/16
RE News: Storage & Integration
Blackouts looming, California speeds battery deployment after Aliso Canyon gas leak; Peter Maloney, Utility Dive, Aug 11, 2016
Former Norwich dairy farm turns into solar energy site; Luther Turmelle, New Haven Register, Aug 10, 2016
RE News: Energy
Michigan officials call for study of impacts from potential plant closures; Robert Walton, Utility Dive, August 11, 2016
Solar and wind 'cheaper than new nuclear' by the time Hinkley is built; Adam Vaughn, The Guardian, Aug 11, 2016
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Smart sharing: Sun-saturated Hawaii debates first TOU community solar proposal; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Aug 11, 2016
Court rules for DOE, upholding Obama's social cost of carbon; Amanda Reilly, E&E Publishing, Aug 9, 2016
OREP in the News
Central Europe Looks Beyond Coal; Kristina Sabova, Trust for Mutual Understanding, Aug 11, 2016
8/11/16
100% RE Cities: RE100 News
Scotland wind turbines cover all its electricity needs for a day; The Guardian, Aug 11, 2016
Why These Cities Are Leading on Clean Energy; Justin Worland, Time, Aug. 10, 2016
Environment: Society
New study: it would be cheap to retrain coal workers for solar jobs; David Roberts, Vox, Aug
RE News: Wind
1st US offshore wind farm to usher in new era for industry; Jennifer McDermott, Associated Press, Aug 11, 2016
RE News: Energy
30 Years After The Disaster: Ukraine Plans Huge Solar Farm In Chernobyl; Irina Slav OilPrice.com, Aug 09, 2016
8/9/16
RE News: Storage & Integration
Solar is Good. Solar Microgrids are Better; Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge, Aug 8, 2016
Policy News: Utility Adaptation
Replacing coal won't break the bank after all; Steve Law, Portland Tribune, Aug 5, 2016
NARUC rate design manual reignites debate over cost shift, value of solar; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Aug 4, 2016
What if…Your Electric Utility Was a Benefit Corporation?; Matt Grimley, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Jul 21, 2016
RE News: Wind
Massachusetts just gave a huge boost to the offshore wind industry; Chelsea Harvey, The Washington Post, Aug 8, 2016
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Renewable Energy, Climate Change and the Democratic Party Platform 2016; Paul Gipe, Wind-Works.com, Aug 2, 2016
Renewables will always need support; Craig Morris, Renewables International, Jul 20, 2016
Environment: Society
SMEs Are Energiewende's Backbone; Roy L Hales, CleanTechnica, Aug 6, 2016
8/5/16
100% RE Cities: RE100 News
Environment Massachusetts report: state should pursue 100% renewable energy; Mary Serreze, MassLive, Aug 4, 2016
In the Canary Islands, Tiny El Hierro Strives for Energy Independence; Jordi Busque, Smithsonian, Aug 4, 2016
RE News: Energy
Nuclear Power Is Losing Money At An Astonishing Rate; Joe Romm, ClimateProgress, Aug 4, 2016
RE News: Storage & Integration
Adelaide charges ahead with world's largest 'virtual power plant'; Michael Slezak, The Guardian, Aug 5, 2016
An Energy Storage Mandate Could Be Coming Soon to Massachusetts; Julian Spector, greentech:Media, Aug 02, 2016
Living Lab for Advanced Microgrids in Sonoma…Elon Musk: "Not Some Silly, Hippy Thing"…National EV Charging Coming; Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge, Jul 26, 2016
Environment: Society
Surging Ahead to Electrify Oregon's Transportation Sector; by Meredith Connolly, Climate Solutions, Jul 26, 2016
8/3/16
RE News: Energy
State of The Transition, July 2016: Might the fossil fuel industries implode faster than the clean energy industries can grow to replace them?; Jeremy Leggett, August 3, 2016
Renewable Energy in the European Electricity Market – Germany and Greece in the Focus for Renewable Energy Growth; Fraunhofer ISEt., Jul 19, 2016
Final Report:Towards an energy system in Europe based on renewables – Model based analysis of Greece and Germany…; C. Kost, N. Hartmann, C. Senkpiel, T. Schlegl, M. Zampara, P. Capros, Nov 30, 2015
Policy News: Utility Adaptation
PURPA's puzzle: FERC workshop revisits 1978 law, embattled as ever; Peter Maloney, Utility Dive, Jul 28, 2016
How More Transparent Electricity Pricing Can Help Increase Clean Energy; Beia Spiller and Kristina Mohlin, Environmental Defense Fund, Jul 6, 2016
RE News: Storage & Integration
Community Microgrid Project Profile: From Disaster to Opportunity in Freeport, NY; Microgrid Knowledge, Jul 27, 2016
Port of Los Angeles unveils $27 million solar+storage microgrid project; PV Magazine, Edgar Meza, Jul 27 , 2016
RE News: Solar
California Solar Generation Grew 1,378% In 5 Years; Joshua S Hill, CleanTechnica, Jul 5, 2016
7/31/16
RE News: Energy
Can America's first floating wind farm shake off environmental concerns?; Matt Weiser, The Guardian, Jul 31, 2016
Ukraine Government Reimagines Chernobyl As A Solar Farm; Tyler Lee, Ubergizmo, Jul 29, 2016
RE News: Storage & Integration
German company plugs into L.A. area for its electricity storage operation; Ivan Penn, Los Angeles Times, Jul 31, 2016
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OREP's Vision: Oregon communities powered by clean, renewable energy.