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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.

April 2016
4/29/16
RE News: Storage & Integration

Tesla will install more energy storage with Solarcity in 2016 than the USA installed in 2015; John Fitzgerald Weaver, electrek, Apr 25, 2016

Policy News: Oregon FiT/RE News

Oregon Solar News: Policy Update 4/19/16; Jeff Bissonette, Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association

Policy News: World FiT News

German PV auctions reach record low price, but most bids still lose; Craig Morris, Energy Transition, Apr 27, 2016

Environment: Climate

Curbing Methane Pollution Could be Our Best Bet for Slowing Climate Change; Emma Foehringer Merchant, Newsweek, Apr 29, 2016

Massive Victory for 7 Kids in Climate Change Lawsuit in Washington State; Our Children's Trust, EcoWatch, Apr 29, 2016

Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

Exploring How Cities Can Switch To A Low-Carbon Energy Grid; Joshua S Hill, CleanTechnica, April 28th, 2016

 

4/28/16
Policy News: Community RE

Renewables offer glimmer of hope for isolated reservations; Abby Kessler, E&E Publishing, Apr 27, 2016

Electric co-op in Texas to host up to 15 MW of distributed community solar; Christian Roselund, PV Magazine, Apr 26, 2016

RE News: Energy

Two German states already 100 percent renewable net for electricity; Craig Morris, Renewables International, Apr 7, 2016

Studies Show Geothermal and Grid Diversity Benefit the Environment and Consumers; Benjamin Matek, Renewable Energy World, Apr 26, 2016

 

4/27/16
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

Oregon regulators set ambitious timeline for clean energy programs; Robert Walton, Utility Dive, Apr 27, 2016

Environment: Society

Can we learn from Europe's approach to laid-off coal miners?; Joshua Zaffos, High Country News, Apr 27, 2016

Policy News: Utility Adaptation

For grid flexibility, utilities pushed to think beyond gas plants and storage; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Apr 27, 2016

RE News: Wind

British windfarms prove a boom for Danish firm; Terry Macalister, The Guardian, Apr 27, 2016

 

4/26/16
Policy News: Utility Adaptation

Community Storage Initiative touts diverse backers, including EEI, NRECA, APPA; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Apr 26, 2016

Policy News: Community RE

A Microgrid Grows in Brooklyn; Morgen E. Peck, Scientific American, Apr 22, 2016

RE News: Solar

The 3 factors that determine solar plant performance; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Apr 21, 2016

 

4/25/16
Policy News: World FiT News

67 cooperatives to supply 280MW to grid; Bangkok Post, Apr 21, 2016

Ghana to update feed-in tariffs to last 20 years; Tom Kenning, PV Tech, Apr 20, 2016

Policy News: Community RE

Solar gardens grow slowly out West; Mark Jaffe, High Country News, April 25, 2016

Sunshine and Ownership: A Cooperative Solar Garden Blooms in North Minneapolis; Matt Grimley, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Apr 20, 2016

Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

As utilities build toward RPS standards, costs, carve-outs raise concerns; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Apr 24, 2016

RE News: Energy

Renewable energy versus nuclear: dispelling the myths; Mark Diesendorf, Renewables International, Apr 25, 2016

Environment: Society

Naomi Klein: This Changes Everything; UO Oregon Humanities Center Lecture, Feb 16, 2016

 

4/24/16
RE News: Energy

Gas goes green as suppliers opt for carbon neutral sources; Miles Brignall, The Guardian, Apr 23, 2016

Catching the Sun; Shalini Kantayya, Apr, 2016 [Documentary]

Policy News: World FiT News

Ontario soliciting more bids for renewable power projects; Richard Blackwell, The Globe and Mail, Apr 05, 2016

RE News: Storage & Integration

Automakers on Second-Life Batteries for the Grid: 'We Want a Foot in the Door of This Market'; Julia Pyper, greentech:Media, Nov 9, 2015

 

4/22/16
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

Germany's Energiewende goes global; Richard A. Fuchs, DW, Apr 22, 2016

We Have the Power: 100% Renewable Energy for a Clean, Thriving America; Environment America Research & Policy Center, Mar 29, 2016 [Full Report]

RE News: Storage & Integration

New Discovery Leads to a Better Battery; Scicasts, Apr 22, 2016

Environment: Society

Oil Industry Layoffs Are Driving Texas Workers To The State's Booming Solar Power Sector; Maria Gallucci, International Business Times, Apr 22, 2016

Renewable Energy Is A Bright Spot In GE's Battered First-Quarter Earnings Report; Owen Davis, International Business Times, Apr 22, 2016

 

4/21/16
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

San Francisco adopts law requiring solar panels on all new buildings; Madeleine Cuff, The Guardian, Apr 21, 2016

Inside Hawaiian Electric's new plan to get to 100% renewables; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Apr 14, 2016

Policy News: World FiT News

Naomi Oreskes offers nitty-gritty solutions to the world's climate crisis; Charlie Smith, The Georgia Straight, Apr 13, 2016

UK solar power installations plummet after government cuts; Adam Vaughan, The Guardian, Apr 8, 2016

Reviewing the feed-in tariff system; The Japan Times, Jan 24, 2016

RE News: Storage & Integration

"Community Storage" Is a New Way to Think About Reducing Grid Costs; Mark Dyson, Rocky Mountain Institute, Apr 18, 2016

First Grid-Scale Rail Energy Storage Project Gets Environmental Approval From BLM; Eric Wesoff, greentech:Media, Apr 18, 2016

RE News: Energy

India says the cost of solar power is now cheaper than coal; Georgia Gifford, Australian Solar Quotes, Apr 21, 2016

A Small Country Goes Big with Renewables: Denmark's goal to be fossil fuel free; Laurie Guevara-Stone, Rocky Mountain Institute, Mar 2, 2016

 

4/20/16
RE News: Solar

How arguments on solar power affect public support in the US and Germany; Alexander Franke, Energiewende, Apr 19, 2016

Sharply Higher Rooftop Solar Potential Increases Opportunity for Energy Self-Reliance; John Farrell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Apr 11, 2016

Policy News: Policy Innovation

NY utilities, solar companies propose transition away from retail net metering; Krysti Shallenberger, Utility Dive, April 20, 2016

RE News: Energy

New York's 'Energy Czar' Talks Future of Blockchain for Energy Grids; Michael del Castillo, CoinDesk, Apr 18, 2016

RE News: Storage & Integration

Water Heaters: As Sexy as a Tesla?; Margaret McCall, Rocky Mountain Institute, Feb 24, 2016

Policy News: Community RE

City's 100% green plan seeks overhaul in electricity buying; Anne C. Mulkern, E&E Publishing, Apr 8, 2016

Are Rural Electric Cooperatives Driving or Just Dabbling in Community Solar?; Nick Stumo-Langer, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Mar 11, 2016

 

4/19/16
RE News: Storage & Integration

Exelon's Next Big Stride: Connecticut Fuel Cell Microgrid; Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge, Apr 14, 2016

Environment: Society

How do we jam the roads with Teslas by 2030? Just ask Norway; Chris Mooney, The Washington Post, Apr 12, 2016

RE News: Energy

California has too much coal and nuclear; Craig Morris, Energiewende, Apr 18, 2016

RE News: Solar

NREL Raises Rooftop Photovoltaic Technical Potential Estimate; National Renewable Energy Laboratory News Release, Mar 24, 2016

 

4/18/16
Policy News: Community RE

Is The Future Of Solar Bright In Oregon?; KLCC News, Apr 14, 2016

Solar Energy Surge In Washington Leads To Reduced Incentives; Tom Banse, KLCC News, Apr 13, 2016

Rural Electric Cooperatives: 3 Different Approaches to Reducing the Cost of Community-Scale Solar; Kevin Brehm, Thomas Koch Blank, Rocky Mountain Institute, Apr 13, 2016

RE News: Solar

Solar farm developers target New York with lease offers; Mary Esch, Associated Press, Apr 3, 2016

Environment: Climate

The Climate Web; Brad Ward, Climate Connections, Apr 6, 2016

RE News: Energy

Europe faces €253bn nuclear waste bill; Arthur Neslen, The Guardian, Apr 4, 2016

Grid Integration of Renewable Energy: Flexibility, Innovation, Experience; Eric Martinot, Beijing Instititue of Technology (Prepublication version), Feb 2016 [Report]

 

4/11/16
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

Report: Re-Member-ing the Electric Cooperative; John Farrell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Mar 29, 2016

Environment: Climate

Victory in Landmark Climate Case! Federal Court Affirms Constitutional Rights of Kids and Denies Motions of Government and Fossil Fuel Industry in Youth's Landmark Climate Change Case; Our Children's Trust, Apr 8, 2016

 

4/7/16
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

How California wants to align utility revenue models with DERs; Gavin Bade, Utility Dive, Apr 7, 2016

RE News: Energy

Dispelling the nuclear 'baseload' myth: nothing renewables can't do better!; Mark Diesendorf, The Ecologist, Mar 10, 2016

 

4/6/16
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

U.S. Renewables Portfolio Standards: 2016 Annual Status Report; Galen Barbose, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, April 2016 [Policy Basics: Reports]

Renewables Portfolio Standards: 2016 US Report; Galen Barbose, Ryan Wiser, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2016

An Unexpected Renewable Energy Trend; Warren Leon, Morning Consult, Mar 23, 2016

RE News: Energy

Clean disruption? Stanford group plans for 100% green-energy future; James Roberts, cbc news, Mar 2, 2016

Policy News: Community RE

Why Rural Electric Cooperatives Are Opting for Community-Scale Solar; Kevin Brehm, Joseph Goodman, Ph.D., Rocky Mountain Institute, Mar 31, 2016

Policy News: Utility Adaptation

A Summary Guide to Wood Biomass Heating Programs of CESA Members; Val Stori, Clean Energy States Alliance, Mar 16, 2016

 

4/1/16
Policy News: US FiT News

L.A. Port Adds 1.2 MW Solar Project Under City's FIT Program; Solar Industry, Feb 25, 2016

Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

Pursuing Grid Modernization in a Monopoly Model; John Farrell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Mar 25, 2016

RE News: Energy

Industry experts worry over natural gas 'overbuild'; Robert Walton, Utility Dive, Mar 31, 2016

Northwest to lean heavily on efficiency to meet 20 years of demand; Robert Walton, Utility Dive, Feb 15, 2016

RE News: Solar

National Grid rolls out comparison shopping program for solar; Robert Walton, Utility Dive, March 10, 2016

 

3/30/16
Policy News: Community RE

How utility collaboration can cut community solar costs up to 40%; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Mar 28, 2016

Why this new solar market could be set to explode; Chris Mooney, The Washington Post, Mar 24, 2016

Why people come together in community projects; Craig Morris, Energy Transition, Mar 24, 2016

Policy News: US FiT News

Palo Alto to solarize city-owned parking structures and enhance EV deployment; J. Valentine, CLEAN Coalition, Mar 29, 2016

RE News: Solar

New NREL study details US rooftop solar PV potential at 1,118GW plus; Mark Osborne, PV Tech, Mar 28, 2016

Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States: A Detailed Assessment; Pieter Gagnon, Rober Margolis, Jennifer Melius, Caleb Phillips, and Ryan Elmore, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Jan 2016 [REPORT]

RE News: Energy

Will utilities become Uber for DERs?; Krysti Shallenberger, Utility Dive, March 30, 2016

German coal is worthless; Craig Morris, Energy Transition, Mar 17, 2016

Policy News: World FiT News

Talking Point: New ideas needed in energy crisis; Jack Gilding, The Mercury, Mar 24, 2016

The Resounding Success of German Solar Auctions; Karl-Friedrich Lenz, Lenz Blog,
Mar 14, 2016

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OREP's Vision: Oregon communities powered by clean, renewable energy.