OREP: What's New

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.

May 2015
5/28/15
Energy News: Storage & Integration

Australia primed as heartland for battery-storage revolution; Angela Macdonald-Smith, Finacial Review, May 28, 2015

Policy News: Community RE

California Plans to Offer Free Solar Panels to Its Poorest Citizens; Rafi Schwartz, Good Magazine, May 26, 2015

New program helps low-income D.C. homeowners convert to solar energy; Mark Jenkins, The Washington Post, May 27, 2015

5/26/15
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation | Policy Basics: Reports

Value of Solar: Program Design and Implementation Considerations; Taylor, M., McLaren, J., Cory, K., et. al., National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Mar 2015

Implementing EPA's Clean Power Plan: A Menu of Options; National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA), May 2015

Complying with the Clean Power Plan While Delivering Affordable, Reliable Power; Ken Colburn and John Shenot, Regulatory Assistance Project, May 22, 2015

Beyond Utility 2.0: Part 4 "Next Steps"; Rebecca Toews, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, May 15, 2015

RE News: Storage & Integration

How to Keep the Lights on after a Superstorm; Caren Chesler, Scientific American, Apr 3, 2014

PEER and the microgrid architecture; Courtney Yan, U.S. Green Building Council, May 14, 2015

5/25/15
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

Why Democratic Energy Offers Faster Approach to Clean Energy; John Farrell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, May 22, 2015

Policy News: US FiT News

Maui Energy Efficiency Programs & Tax Credits; Alexandra Mitchell, MauiNews.com, May 18, 2015

Policy Basics: Presentations

Resilient Power Project Webinar: New Jersey's Resilient Energy Storage Awards; Clean Energy Group, May 22, 2015

RE News: Storage & Integration

ODOE to offer research and development funds for energy storage; Oregon Department of Energy, May 21, 2015

SunPower: At The Forefront Of The Solar-Plus-Storage Trend; Seeking Alpha, May 19, 2015

Policy News: World FiT News

Managed disruption: the push and pull of policy in Germany; Craig Morris, Renewables International, May 5, 2015

5/19/15
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

What a 50% renewables mandate means for California; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, May 19, 2015

Environment: Society & Labor

Birthday Celebration for the World's Oldest Operating Wind Turbine; Paul Gipe, wind-works.org, May 9, 2015

How Climate Protection Has Become Today's Labor Solidarity; Jeremy Brecher, The Nation, May 6, 2015

RE News: Storage & Integration

Born from Disaster: Japan Establishes First Microgrid Community; Junko Movellan, Renewable Energy World, May 18, 2015

Policy News: Utility Adaptation | Policy Basics: Reports

Value of Solar: Program Design and Implementation Considerations; National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2015

RE News: Solar

Solar twice as expensive in US as in Germany; Craig Morris, Renewables International, May 11, 2015

RE News: Wind

Why is UK wind power so expensive?; Craig Morris, Renewables International, Apr 29, 2015

5/14/15
Policy News: Utility Adaptation

Should utilities be allowed to rate base solar?; James Tong & Jon Wellinghoff, Utility Dive, May 11, 2015

A new approach to advance clean energy; Richard Kauffman, World Economic Forum, May 11 2015

5/12/15
Policy News: US FiT News

How to get to a solar-based future, according to MIT; ; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, May 12, 2015

Policy News: RE Innovation

Senate will consider 22 energy proposals in hearings this week; Robert Walton, Utility Dive, May 12, 2015

5/11/15
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

Wyden Introduces Bill to Let States Set Electricity Rates for Small Power Projects;
Press Release, May 7, 2015

Sen. Murkowski introduces 17 bills in push for comprehensive energy legislation; Gavin Bade, Utility Dive, May 7, 2015

RE News: Solar

Why Rate Reform Is a Better Solution to Distributed Solar Than Eliminating Net Metering; Shayle Kann, greentechSolar, May 11, 2015

Policy News: Community RE

Xcel plan to limit scale of Minn. community solar projects riles industry; Institute for Local Self-Reliance, May 4, 2015

Policy News: Utility Adaptation

Germany's Energy Transformation: Coming to a Grid Near You; Bob Gibson, Solar Electric Power Association, Apr 2, 2015

5/8/15
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

Hawaii Will Soon Get All Of Its Electricity From Renewable Sources; Samantha Page, ThinkProgress, May 7, 2015

5/7/15
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

How utilities and policymakers can maintain and boost renewable energy's value; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, May 7, 2015

Is solar worth $0.33 per kWh? Inside Maine's valuation debate; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Mar 19, 2015

RE News: Solar

MIT's 'Future of Solar' Report: Why it Matters; K Kaufman, Solar Electric Power Association: Utility Solar Blog, May 7, 2015 (Exec Summary & Full Report available here)

5/6/15
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation

Maine senator unveils unprecedented federal distributed energy bill; Gavin Bade, Utility Dive, May 6, 2015

Policy News: Utility Adaptation

How utilities can leverage their grids to integrate solar faster and cheaper; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, May 5, 2015

Storage not needed to accommodate higher levels of wind energy; Michael Goggin, Into The Wind (AWEA blog), Apr 28, 2015

Policy News: World FiT News

Germany, the Green Superpower; Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times, May 6, 2015

RE News: Energy

The New Normal? Renewables, Efficiency, And "Too Much Electricity"; Clint Wilder, Clean Edge, May 04, 2015

4/30/15
Policy News: World FiT News

German PV auctions: told you so; Craig Morris, Renewables International, Apr 30, 2015

RE News: Wind

Redirecting Anti-Wind Energy; Susan Holtz, Alternative Journal, Sep 2013

RE News: Energy

Why community shared solar is ready to be the 'great equalizer'; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Apr 30, 2015

Hawaii lawmakers agree on 100% renewables by 2045 mandate; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Apr 29, 2015

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OREP's Vision for a sustainable, decentralized energy future:

A sustainable economy with family-wage, energy jobs throughout the state

Farmers, ranchers, tribes, and rural communities harnessing Oregon's abundant and varied renewable resources

Private and community ownership of solar panels across the built environment

Local financing of renewable energy projects keeping energy dollars recirculating in Oregon

Flourishing renewable energy industries across the state

Energy-informed voter support for renewable energy

A healthy environment, minimally impacted by energy production