Renewable Energy

Oregon’s Solar Highway Works, Even In The Rain

March 23, 2009
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Three months after flipping the switch on Oregon’s “Solar Highway”, the project is already being declared a success.

Courtesy ODOT

The solar array near I-5 and I-205 in Tualatin. Courtesy ODOT

The solar highway is actually a solar interchange.  Last year, an 8,000 square foot solar system was installed where I-5 and I-205 meet in Tualatin.  During the day, the panels pump electricity into the grid.  At night, the same amount of electricity is returned to power the lights at the interchange.  The system went online mid-December 2008.

In a press release, PGE says the solar panels produce about 112,000 kilowatt hours a year, or 28% of the total electricity used to light the intersection.  The utility says this should put to rest any doubts that Oregon doesn’t get enough sun in the winter to generate solar power.

The $1.3 million project is a joint venture between PGE, ODOT and US Bank.  ODOT has plans to build more projects like this one, but the work has been delayed because of the state’s revenue shortfalls.

For More Information:

Oregon Solar Highway

Tuesday Read: Green Remodeling Comes To Clark County

March 10, 2009
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Green remodeling comes to Clark County. Habitat for Humanity has opened the area’s first ReStore. That’s where you can buy used and leftover building materials. The money goes to support Habitat’s operations in the Portland-Vancouver metro area, and for building homes in El Salvador. From The Columbian.

Wind energy is driving business at the Port Of Longview to record highs. The Port says it took in a record $23.5 million in revenue in 2008. Wind technology imports makes up about 40% of that. Port officials think 2009 will be off some, but hope that tax credits for renewable energy will give a boost to the wind business they do. From the Longview Daily News.

Are destination resorts good for Central Oregon? Local officials and others debate the pros and cons in a new article from the Bend Bulletin. Business owners talk about how the resorts have boosted the area’s economy, while others complain that they’re damaging the quality of life in Central Oregon.

Big Tax Break For Small Wind Projects

February 17, 2009
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One of the winners in the new stimulus bill is small wind energy projects.

The bill, signed into law today, expands a 30% tax credit for wind projects that produce 100 kilowatts or less of electricity. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), a 10 kilowatt project costs about $40,000 to install, so this credit saves you $12,000.

Under the old law, the tax break was limited to $4,000. The stimulus bill removes the cap. It also allows you to apply for cash grants from the Treasury Department, if you prefer to get your money that way.

Add on the tax breaks from the State of Oregon and the savings start to add up. Homeowners can get state tax credits up to $6,000, and business tax credits cover 50% of the cost.

There’s even more savings for customers of Portland General Electric and Pacific Power. The utilities offer rebates through the Oregon Energy Trust that can reach $35,000 for homeowners and $60,000 for businesses.

Lou Torres, spokesman for the Oregon Energy Department, says when you add up all the tax breaks and rebates, they can cover 75% of the cost for a small wind project.  He says this may be the “best time ever” to install one.

What’s a “small” wind project? It’s bigger than you think. The AWEA says wind energy doesn’t really make sense unless you have an acre of land. And even a 3 kilowatt turbine sits on a tower that can be 60 to 80 feet high.

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Wind Farm Backlash In Umatilla County

November 8, 2008
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Seems like not everyone is crazy about the new crop of wind turbines that are growing like crazy in eastern Oregon.

According to the East Oregonian, the city council of Milton-Freewater went on the record to voice its concerns that too many wind mills will ruin the town’s view of the Blue Mountains. The article says those scenic views are one of the town’s selling points for attracting new business.

The council is also worried about all the money its spent to develop an area of town known as the South Hill. The plan is to put new homes in the South Hill area instead of taking up valuable farm land on the valley floor. South Hill is also a potential wind farm site.

There’s no question in our minds that huge wind farms have a dramatic impact on the landscape. We recently drove through northern Wasco County. It’d been several years since our last visit, and we were surprised by how much larger the wind farms in the area had grown. The sight of wind turbines, one next to another, for miles and miles, was a little bit eerie. It’ll be interesting to see if other areas of eastern Oregon start to say, “we’ve had enough.”

OSU: One Step Closer To Wave Power

October 13, 2008
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Scientists at Oregon State say they may be only a couple of years away from installing the state’s first commercial wave energy project off the coast.

They’re feeling optimistic after a successful month-long test of a wave energy device they deployed near Newport. Associate Professor Ted Brekken says, in a news release, that the test went “exceedingly well”. Brekken says the buoy produced lots of power, worked about as well as they expected, and gave them lots of data for further study. OSU has been testing several designs that use a direct-drive system.

OSU isn’t the only group to conduct such test. Finavera Renewable of Vancouver, BC tested a wave energy buoy for almost two months off the coast near Agate Beach. About a week before they were going to retrieve the buoy, it sank to the bottom of the ocean and wasn’t salvaged until July. Still, Finavera says it collected useful data while the buoy was in operation.

OSU News Release: Successful Ocean Test Advances Wave Energy Research
OSU Video Link: Wave Energy Generator Deployment