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.
November 2015
11/30/15
RE News: Energy
It Really Is Time to Choose; Charles Ferguson, Huffington Post, Nov 30, 2015
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
US House Resolution - 100% Clean, Renewable Energy for the United States; Representative Grijalva, Nov 20, 2015
Policy News: World FiT News
Review of feed-in tariff system; Editors, The Japan Times, Oct 31, 2015
A Lesson In Solar From A Northern Neighbor; John Farrell, CleanTechnica (via ILSR.org), Oct 21, 2015
Feed in Tariff' to help unlock potential of rooftop solar: Expert; Vinson Kurian, The Hindu BusinessLine, Oct 12, 2015
11/24/15
RE News: Energy
Renewables key in race against warming; Marlowe Hood, The Japan Times, Nov 21, 2015
NREL Estimates Economically Viable U.S. Renewable Generation; National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Nov 19, 2015
REPORT: Renewable Energy Economic Potential; NREL, 2015
A Brief History of Human Energy Use; Tim Maly, The Atlantic, Nov 13, 2015
12 charts that show the state of the US clean energy revolution; Gavin Bade, Utility Dive, Nov 12, 2015
RE News: Storage & Integration
Oregon saddles up to implement trailblazing energy storage mandate; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Nov 17, 2015
Will Utilities Look at Solar Microgrids in the Rearview Mirror and Say "Uh Oh"; Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge, Nov 16, 2015
Policy News: World FiT News
Japan Passes FIT Peak: Now What for 87 GW Renewable Queue, 2030 Energy Mix?; Junko Movellan, Renewable Energy World, Nov 2015
Policy News: Community RE
Clean Energy Collective Brings Largest Shared Solar Solution to Washington State; Solar Novus Today, May 22, 2015
Policy Basics: Energy/FiT Resources: Websites
Renewables 100 Policy Institute
11/20/15
Policy News: Utility Adaptation
The future of rate design: Why the utility industry may shift away from fixed charges; Gavin Bade, Utility Dive, Nov 19, 2015
Renewable energy and the need for storage: Lessons to be learned from the situation in Germany; Martin Tampier, Energy Transition, Nov 5, 2015
11/18/15
RE News: Energy
Pot power: How utilities and regulators are dealing with the budding marijuana industry; Gavin Bade, Utility Dive, Nov 16, 2015
Policy News: Utility Adaptation
Are PURPA renewable mandates outdated?; R. Kress, Utility Analytics Institute, Nov 16, 2015
Policy News: World FiT News
Thousands of social tenants will lose out if solar subsidies cuts go ahead; Emma Howard, The Guardian, Nov 18, 2015
RE News: Policy Innovation
The 50 States of Solar; NC Clean Energy Technology Center and Meister Consultants Group, Q3 2015
11/17/15
RE News: Energy
When will the world wake up to the potential of poo power?; John Vidal, the Guardian, Nov 16, 2015
Coal is not the solution to energy poverty, warn aid agencies; The Guardian, Nov 16, 2015
Australia can double bioenergy capacity by 2020, CEFC says; Plamena Tisheva, See News, Nov 12, 2015
Policy News: Community RE
Energy Democracy: Inside Californians' Game-Changing Plan for Community-Owned Power; Al Weinrub, YES! Magazine, Nov 12, 2015
Solar Power Without Solar Panels; ClearPath, 2015
Environment: Climate
Elections 2016: How Can the Climate Movement Have the Greatest Impact During This Presidential Election Period?; Bill McKibben & Climate Reality Check, Nov 12, 2015 (Audio recording)
Policy News: World FiT News
Britain is on the brink of a solar revolution. Don't put the brakes on now; Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, The Telegraph, Nov 12, 2015
11/13/15
Environment: Climate
How Green Are Those Solar Panels, Really?; Christina Nunez, National Geographic, Nov 11, 2014
What is the energy and carbon payback time for PV panels in the UK?; Center for Alternative Technology
Retrofits for Resiliency: How to Make an Existing Solar PV System into an Islandable Resilient Power System [Webinar archive]; Clean Energy States Alliance, Nov 12, 2015
Policy News: Utility Adaptation
Beyond fixed charges: 'Disruptive Challenges' author charts new utility path; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Nov 12, 2015
11/11/15
Policy News: Community RE
First of 704 Photovoltaic Panels to Be Installed at Oregon's First Community Solar Project in Bend, Oregon; Cascade Business News, Nov 10, 2015
Policy News: Utility Adaptation
NARUC 2015: How the Clean Power Plan is transforming 'baseload' generation; Gavin Bade, Utility Dive, Nov 11, 2015
A Status Report on Rising Commitments Among Corporations and Governments to Reach 100% Renewables; Clean Edge, Nov 2015
Policy News: World FiT News
NERC approves feed-in tariffs for renewable energy sources; Babalwa Bungane, ESI Africa, Nov 3, 2015
11/10/15
RE News: Storage & Integration
San Francisco braces for the Big One with microgrids; Laurie Guevara-Stone, Green Biz, Oct 26, 2015
RE News: Wind
A Texas Utility Offers a Nighttime Special: Free Electricity; Clifford Krauss & Diane Cardwell, New York Times, Nov 8, 2015
RE News: Energy
Nothing can compete with renewable energy, says top climate scientist; Damian Carrington, The Guardian, Nov 9, 2015
Policy Basics: Reports
Power System Flexibility Strategic Roadmap; Ken Dragoon & Georgios Papaefthymiou, Ecofys, Feb 25, 2015
11/3/15
RE News: Storage & Integration
Cheap, Reliable, Lightweight Battery Near, but Not Here Yet; Umair Irfan, Scientific Amercian, Nov 2, 2015
Green Banks to Finance Microgrids?; Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge, Nov 2, 2015
Here's how microgrids and utilities are getting along; Mike Hower, GreenBiz, Oct 30, 2015
RE News: Energy
Germany's planned nuclear switch-off drives energy innovation; Jennifer Rankin, The Guardian, Nov 2, 2015
RE News: Solar
How utilities are leveraging new software to help customers go solar; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, June 25, 2015
10/30/15
RE News: Storage & Integration
Think tank report says German solar-plus-storage breakthrough is imminent, warns of challenges; Andy Colthorpe, PV Tech Storage, Oct 28, 2015
10/28/15
Policy Basics: Policy Innovation
OPUC Attributes for the Design of a Community Solar Program: To the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the House Interim Committee on Energy and Environment; OPUC, Oct 26, 2015
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OREP's Vision: Oregon communities powered by clean, renewable energy.