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.
December 2015
12/31/15
RE News: Energy
After Paris, utilities look to deeper decarbonization; Gavin Bade, Utility Dive, Dec 18, 2015
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Germany Reverses Its Decision to End Residential Energy Storage Subsidies; Mike Stone, greenTech Media, Dec 17, 2015
Environment: Society
Rooftop solar owned by the user can add to home values, LBNL research shows; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Dec 17, 2015
12/30/15
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Understanding the tax implications of NEM successor policies; J. Valentine, Clean Coalition, Dec 16, 2015
Environment: Society
Cities Tranistioning to a Fossil Fuel Free Economy; Roy L Hales, The ECOReport, Dec 20, 2015
Policy News: US FiT News
Got A Couple Spare Megawatts? Call PSEG; InnovateLI, Dec 23, 2015
Policy News: World FiT News
Spain's Supreme Tribunal questions whether removal of the feed-in tariff was constitutional; María Sarado, PV Magazine, Dec 23, 2015
Government heeds national backing for solar and improves on Feed-in Tariff proposal; Paul Barwell, politics.co.uk, Dec 17, 2015
12/28/15
RE News: Energy
Fossil fuels are all but finished: Renewable energies are the future, whether the GOP acknowledges it or not; Michael T. Klare, Salon, Dec 25, 2015
Why 2015 may be remembered as a transformative year for how we get energy; Chris Mooney, The Washington Post, Dec 24, 2015
The country of Costa Rica ran on 99 percent renewable energy in 2015; Rick Stella, Digital Trends, Dec 24, 2015
To run completely on clean energy, Denmark harnesses wind power; Lisa Desai, PBS NewsHour, Dec 12, 2015
Policy News: World FiT News
Cheese Can Now Power a Town — in France, of Course; Lucie Aubourg, VICE News, Dec 24, 2015
Environment: Climate
It's Canada (again)! This time, it's helping to lead the way to fix the environment; Adam Wernick, pri.org, Dec 27, 2015
A Fitting End for the Hottest Year on Record; Jonah Bromwich, New York Times, Dec 23, 2015
12/23/15
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Congress Just Extended the PTC and ITC: What You Need to Know; Chris Nelder & Mark Silberg, RMI Outlet, Dec 22, 2015
RE News: Solar
Nevada regulators approve new net metering policy, creates separate rate class for solar users; Krysti Shallenberger, Utility Dive, Dec 22, 2015
RE News: Energy
US DOE Plans to Launch Consent-based Process to Site Nuclear Waste Facilities; Elaine Hiruo, Platts, Dec 21, 2015
RE News: Wind
U.S. wind industry hits 70 GW capacity mark, celebrates tax credit extension; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Dec 22, 2015
12/22/15
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Community Energy Resource Guide; K. Bunker, S. Doig, E. Fowler, J. Mandel, C, Owens Michelet, Rocky Mountain Institute, Dec 2015
This new campaign in New York wants the state to move to 100 percent clean energy; Raven Rakia, Grist, Dec 18, 2015
Has Renovate America Figured out How to Expand Residential PACE?; Jahi Wise, Clean Energy Finance Forum, Dec 18, 2015
RE News: Energy Storage & Integration
Energy Storage Brings Resiliency to Eugene, OR; Todd Olinsky-Paul, Clean Energy States Alliance, Dec 21, 2015
12/17/15
Policy Basics: Oregon Energy/FiT Resources
Oregonians for Renewable Energy Progess Comments to the Northwest Power & Conservation Council on the Draft 7th Power Plan; Ray Neff, OREP, Dec 16, 2015
Environment: Climate Change
Countdown to 2050: Sharpening Oregon’s Climate Action Tools; M. Powers, A. Schlusser, A. Lang, C. Bonugli & S. Djemba, Green Energy Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School, Nov 2015
Paris Climate Accord Is a Big, Big Deal; Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times, Dec 16, 2015
West Coast Clean Economy: November 2015, 2010-2014 Jobs Update; The Delphi Group, Pacific Coast Collaborative
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Ninety-Six Cities Quitting Fossil Fuels to Move Toward 100 Percent Renewable Energy; Cole Mellino, BuzzFlash, Sep 22, 2015
Green Vancouver; City of Vancouver, B.C., Oct 23, 2015
12/11/15
RE News: Energy
5 drivers making 100% renewables possible; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Dec 2, 2015
Getting to 100: A Status Report on Rising Commitments Among Corporations and Governments to Reach 100% Renewables; Clean Edge, Nov 10, 2015
12/10/15
Environment: Climate
US NGO Letter to President Obama on Paris Climate Negotiations; Center for Biological Diversity & 150 Non-governmental Organizations including OREP, Dec 1, 2015
RE News: Energy
The factors driving wind and solar toward grid parity; Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, Dec 10, 2015
EIA: Small-scale installations make up a third of solar generation; Robert Walton, Utility Dive, Dec 4, 2015
Policy News: RE Policy Innovation
Minnesota: A Case Study on Why Solar Policy Matters; Mike Taylor, Solar Electric Power Association, Dec 10, 2015
12/08/15
RE News: Energy
How Communities Can Lead the Way Towards Clean Energy; Rocky Mountain Institute, Dec 1, 2015
A Path for Climate Change, Beyond Paris; Justin Gillisdec, New York Times, Dec 1, 2015
Why rooftop solar advocates are upset about California's clean-energy law; Ivan Penn, Los Angeles Times, Nov 29, 2015
Solar = Energy Equity Solution; John Farrell, CleanTechnica, Jan 22, 2015
12/04/15
RE News: Storage & Integration
3 Ways Wind and Solar Can Continue To Grow In a 21st-Century Grid; Mark Dyson, James Mandel, Ph.D., Amory B. Lovins, Rocky Mountain Institute, Nov 30, 2015
Sonnenbatterie Launches Solar-Plus-Storage Storage System for $10,645; Jason Deign, greentechMedia, Nov 25, 2015
Tesla's Closed Loop Battery Recycling Program; Kurt Kelty, Tesla Blog, Jan 26, 2011
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
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OREP's Vision: Oregon communities powered by clean, renewable energy.