Grounded: a Podcast by the Oregon Department of Energy

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

Guest: Jason Sierman, ODOE senior policy analyst

Resources:
• Oregon's Renewable Portfolio Standard (Senate Bill 1547 update): https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/blog/2025/4/21/oregons-renewable-portfolio-standard-reaches-2025-milestone-for-smaller-utilities?rq=1547
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Redeveloping Coal Power Plant Fact Sheets: https://www.pnnl.gov/projects/coal-reinvestment/coal-x-fact-sheets
• Electricity Resource mix: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/Electricity-Mix-in-Oregon.aspx

School season is all year round for ODOE’s schools program team. School districts in Portland General Electric and Pacific Power territories, like Bend-LaPine, are eligible to use Public Purpose Charge Schools Program funds for energy audits, projects, or for electric vehicles or chargers. Energy efficiency is a key part of the Oregon Energy Strategy and provides a more comfortable learning environment for students and teachers.

Guests: Christie Sphoon, ODOE’s schools program lead, and Anne Birky, Bend-La Pine Schools’ Facilities Support Supervisor.

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Resources:
• Public Purpose Charge Schools Program: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/SB1149.aspx
• Map of completed projects: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/79dc39d71460424b85f6a954b68f1348

Get grounded in energy fundamentals with our mini-episode series: Getting Grounded. Just what are heat pumps and what is a mini split? Get introduced to heat pumps -- an efficient way to heat and cool your home.

Guest: Stephanie Kruse, ODOE facilities engineer

Resources:
• Hub for Information and Incentive Programs in Oregon: https://incentives.oregon.gov/
• Home energy tips and heat pump resources: https://incentives.oregon.gov/homeowner
• Video: How heat pumps work (Energy Trust of Oregon): https://www.energytrust.org/residential/tips/understanding-heat-pumps-how-they-work-and-why-theyre-transforming-home-comfort-in-oregon/

Portland General Electric and Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative discuss how they are planning for an increasing number of electric vehicles plugging into their networks and incentives available for customers.

Guests: Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative Marketing and Member Services Manager Keith Buchhalter and Portland General Electric Transportation Electrification Manager Karla Hendrickson.

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Resources:
• EV Dashboard: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Pages/Oregon-Electric-Vehicle-Dashboard.aspx
• Go Electric Oregon Incentive Finder: https://goelectric.oregon.gov/incentives-rebates
• ODOE’s Biennial Zero Emission Vehicle Report: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/BIZEV.aspx
• Energy Strategy Electrification Pathway: https://energystrategy.oregon.gov/electrification
• Coos-Curry Electric Off Peak Charging Program: https://ccec.coop/ev-charging-program
• PGE Electric School Bus Fund: https://portlandgeneral.com/energy-choices/electric-vehicles-charging/funding-your-ev-or-charging-project/pge-electric-school-bus-fund
• PGE Ride and Drive Events: https://portlandgeneral.com/lets-go
• DEQ Clean Fuels Program: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/ghgp/cfp/Pages/default.aspx

ODOE’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan is out now, and our guests walk us through the plan, sharing their hopes of how it will strengthen the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness as we work as a cohesive unit to address our greatest energy challenges.

Guests: ODOE Director Janine Benner and Associate Director for Strategic Engagement Ruchi Sadhir
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Resources:
ODOE’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/about-us/Pages/Strategic-Plan.aspx
About ODOE: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/about-us/Pages/default.aspx
Oregon Energy Strategy: https://energystrategy.oregon.gov/

All around us, natural and working lands – from forests, to crops, to wetlands, and parks – are putting in work to benefit Oregonians.

Dig into natural and working lands and natural climate solutions on this episode of grounded.

Guests: ODOE’s Elizabeth Ruther, Senior Natural & Working Lands Policy Analyst, and Jason Sauer, Natural & Working Lands Analyst

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Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

Resources
Land-based Net Carbon Inventory: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Documents/2025-Land-Based-Net-Carbon-Inventory-Report.pdf

Study on workforce development and training needs for natural climate solutions: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Documents/2025-NCS-Workforce-Needs-Report.pdf
What are Natural Climate Solutions? What are Natural Climate Solutions?

DEQ's sector-based emissions inventory: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/ghgp/Pages/GHG-Inventory.aspx
DEQ's consumption-based emissions inventory: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/Pages/Consumption-based-GHG.aspx

Natural and working lands fund report: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Reports/2025-Natural-Working-Lands-Annual-Fund-Report.pdf

Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission: https://www.oregon.gov/highered/Pages/default.aspx

Natural and Working Lands Advisory Committee: https://climate.oregon.gov/committee-meetings

The Olympic Pipeline brings 90 percent of our transportation fuels from Washington into Oregon. In November 2025, the pipeline was shut down to repair a leak, causing a fuel emergency declaration. In this episode, we’re reflecting on Oregon's response to the incident.

Guests: ODOE’s Energy Security Manager Traci Naile, and Mike Freese, of Romain and Freese representing the Oregon Fuels Association

Grounded music by PaulYudin
Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

Resources:
• Episode 52: Hoping for blue skies, planning for black skies: https://on.soundcloud.com/ia3ikp2SjkODtJOOzd
• Oregon Fuels Association: www.wpma.com/oregon
• Fueling Up in Oregon: Supply & Pricing: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/blog/2026/3/23/fueling-up-in-oregon-supply-amp-pricing
• Olympic Pipeline partially restarts as Oregon remains under fuel emergency declaration: https://www.opb.org/article/2025/11/25/olympic-pipeline-oregon-fuel-emergency-gas-prices/

Fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are powered by electricity, so they need to “fuel up” at charging stations. While as much as 80 percent of charging happens at home, public chargers allow those without access to home charging and those traveling farther distances to recharge their batteries.
On this episode, we discuss EV charger availability and reliability and get a first-person perspective of EVs in rural Oregon.

Guests: Jillian DiMedio, ODOE Senior Energy Policy Analyst; Steve Gutmann, co-founder of EVmath; and Robert Wallace, executive director Wy’East RC&D

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Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

Resources
• Biennial Zero Emission Vehicle Report : https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/BIZEV.aspx
• EVmath.org: https://www.evmath.org/
• Wy'East RC&D: https://www.wyeast-rcd.org/
• Oregon Electric Vehicle Dashboard: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Pages/Oregon-Electric-Vehicle-Dashboard.aspx
• ODOT’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/climate/Pages/NEVI.aspx
• DEQ’s Zero-Emission Fueling Infrastructure Grant: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/programs/Pages/OZEF.aspx

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

Guest: Rob Del Mar, ODOE senior policy analyst

Resources:
• Geothermal Energy in Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/Geothermal.aspx
• Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries’ interactive map of geothermal springs and wells in Oregon: https://gis.dogami.oregon.gov/maps/gtilo/
• Newberry Volcano Project: https://mazamaenergy.com/newberry/
• Neal Hot Springs: https://www.enbridge.com/about-us/renewable-energy/geothermal
• Oregon Institute of Technology's Geo-Heat Center: https://www.oit.edu/library/about/collections/archives/all-collections/geo-heat

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

Guest: Michael Freels, ODOE senior policy analyst

Resources:
• Oregon State University’s Oregon Wood Innovation Center: https://owic.oregonstate.edu/
• Origin of Charcoal Briquettes: Collection: https://scua.uoregon.edu/repositories/2/resources/9251
• Bioenergy in Oregon: State of Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/pages/bioenergy.aspx
• Resource Review: Biomass (2020 Biennial Energy Report): https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Documents/2020-BER-Technology-Resource-Reviews.pdf#page=31
• Oregon Department of Forestry: Oregon Department of Forestry: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/forestbenefits/pages/biomass.aspx

In counties around the state and at ODOE, we’re planning for events we hope don’t happen: emergencies disrupting energy and fuel supplies. Climate change, extreme weather, and cyber risks and straining our energy systems and furthering the need for energy resiliency.

In this episode, we dive into energy resiliency (one of the Oregon Energy Strategy’s five pathways) as it relates to ODOE’s role in fuel emergency response and energy security planning, and energy resiliency at the county level in the Columbia Gorge.
Guests: ODOE’s Energy Security Manager Traci Naile and Mid-Columbia Economic Development District’s Energy and Project Manager Lindsay McClure

Resources
• Fuel Action Plan: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/safety-resiliency/Pages/Petroleum.aspx
• Energy Security Plan: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/safety-resiliency/Pages/Energy-Security-Plan.aspx
• Western States Petroleum Association: https://www.wspa.org/
• Oregon Fuels Association: https://www.wpma.com/oregon
• Getting Grounded: Petroleum's long history: https://on.soundcloud.com/wo4C7vw8D9QPzWkF4C
• ODOE's County Energy Resilience Grant Program: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/safety-resiliency/Pages/County-Resilience.aspx
• ODOE's Community Renewable Energy Grant Program: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Incentives/Pages/CREP.aspx
• Mid-Columbia Economic Development District: https://mcedd.org/
• Hood River County Energy Council: https://hoodrivercountyenergyplan.org/energy-plan/

Grounded music by PaulYudin
Sound Effect by freesound_community 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: 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 askenergy@oregon.gov
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 askenergy@oregon.gov

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.

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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 askenergy@oregon.gov
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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 askenergy@oregon.gov

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 askenergy@oregon.gov

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 askenergy@oregon.gov

Grounded music by PaulYudin and Oregon artist, Jana Cushman