Grounded: a Podcast by the Oregon Department of Energy

Get grounded in energy fundamentals with our new mini-episode series: Getting Grounded. We're breaking down Oregon's energy sources. Up next: Wind.

Guest: Todd Cornett, ODOE assistant director for siting

Resources:

• Explore wind facilities in Oregon with the Oregon Renewable Energy Siting Assessment Tool: https://oregon-explorer.apps.geocortex.com/

• Siting information hub: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities-safety/facilities/Pages/default.aspx

• Energy Facility Siting Council: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities-safety/facilities/Pages/About-the-Council.aspx

• Oregon Electricity Resource Mix: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/pages/electricity-mix-in-oregon.aspx

Questions or topic suggestions? Write us at [email protected]

Grounded music by PaulYudin and Oregon artist Jana Cushman

2025 marks 50 years of Oregon Department of Energy public service. As we continue leading Oregon to a safe, equitable, clean, and sustainable future for the next 50 years (and beyond!), we’re taking time to look back and reflect on what got us here.

In this episode of grounded, we’re joined by five former directors and current Director Benner, who each share memories of their time at ODOE as we highlight key moments from ODOE’s 50 years.

Guests: Former ODOE directors Lon Topaz, David Yaden, John Savage, Michael Grainey, and Mike Kaplan, and current Director Janine Benner.

Additional Resource:

ODOE at 50 blog series: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/blog?tag=ODOE+at+50

ODOE at 50 interactive timeline: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/timeline

About Hanford: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/safety-resiliency/Pages/About-Hanford.aspx

Oregon Climate Action Commission: https://climate.oregon.gov/

Biennial Energy Report: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/ber

ODOE financial and incentive programs: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Incentives/Pages/default.aspx

Oregon Energy Strategy: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Pages/Energy-Strategy.aspx

Episode with Energy Trust of Oregon’s founding executive director: https://on.soundcloud.com/FBSyrSL8rikUE5uJl8

Grounded music by PaulYudin

Transition music by Juilius H., Osynthw, Syouki Takahashi, Deion Scott, and Levgen Poltavskyj from Pixabay.

Get grounded in energy fundamentals with our new mini-episode series: Getting Grounded. We're breaking down Oregon's energy sources. Up next: Hydropower.

Guest: Joni Sliger, ODOE senior policy analyst

Resources:

• ODOE’s website on hydropower: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/Hydropower.aspx

• Where hydroelectricity is generated in the U.S.: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/hydropower/where-hydropower-is-generated.php

• OPB’s Salmon Wars: https://www.opb.org/salmonwars/

• Nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Pages/Tribal-Reports.aspx

• Northwest Power and Conservation Council and the Columbia River Basin: https://www.nwcouncil.org/news/2025/08/29/ninth-plan-hydro-ops-scope-columbia-river-basin/

• Bonneville Power Administration hydropower: https://www.bpa.gov/energy-and-services/power/hydropower-impact

• Faraday Resiliency & Repowering Project: https://portlandgeneral.com/news/modernizing-our-hydropower-plants-pges-oldest-assets-in-the-fight

• Electricity Resource Mix: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/Electricity-Mix-in-Oregon.aspx

Questions or topic suggestions? Write us at [email protected]

Grounded music by PaulYudin and Oregon artist Jana Cushman

Could Nuclear Power be a solution to increasing electricity needs in the state and the nation?

In this episode, we learn about the nuclear topics considered during the 2025 legislative session and Oregon’s nuclear future. We also hear from a company developing small modular reactors about their technology and potential roles for nuclear power.

Guests: Max Woods, ODOE Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Energy Security, and Dr. Jose Reyes, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of NuScale Power.

Additional Resources

Getting Grounded: Oregon’s History with Nuclear Power: https://soundcloud.com/oregonenergy/getting-grounded-oregons-history-with-nuclear-power

Trojan Nuclear Site: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/safety-resiliency/Pages/Trojan-Site.aspx

About Hanford: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/safety-resiliency/Pages/About-Hanford.aspx

ODOE’s Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Program: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/safety-resiliency/Pages/Emergency-Preparedness.aspx

Episode 14: NuScale’s New Scale for Nuclear (2018): https://soundcloud.com/oregonenergy/episode-14-nuscales-new-scale-for-nuclear?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&si=c5cf695ab05142b4958f7d80be6bfd87

ODOE released a draft of the Oregon Energy Strategy on Aug. 14, 2025, and opened a public comment period through Sept. 22, 2025. So, what is the Energy Strategy and why should you take the time to comment?

We dive into an overview of the report and the five pathways outlined that represent the direction Oregon needs to go to meet the state's energy goals. As you will hear from our guests, the Energy Strategy is not a plan, but rather a strategy that can be used by policy makers, agencies, and Oregonians alike to help make decisions on Oregon's long-term energy future.

Use the timestamps below to skip to the part of the discussion that most interests you.

0:1:40 - Purpose and Approach

0:10:06 - What are policy recommendations?

0:14:37 - Why should I comment?

0:23:40 - Pathway 1 (Energy Efficiency)

0:27:46 - Pathway 2 (Electrification)

0:35:08 - Pathway 3 (Clean Electricity)

0:37:53 - Pathway 4 (Low-carbon Fuels)

0:40:57 - Pathway 5 (Resilience)

0:43:33 - Conclusion

Guests: Jessica Reichers, ODOE Technology and Policy Manager, and Edith Bayer, ODOE Energy Policy Team Lead.

Grounded music by PaulYudin

Additional Resources

• View the Draft Oregon Energy Strategy: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Documents/DRAFT-Oregon-Energy-Strategy.pdf

• View a summary of the draft strategy: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Documents/DRAFT-Summary-Oregon-Energy-Strategy.pdf

• Submit a comment through Sept. 22, 2025: https://odoe.powerappsportals.us/en-US/energy-strategy/

• Energy Wallet Analysis: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Documents/OES-EJEquity-Approach-11-6-2024.pdf

Oregon's is now the fourth state to focus on energy efficiency in existing buildings with ODOE's new Building Performance Standard Program.

Starting in 2028, the program implements energy efficiency compliance deadlines for Oregon's existing commercial buildings. In this episode, learn about the program and its benefits, and how Oregon is addressing energy efficiency in state-owned buildings.

Guests: Madeline O'Dwyer and Amanda Welch, both ODOE policy analysts.

Questions or topic suggestions? Write us at [email protected]

Grounded music by PaulYudin

Additional Resources

• Tier 1 and Tier 2 Buildings graphic: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/save-energy/Documents/BPS-Visual.pdf

• Building Performance Standard website and resources: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/save-energy/Pages/BPS.aspx

• Sign up for email updates on the Building Performance Standard: http://web.energy.oregon.gov/cn/a6n53/subscribe

• State Energy Efficient Design Process (SEED) website: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/SEED-Program-Guidelines.as

Get grounded in energy fundamentals with our new mini-episode series: Getting Grounded. We're breaking down Oregon's energy sources. Up next: Nuclear energy.

Guest: Joni Sliger, ODOE senior policy analyst

Resources:

• Trojan Nuclear Site: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities-safety/facilities/Pages/TRO.aspx

• Trojan Nuclear Site Spent Fuel Storage: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/safety-resiliency/Pages/Trojan-Site.aspx

• Columbia Generating Station Information: https://www.energy-northwest.com/energyprojects/Columbia/Pages/default.aspx

• ODOE's Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness resources: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities-safety/safety/pages/default.aspx

Questions or topic suggestions? Write us at [email protected]

Grounded music by PaulYudin and Oregon artist Jana Cushman

Get grounded in energy fundamentals with our new mini-episodes series: Getting Grounded. We're breaking down Oregon's energy sources. Up next: petroleum fuels.

Guest: Michael Freels, ODOE senior policy analyst

Resources:

• Oregon Energy Security Plan: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/safety-resiliency/Pages/Energy-Security-Plan.aspx

• Oregon Fuel Action Plan: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/safety-resiliency/Pages/Petroleum.aspx

Questions or topic suggestions? Write us at [email protected]

Grounded music by PaulYudin and Oregon artist Jana Cushman

Get grounded in energy fundamentals with our new mini-episodes series. We're moving through Oregon's energy sources one at a time to learn more about how they serve Oregon and all of us. Up first: solar.

Guest: Rob Del Mar, ODOE senior policy analyst

Additional resources

• ODOE's Solar for All program: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Incentives/Pages/Solar-for-All.aspx

• Energy Hub for Oregon incentives: https://incentives.oregon.gov/

• Smart shopping tips for solar: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/blog/2024/12/16/solar-shop-smart

• Solar dashboard: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/Oregon-Solar-Dashboard.aspx

• Meeting the energy facilities siting standards: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/blog/2024/4/16/energy-facilities-spotlight-meeting-the-standards?rq=siting

Questions or topic suggestions? Write us at [email protected]

Grounded music by PaulYudin and Oregon artist, Jana Cushman

Energy efficiency is found in government policies, it’s also found in our homes, technology and actions. Learn more about energy efficiency, some of the benefits, and things you can do to improve efficiency and decrease energy bills.

In March, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranked Oregon at No. 9 in its nationwide State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which measures policy and program standards that support energy efficiency. We will hear from ACEEE about what Oregon is doing well and where there’s room to improve.

Guests: Andy Cameron, ODOE Energy Efficiency and Conservation Group Manager, and Mark Kresowik, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Senior Policy Director

Questions or topic suggestions? Write us at [email protected]

Additional Resources:

• ACEEE State Efficiency Scorecard: https://www.aceee.org/state-policy/scorecard

• Home energy scoring: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/save-energy/Pages/Home-Energy-Score-Consumers.aspx

• Co-Benefits of Efficiency (2022 Biennial Energy Report): https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Documents/2022-BER-Policy-Briefs.pdf#page=151

• Energy Hub for Incentive Programs and Projects in Oregon: https://incentives.oregon.gov/

Grounded music by PaulYudin

Updated to clarify Energy Trust of Oregon's efficiency programs serve the investor-owned utilities while the consumer-owned utilities run their own programs.