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: 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 [email protected]
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 [email protected]

Grounded music by PaulYudin and Oregon artist Jana Cushman