Grounded: a Podcast by the Oregon Department of Energy

Get grounded in energy fundamentals with our new mini-episode series: Getting Grounded. The electricity used in Oregon homes and businesses comes from many energy resources. Solar, hydro, natural gas, wind, nuclear, coal, and other resources make up the “mix” and all play a role in providing Oregon electricity.

View the Resource mix dashboard: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/pages/electricity-mix-in-oregon.aspx

Guest: Stephanie Kruse, ODOE facilities engineer

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

Grounded music by PaulYudin and Oregon artist, Jana Cushman

Earlier this month, ODOE was excited to release the 2024 Biennial Energy Report that tells Oregon’s energy story. The report shows how the state’s energy system has evolved over time to include new technologies, address changes in the availability of different generation resources, and to meet state energy goals.

Learn more: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/blog/2024/11/22/a-new-chapter-in-oregons-energy-story

Grounded theme music by Oregon artist, Jana Cushman

Class is back in session, and nearly 550,000 students in Oregon make the trip to and from school every school day. On this episode of Grounded, we tag along and venture into the magic world of clean-running and electric school buses.

Learn more: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/blog/2024/10/10/grounded-podcast-episode-45-magic-school-buses

Theme music by Oregon artist, Jana Cushman

Grounded host Bryan Hockaday meets OSU Assistant Professor Chad Higgins and takes listeners on a tour of a solar research farm outside of Wilsonville. On the farm, they’re fine tuning the practice of agrivoltaics and experimenting with what crops respond best to integrated solar electricity production.

Learn more: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/blog/2024/9/4/grounded-podcast-episode-44-harvesting-solar-the-science-of-agrivoltaics

Theme music by Oregon artist, Jana Cushman

On Episode 43 of Grounded, host Bryan Hockaday catches up with Sarah Moehrke, ODOE’s Community Navigator. In her role, Sarah is often on the road and meeting with Oregonians all across the state. In just over this past year, Sarah has logged nearly 15,000 miles as she connects cities and counties with resources to help with community-scale sustainable improvement projects.

Learn more: 2024/7/31/grounded-podcast-episode-43-road-trip-across-oregon

Grounded theme music by Oregon artist, Jana Cushman.

On Episode 43 of Grounded, host Bryan Hockaday catches up with Sarah Moehrke, ODOE’s Community Navigator. In her role, Sarah is often on the road and meeting with Oregonians all across the state.

Enjoy a bonus episode, where Sarah takes listeners on a vividly narrated tour, starting on the stunning shores of the Oregon coast, going through the mid-Willamette Valley, and heading across to the spectacular vistas in eastern Oregon.

Learn more: 2024/7/31/grounded-podcast-episode-43-road-trip-across-oregon

Grounded theme music by Oregon artist, Jana Cushman.

Summers in the Pacific Northwest are spectacular, but it’s starting to feel like Oregon’s summers keep getting hotter. On this episode of Grounded, host Bryan Hockaday learns about ODOE’s Heat Pump Incentive Programs and talks with Oregon’s Climatologist Larry O’Neill.

Grounded theme music by Oregon artist, Jana Cushman.

We also got to speak with Oregon’s official State Climatologist, Larry O’Neill. We had such a great conversation and he shared really interesting insights into Oregon’s climate, how it’s changing, and even how we measure these changes and how that data can be used to inform policies. So, we thought we’d share this extended interview with Larry O'Neill in this special bonus episode. Hope you enjoy! blogs.oregonstate.edu/orcs/oregon-cl…vice/our-team/

Grounded theme music by Oregon artist, Jana Cushman.

On this episode of Grounded, join host Bryan as he heads out to the Columbia River Gorge to attend the annual Cherry Pre-Harvest Tour and see an all-electric, autonomous tractor. The event attracts regional cherry and fruit growers, and this year’s demonstration was organized by partners including Oregon State University and Wy’East Resource, Conservation and Development; Forth Mobility; Sustainable Northwest; and Bonneville Environmental Foundation.

Grounded theme music by Oregon artist, Jana Cushman.

Grounded is back in action! We’re excited to welcome Bryan Hockaday as host, who recently joined the Oregon Department of Energy’s communications team. In this first episode of the Grounded reboot, join Bryan as he begins his expedition across the state to learn all about energy in Oregon.

Learn More: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/blog/2024/4/29/grounded-podcast-welcome-bryan-hockaday