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November 2013
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Thanks to our new and renewing Professional Members and Solar Supporters!
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Solar Ambassadors
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Pendleton Photon Power
 Pendleton
Jack Simon went solar nearly 3 years ago. Because of nearby shade trees adjacent to his house, he mounted his array on a shed roof 40 feet away. Ever since, Jack has been tracking his solar production and comparing his post and pre-solar energy use. So, if you're looking for Umatilla County solar data ask Jack - he's got charts and graphs tracking his journey to solar year by year.
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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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Announcing our 35th Anniversary *Special Membership Offer*
In 2014, Solar Oregon will celebrate its 35th year as an organization. Many of our members have been along for the ride all these 35 years and we cherish their commitment, but it is now time to expand our membership base and we need YOU. Our organization is growing in stature and influence and we are having an impact on the entire Pacific Northwest. We've recently been chosen to be a Northwest Solar Communities partner and we're directly involved in many of the things you care about, like solarizing our communities, bringing renewable energy education into the classroom, and advocating for policies that move us forward in realizing our renewable energy future.
In celebration of our 35th year we are offering individual and family memberships for only $35 - if you join or renew - between now and January 15, 2014.
When you do, we will send you this free DVD as our appreciation for your support.
"The ma in reason to offer this movie with a Solar Oregon membership is because renewable energy is so key to keeping our Life Support System verdant and full of life."
~ Filmmaker Matt Briggs
This is a limited time opportunity- this offer will end January 15, 2014. After that rates will go up to established pricing, so take advantage and act now to receive this fabulous movie with our compliments. The time for clean & renewable solar energy is now, so please join today and become part of the solution!
Limited time offer - Click here to join today!
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Rooftop PV in Pacific Northwest Gets
$2 Million Boost
Solar Oregon and the Oregon Department of Energy were among the members of a regional team awarded $2 million in early November through the U.S. Department of Energy and its Rooftop Solar Challenge. DOE gave grants to eight teams nationwide, all aimed at streamlining and reducing photovoltaic system "soft" costs -- permitting, financing, zoning, net metering, and interconnection.
Led by the Washington Department of Commerce and Northwest SEED, a regional nonprofit, the northwest team features 17 partners across Washington and Oregon. Solar Oregon's primary tasks under the grant are to provide seed funding and enhanced training to help a handful of Oregon jurisdictions become "Northwest Solar Communities" - those that implement solar projects or programs and offer streamlined permitting. Among them are the City of Portland, City of Eugene, Clackamas County, and the City of Hillsboro.
We will also lead research into the impacts of net metering, under which utilities buy excess energy created by customer photovoltaic systems.
For more information about the northwest partnership and its plans click here. For more information about the DOE grants and the federal Sunshot initiative click here.
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First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for their good wishes and for supporting me in my new position here at Solar Oregon. I do appreciate it!
Secondly, I want to give a shout out to staffer, Emily Krafft, who has been the glue that's held us together during this leadership transition. Emily did a marvelous job at putting together our recent Solar Now! University and was instrumental in helping to set-up our partnership with the Northwest Solar Communities program - that plus about a hundred other things that needed to be done. Thanks, Emily, we are all grateful for your excellent work and dedication.
Next, I want to thank Solar Ambassador, Matt Briggs, for supporting Solar Oregon and for donating his prize-winning movie Deep Green to help us with our membership drive. Matt is an inspiration to many of us who know him and I've invited him to talk at next month's annual membership meeting. His personal commitment and out-of-the-box approach to dealing with our environment and climate change is truly motivational in my view.
That leads me to the two things that are most important in the immediate ... our upcoming Annual Membership Meeting whereby we'll celebrate the end of our 34th year and kick-off the beginning of our 35th year as an organization. This is scheduled for Saturday, December 7th at Noon at the Ecotrust Building in downtown Portland. All members and the general public are invited to attend.
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LINDA BARNES
Solar Oregon Board Officer - Past President
Linda has been involved with Solar Oregon for over 20 years. She is a past president and is our organization's touchstone and unofficial historian. Linda, FAIA, is a LEED accredited professional and a licensed architect who is a principal of the all women-owned architectural firm of Merryman Barnes Architects, where every design decision has energy implications. Solar projects for the firm have included commercial, multifamily and single family residential buildings. One of her firm's recent project featured a solar wall for heating and ventilating a Portland Parks and Recreation structure.
Linda is one of the creators of the Goal Net Zero Tour and has over 30 years of professional experience in all phases of various project types with a focus on sustainability issues and start-to-finish project management. She has been honored as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. She also received the Portland Chapter AIA's Women in Architecture Committee Award for Woman of the Year, and a Chapter service award for Energy Committee Leadership.
Linda is thankful for all the solar advocates in Oregon working diligently to demonstrate how solar works in Oregon. We at Solar Oregon are thankful for all of the years Linda has dedicated to supporting and leading Solar Oregon.
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 Upcoming Basics of Going Solar Workshops at Two Portland Solar Community Centers
Next month, Solar Oregon will highlight two community center solar champions at our Basic of Going Solar Workshops.
The first workshop, held December 4th, will be offered at Portland's Southwest Community Center, the site of the first installation of the Solar Forward community solar initiative. For this collaborative project, the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, Solar Oregon, and Portland Parks & Recreation teamed together to create a community solar revolving loan fund. Solar Forward is designed to give Portlanders a way to help fund the development of new, local renewable energy systems. Southwest Community Center's new solar electric system was installed in September and is estimated to produce 10,500 kWh per year.
The workshop on December 11th will bring attendees to the June Key Delta Community Center in North Portland, to see first hand the transformation of an abandoned gas station into a center for sustainability and community. The center, named after Portland educator and Delta Sigma Theta sorority sister June Key who donated the original building, is currently undergoing its last steps in gaining its Living Building Challenge certificate. According to the International Living Institute website, there are less than 100 projects undergoing the Living Building Challenge Process, which includes reaching net-zero energy, net-zero water and waste status, as well as incorporation of recycled and locally sourced building materials.
Solar Oregon applauds these two community centers for leading the way by demonstrating the successful use of solar in Oregon. As always, our Basics of Solar Workshops are free and open to the public and provide you with the facts to help you go solar.
>>Click here to RSVP - Dec 4 workshop at the Southwest Community Center
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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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