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.
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.
October 2014
10/23/14
RE News: Energy
This German Energy Expert Says Canada is Perfect for a Clean Energy Transition; Erin Flegg, Desmog Canada, Oct 18, 2014
Full Steam Ahead for German Energy Transition, Expert Tells Vancouver;
James Glave, Clean Energy Canada, Oct 17, 2014
Transforming the Utility Sector with New Business Models; Danielle Kershner, Renewable Energy World, Oct 15, 2014
World FiT News
India Faces Mounting Calls to Move Solar to Fixed Tariffs; Natalie Obiko Pearson, Bloomberg, Oct 12, 2014
US FiT News
Saving California's Small-Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Market; Tam Hunt, greentechSolar, Oct 9, 2014
10/22/14
RE News: Energy
Food For Watts: Turning Post-consumer Food Waste into Renewable Energy; Mike Crummy, Renewable Energy World, Oct 9, 2014
7 Renewable Energy Lessons from Germany; Jennifer Runyon, Renewable Energy World, Oct 3, 2014
Biogas digester at Oregon's Lochmead Farms turns manure and methane into power; Eric Mortenson, The Oregonian, May 19, 2011
Reports
Oregon Biogas Facility Permitting Guide; Community Planning Workshop/University of Oregon, June 2014
10/15/14
US FiT News
NIPSCO files Settlement Agreement for Voluntary Feed-in Tariff (VFIT) in Indiana; Laura Arnold, IndianaDG, Oct 14, 2014
RE News: Energy
Scientists: EPA Underestimating Renewables Potential; Bobby Magill, Climate Central, Oct 14, 2014
Iowa town puts unusual geothermal twist on district heating; Karen Uhlenhuth, Midwest Energy News, Oct 9, 2014
Giant Battery Unit Aims at Wind Storage Holy Grail; Whitney McFerron, Bloomberg Oct 14, 2014
Albertans favour greener energy grid; Nik Nanos, Lethbridge Herald, Oct 4, 2014
10/13/14
Reports
Integrated life-cycle assessment of electricity-supply scenarios confirms global environmental benefit of low-carbon technologies; Edgar G. Hertwicha, et.al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, Sept 3, 2014
How the Walton Family is Threatening Our Clean Energy Future, Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Oct 2014
RE News: Solar
Walton Family Undermining Rooftop Solar, ILSR Report Finds; Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Oct 9, 2014
10/8/14
Reports | RE News: Energy
Risks and Opportunities for PacificCorp State Level Findings: Oregon; Ezra D. Hausman, Ph.D., Sierra Club, Oct 6, 2014
Technology Roadmap: Solar Photovoltaic Energy–2014 Edition; International Energy Agency, Aug 13, 2014
RE News: Energy
Renewables Are as Green as You'd Expect; By Bobby Magill and Climate Central, Scientific American, Oct 8, 2014
Pacific Power has you hooked on coal; Amy Hojnowski, Oregon Sierra Club Blog, Oct 7, 2014
Can the energy transition make Germany independent of Russian gas?; Craig Morris, Energy Transition, Sept 30, 2014
Going 100 percent renewable: "We need all hands on deck"; Craig Morris, Renewables International, Sept 25, 2014
Energy Transition may proceed without electricity storage for 20 years – transport, heat and chemicals markets will drive growth; Matthias Lang, German Energy Blog (via Energy Transition), Sept 23, 2014
LCWR members pass renewable energy resolution; Dawn Cherie Araujo, National Catholic Reporter, Aug. 15, 2014
RE News: Solar
SolarCity to Finance Rooftop Panels in Shift From Leasing; Christopher Martin, Blomberg, Oct 8, 2014
How solar energy could be the largest source of electricity by mid-century; International Energy Agency, Sept 29, 2014
Environment: Climate
Oceans Getting Hotter Than Anybody Realized; John Upton, Climate Central, Oct 5, 2014
10/3/14
Policy News: Community RE
Why Local Energy Ownership Matters; John Farrell, Renewable Energy World,
Sept 29, 2014
Advantage Local: Why Local Energy Ownership Matters; Full Report
RE News: Solar
Solar Power Could be the World's Main Energy Source by 2050; Michael Casey, Fortune (via Clean Energy Collective), Sept 30, 2014
RE News: Energy
Clean Power, Off the Grid; David J. Hayes, New York Times, July 17, 2014
10/1/14
Environment: Climate | RE News: Energy
Climate impacts of Natural Gas Production and LNG export; Sierra Club, et al, Aug 2014
Beyond Treaties: A New Way of Framing Global Climate Action; Fred Pearce, Yale360, Sept 29, 2014
RE News: Energy
The West doesn't need nuclear for energy independence; Paul Hockenos, Al Jazeera, June 16, 2014
New Western real-time market aims to smooth bumps in renewable generation; Debra Kahn, E&E: EnergyWire, Sept 30, 2014
9/29/14
Policy News: Policy Innovation
New California Law Cuts Solar-Permitting Red Tape; Eric Wesoff, GreentechSolar, Sept 23, 2014
PACE Financing Set to Expand Commercial Solar Market; AJ Jenkins, Renewable Energy World, Sept 24, 2014
Policy News: OR FiT News | OREP in the News
State's solar policies at a crossroads; Stefanie Donahue, Portland Tribune, Sept 18, 2014
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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
Note: OREP is no longer an active organization. We chose to leave our website up for the time being for the archival value it provides. 
Oregonians for Renewable Energy Progress