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October 2012
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| THIS NEWSLETTER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY OUR GENEROUS SPONSOR: |
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Thanks to our new and renewing Professional Members and Solar Supporters!
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Thanks to our 2 new LIFETIME MEMBERS!
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Noriko Maeda
Ron "Mac" McDowell
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| Solar Ambassadors |
Rose House
 Portland, OR
Eldon Haines and his wife Linda live in a super insulated, super tight, 800 square foot ADU in NE Portland. Their house is so tight, in fact, they use an energy recovery ventilator to bring in fresh air. Passive solar features reduce the need for supplemental heat, a copper cricket heats their water, and a 3.4 kW PV system provides electricity. By reducing the size of their living space and using the above-mentioned techniques, Eldon and Linda are well on their way to achieving their goal of a Net Zero Energy home. What element are they missing? Visit their Solar Ambassador page to find out what they'd like to add!
>>Click here to read more about Eldon and Linda's Rose House
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| Volunteer for Solar Oregon! |
 Interested in volunteering for our in-school energy education program? Contact Emily Krafft at emily@solaroregon.org.
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Stay up to date on solar news and events by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!
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 A Message from the President
Greetings Solar Oregon Community. I'm pleased to inform that our fall membership drive has brought 40 new members to our organization. We're growing and that has its challenges, especially for our executive director and staff, but the upside is that we have more people who are willing to step up and volunteer for Solar Oregon. That's good. We certainly couldn't accomplish much if it weren't for our volunteers - board members, professionals and individuals alike. As solar advocates, we sincerely appreciate anyone who contributes to getting solar installed, but we wanted to recognize outstanding effort or achievement by individuals and organizations who have gone above and beyond to help grow access to solar energy here in Oregon. We also wanted to thank those who've given their personal time directly to Solar Oregon. Since it is award season, we decided to hand out some hardware ourselves, so beginning today we'll accept your nominees for five major award categories. >> Click here to read more
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2nd Annual Community Dinner
Tuesday, December 4th
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Aviary Restaurant - 1733 NE Alberta
Solar Oregon is pleased to invite you to join us at Aviary on Alberta this December for a memorable night of fabulous food and great company. We are proud to gather under one roof Oregon's solar manufacturers, installers, organizations and enthusiasts to celebrate another year of progress in our great state. We will be presenting our annual awards to several individuals and organizations who have gone above and beyond to help grow access to solar energy here in Oregon.
Aviary, named Restaurant of the Year by Willamette Week, will be serving a five-course dinner. A cocktail hour and award ceremony will proceed dinner. It will be night to remember, so make sure to purchase your tickets while they last!
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Update on the West Coast Green Highway
Did you know that soon you will be able to drive an electric car from Mexico to Vancouver B.C. using new DC fast chargers that will allow you to charge up in just 20-30 minutes?
The new West Coast Electric Highway has been funded in part by you and me (through the US Department of Energy), and is including car charging infrastructure in six states, including Oregon, Washington, and California. The Electric Highway goal? Make it possible to easily drive an electric car anywhere up and down the I-5 corridor.
>> Click here to read more
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Mr. Sun Goes to China
by John Patterson, Mr. Sun Solar
I just finished attending and speaking at the 2012 Low Carbon Earth Summit in Guangzhou, China. What an experience! Speakers, mostly scientists and PhD's from 52 countries, shared their knowledge about solar, wind, wave energy, geothermal, concentrating solar thermal, carbon sequestration, electric vehicles, zero net energy homes, and even zero net energy cities. The theme was "Pathway to 2020."
Dr. Mohan Munasinghe - a 2007 Nobel Prize winner from Sri Lanka and Vice-Chair of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - gave the first plenary address. He spoke movingly about the social element of climate change and gave a call for all countries and all people to embrace the challenge.
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Sola r Oregon's partnership with
EarthShare Oregon
By Solar Oregon Board President Ron "Mac" McDowell
EarthShare Oregon (ESOR) is in the midst of another campaign season. Solar Oregon is a proud member of non-profit ESOR and we've been involved since their inception. This is an important relationship for Solar Oregon - especially for our funding - because workplace giving is a revenue stream for member groups like us.
Solar advocates can work directly with ESOR campaigns to drive more donations towards Solar Oregon as a "designated" donation. ESOR member groups have to undergo programmatic and financial scrutiny each year in order to remain a member. Thus, employees can give with confidence that their contributions are going to screened, effective, and worthy groups like Solar Oregon whose work truly benefits the environment.
If you're involved in a workplace giving program and want to support solar energy, then we urge you to designate Solar Oregon for your donation come annual selection time.
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Full House for 2012 Political Forum
Several hundred of us filled the Bagdad Theater on October 10th to watch mayoral candidates Charlie Hales and Jefferson Smith and Council candidates Amanda Fritz and Mary Nolan show off their sustainability expertise and commitment. All four candidates must have studied hard, because none of them were stumped by any of the questions presented to them. Portland comedian Chris Harder -- and the candidates themselves -- had us in stitches, even as they tackled some contentious issues. So who was the greenest of them all? We could tell you, but then we'd have to upcycle you. If you weren't able to join us at the Bagdad, you can watch a video recording of the event on Solar Oregon's youtube channel here. Solar Oregon would like to thank the NW Chapter of AESP (Association of Energy Service Professionals) for co-hosting the event with us, Umpqua Bank's Hawthorne store for sponsoring the pre-forum networking event, our title sponsor Evergreen Economics, and all of the other wonderful sponsors. Thank you!
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The  Oregon Department of Energy has a new solar policy analyst!
Terrance Meyer is the new Senior Operations and Policy Analyst at the Oregon Department of Energy. He will be serving as the primary technical specialist for distributed generation, wind, and solar. Terrance comes to ODOE from Washington State where he ran Cascade Community Wind Company doing community wind and community solar development (265 kW installed) and worked as a consultant to utilities, tribes, communities, developers and banks. Terrance also co-founded the Local Energy Alliance of Washington a non-profit representing the distributed generation industry. Terrance's goal at ODOE is to be as effective as possible in enabling sustained growth of distributed generation opportunities in Oregon. He now lives in Gaston with his wife and two kids on the original homestead of his wife's settler ancestors.
Solar Oregon would like to extend a hearty congratulations and welcome to Terrance in his new position. We look forward to working with you to create opportunities for community solar development in Oregon!
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Solar Oregon's Annual Member Meeting
November 17, 2012 - 1:00-4:00 pm
Portland World Trade Center 2
121 SW Salmon St.
Solar Oregon's Ann ual Membership Meeting is almost upon us and it is our intention to host a meeting that will inform, entertain, and provide a networking forum. Join fellow solar advocates, board members, staff, and others, to hear about our accomplishments for the year, goals for next, policy overview, solar & clean energy technology, and our first-ever Solar Oregon Awards selection. This event is tied to our annual Board of Director elections. If you have an interest in serving on our all-volunteer board of directors, please contact Claire Carlson or Ron "Mac" McDowell before November 15th. Following the presentation portion of our meeting, we will elect new board members and officers.
>>Click here for more info and to RSVP
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 Upcoming Events |
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