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August 2013
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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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| Solar Ambassadors |
Robin & Mark's Passive House
 Portland
Mark and Robin live in a certified passive house with a 3.29 kw array. They also have a rainwater harvesting system that takes care of all their water needs!
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| Volunteer for Solar Oregon! | |
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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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4th Annual Solar Now! University Conference
Coos Bay, Oregon
September 26- 28
"Great program, great people! Solar Now! University is the best organized, content-rich, and authoritative training in Oregon's solar strategy."
-Art Hill, Vice President for Economic Development, Blue Mountain Community College
The fourth annual Solar Now! University is scheduled for September 26-28 in Coos Bay, Ore. Geared toward helping Oregon communities plan, create and manage their own solar programs, this year's conference is led by Solar Oregon in collaboration with Energy Trust of Oregon, Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and Oregon Department of Energy.
Solar Now! University attracts attendees from communities throughout the state, representing government, industry and nonprofit sectors. The 2013 conference will address the objectives of the Rooftop Solar Challenge II, designed to advance innovative, local-government-level solutions for eliminating market barriers and lowering the costs of grid-tied photovoltaics. Sessions will cover topics ranging from financing options to solar policy issues to community-scale solar energy systems.
Solar Now! University includes 2 full days of workshops, a networking event at Coos Bay's new solar brewery, Friday dinner in downtown Coos Bay, and conference meals all at an affordable cost. Student rates also available.
>>Click here for the conference schedule
>>Click here for registration information
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Renewable Energy Development Fund Tax Credit Auction Now Open
Reduce your 2013 tax liability and help support renewable energy development in Oregon!
Oregon Department of Energy and Oregon Department of Revenue invite you to participate in this year's tax credit auction. Proceeds generated from this year's tax credit program will be awarded in 2014.
Tax credit purchase proceeds support development of systems that produce energy using biomass, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, landfill gas, biogas or wave, tidal or ocean thermal energy technology.
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Solar for the Faithful:
Persevering in Oregon's Climate
By Doug Boleyn, Solar Oregon Board Member
Why are more religious buildings in Oregon installing solar electric systems? Communities of faith face numerous hurdles to going solar - including the initial capital costs, the inability to take advantage of tax incentives, reliance on contributions, and internal decision making processes. However, for many spiritual communities, going solar provides a visible and real way to demonstrate their faith and commitment to earth stewardship in the face of human-caused climate change. Going solar is a growing response that not only saves on fossil fuels and money, but also makes a visible moral statement to the world.
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ADAM HENKE, Community Solar Intern
When the Portland Bureau of Planning & Sustainability decided to initiate the Solar Forward community solar program, they reached out to Solar Oregon as a partner. After acquiring grant funding to get the program started, the Southwest Community Center was selected to be the first solar electric installation site. After that we needed an educated and passionate volunteer to conduct outreach activities in support of this project.
In June we posted for a community solar outreach intern and Adam Henke answered the call. Adam is a renewable energy engineering student at the Oregon Institute of Technology in Portland. He told us this internship would put him in a position to share the knowledge he's received while working on a Bachelors of Science degree at Oregon Tech. He impressed us with his desire to play an active role in furthering community projects featuring renewable energy components. Since joining our team Adam has recruited others to the cause, conducted several neighborhood volunteer orientations, tabled at community events, and approached local businesses and associations to help promote this project.
Adam says volunteering for causes he believes in is greatly rewarding. He also volunteers as a crew leader for the non-profit Friends of Trees, and last year he worked with Green Empowerment to install solar powered irrigation systems in Nicaragua.
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Solar Drinks - Portland
Wednesday, September 18th
Solar Forward
Join us for drinks outside the Southwest Community Center and learn about the City of Portland's first community solar project. This month's speaker, Andria Jacob, will introduce Solar Forward, the new revolving community solar fund designed to increase rooftop solar on Portland's community centers and schools. The first installation will take place at the Southwest Community Center this fall.
Tours of the community center will be offered between 6 and 7pm.
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Renewable Energy Advisory Committee Seeks Members
Request for Applications - Customer Representatives for the Oregon Portfolio Options Committee
A renewable energy advisory committee is seeking new citizen members to represent utility residential and small commercial customers.Send your qualifications, your utility service provider, residence or business, and your interest to the committee chair, Rebecca O'Neil, Oregon Department of Energy, at rebecca.oneil@odoe.state.or.us by September 30, 2013The state of Oregon requires private electric utilities to offer renewable energy rate options to residential and small commercial customers. As a result, Pacific Power offers Blue Sky, Portland General Electric offers Green Source, and Northwest Natural voluntarily offers a carbon offset program called Smart Energy. These programs primarily purchase renewable energy credits and carbon offsets and retire these credits on behalf of enrolled customers.
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 The Flexibility Challenge
The CUB Policy Center presents The Flexibility Challenge: Renewables, Efficiency, and Demand Response. This conference will investigate the challenges facing the modern utility in the Pacific Northwest, and concentrate on ways to successfully integrate renewables, energy efficiency, demand response, and other key technologies into the flexibility utility. And just like in the first two years of this unique event, we're inviting utility analysts, policy analysts, attorneys, industry professionals, and stakeholders like you to join the conversation.
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Upcoming Events
Email us to let us know where you would like more solar energy education in Oregon
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