Oregon
Tiny Oregon town hosts 1st wind-solar-battery ‘hybrid’ plant
PORTLAND, Ore. — A renewable power plant being commissioned in Oregon on Wednesday that mixes solar energy, wind energy and big batteries to retailer the power generated there’s the primary utility-scale plant of its variety in North America.
The mission, which can generate sufficient electrical energy to energy a small metropolis at most output, addresses a key problem dealing with the utility trade because the U.S. transitions away from fossil fuels and more and more turns to photo voltaic and wind farms for energy. Wind and photo voltaic are clear sources of energy, however utilities have been pressured to fill in gaps when the wind is not blowing and the solar is not shining with fossil fuels like coal or pure gasoline.
On the Oregon plant, large lithium batteries will retailer as much as 120 megawatt-hours of energy generated by the 300-megawatt wind farms and 50-megawatt photo voltaic farm so it may be launched to the electrical grid on demand. At most output, the power will produce greater than half of the ability that was generated by Oregon’s final coal plant, which was demolished earlier this month.
On-site battery storage is not new, and curiosity in solar-plus-battery tasks specifically has soared within the U.S. in recent times as a consequence of strong tax credit and incentives and the falling worth of batteries. The Wheatridge Renewable Vitality Facility in Oregon, nevertheless, is the primary within the U.S. to mix built-in wind, photo voltaic and battery storage at such a big scale in a single location, giving it much more flexibility to generate steady output with out counting on fossil fuels to fill within the gaps.
The mission is “getting nearer and nearer to having one thing with a really secure output profile that we historically consider being what’s succesful with a fuel-based era energy plant,” stated Jason Burwen, vp of power storage on the American Clear Energy Affiliation, an advocacy group for the clear energy trade.
“If the photo voltaic is chugging alongside and cloud cowl comes over, the battery can kick in and ensure that the output is uninterrupted. Because the solar goes down and the wind comes on-line, the battery can ensure that that is very easy in order that it would not, to the grid operator, appear like something uncommon.”
The plant situated in a distant expanse three hours east of Portland is a partnership between NextEra Vitality Sources and Portland Common Electrical, a public utility required to cut back carbon emissions by 100% by 2040 underneath an Oregon local weather regulation handed final yr, one of the formidable within the nation.
PGE’s clients are additionally demanding inexperienced energy — practically a quarter-million clients obtain solely renewable power — and the Wheatridge mission is “key to that decarbonization technique,” stated Kristen Sheeran, PGE’s director of sustainability technique and useful resource planning.
Below the partnership, PGE owns one-third of the wind output and purchases all the power’s energy for its renewable power portfolio. NextEra, which developed the location and operates it, owns two-thirds of the wind output and the entire photo voltaic output and storage.
“The mere proven fact that many different clients are taking a look at most of these services provides you a touch at what we predict could possibly be potential,” stated David Lawlor, NextEra’s director of enterprise growth for the Pacific Northwest. “Positively clients need firmer era, beginning with the battery storage within the again.”
Massive-scale power storage is crucial because the U.S. shifts to extra variable energy sources like wind and photo voltaic, and Individuals can count on to see related tasks throughout the nation as that pattern accelerates. Nationwide Renewable Vitality Laboratory fashions present U.S. storage capability might rise fivefold by 2050, but specialists say even this would possibly not be sufficient to stop extraordinarily disruptive local weather change.
Batteries aren’t the one answer that the clear power trade is making an attempt out. Pumped storage generates energy by sending big volumes of water downhill via generators and others are experimenting with forcing water underground and holding it there earlier than releasing it to energy generators.
However curiosity in batteries for clear power storage has grown dramatically in recent times on the identical time that the price of batteries is falling and the expertise itself is enhancing, boosting curiosity in hybrid crops, specialists say.
Producing capability from hybrid crops elevated 133% between 2020 and 2021 and by the tip of final yr, there have been practically 8,000 megawatts of wind or photo voltaic era related to storage, in keeping with the U.S. Division of Vitality’s Lawrence Berkeley Nationwide Laboratory, which is managed by the College of California.
The overwhelming majority of such tasks are solar energy with battery storage, largely due to tax credit, however tasks within the pipeline embrace offshore wind-plus-battery, hydroelectric-plus-battery and not less than 9 services just like the one in Oregon that may mix photo voltaic, wind and storage. Initiatives within the pipeline between 2023 and 2025 embrace ones in Washington, California, Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois and Oregon, in keeping with Berkeley Lab.
Many researchers and pilots are engaged on options to lithium ion batteries, nevertheless, largely as a result of their intrinsic chemistry limits them to round 4 hours of storage and an extended length could be extra helpful.
“There isn’t a silver bullet. There is no mannequin or prototype that is going to fulfill that total want … however wind and photo voltaic will definitely be within the combine,” stated PGE’s Sheeran.
“This mannequin can change into a software for decarbonization throughout the West as the entire nation is driving towards very formidable local weather discount targets.”
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Comply with Gillian Flaccus on Twitter: @gflaccus
PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Some conservation groups are working to save spotted owl habitats in Oregon, Washington, and California.
On Wednesday, they filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit that was brought on by the timber industry.
In the lawsuit, the timber industry wants to reinstate a habitat rollback that was issued in the final weeks of President Trump’s first term in office.
SEE ALSO:
Back in 2021, it removed nearly 3.5 million acres from the more than nine million acres that were protected for spotted owls.
Then, ten months later, the Biden administration rescinded the final designation.
Conservation groups argue that the forests spotted owls depend on also provide people with benefits, including clean water, recreation, jobs, and climate resiliency.
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With a population of roughly 37,000, it’s little but mighty, and like most of Portland’s suburbs, it’s growing. Blue-collar Oregon City, Oregon’s oldest—in fact, it’s the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains—has shifted significantly in the past decade or so with a Canard here and a boutique there, but it still exudes a humble, welcoming feel. The city was founded by Dr. John McLoughlin (of boulevard fame) and became industrial, known for its lumber and paper mills and hydroelectric power—but long before that, and currently, the land and water have played a vital role in the lives of the several Native American tribes. The heart of the real O.C. feels highly walkable (extra thanks to the free, 70-year-old municipal elevator), so we thought we’d focus on that—here’s a quick jaunt, on foot, around the city.
Mosey Down Main Street
If you’re coming from Portland, you’ll likely swing over the Oregon City Arch Bridge and find yourself smack dab in the center of Main Street. Park your wheels and kick off your walkable adventure with a little shopping or window browsing. The Vintage Nest (507 Main St., instagram.com/thevintagenestantiques) contains nearly 20 vendors selling everything from speckled silicone baby bibs to rhinestone jewelry (this writer got a hand-thrown colander that’s on deck for holding garden tomatoes come August). Keep the vintage snooping up by stopping a few doors down at Maizee Mae’s Antiques (621 Main St., 503-657-3204, instagram.com/maizeemaesantiquesandtreasures) then over to Oregon City Records (603 Main St., 503-935-6662, instagram.com/oregoncityrecords). With vintage posters of Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith on the walls, carpets on the floor, and the faint scent of incense in the air, the shop has a certain late 20th century nostalgia. The walls are lined with boxes of used records ranging from classic hits in rock, pop and blues, and a chunk of CDs as well, while the middle of the store is lined with racks of vintage clothing. And don’t—I repeat, do not—skip the slim back room of books. Sitting in that beat-up leather chair by John Wayne’s cutout with an old paperback is a leisure afternoon adventure in itself.
Walk the Promenade
As you’re on Main Street and cross 7th Street, take a look about a block away. Notice that 130-foot elevator looming on the basalt cliffside, both futuristic and retro at once? The Municipal Elevator (6 Railroad Ave.) is one of just a handful of municipal elevators around the world (not the state, the planet) in service. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014, this stately lift allows you to catch a ride between 7 am and 7 pm Monday through Saturday (it opens at 10 am on Sunday). On the top floor, the elevator opens to an observation deck with panoramic views of the area and, a few steps later, leads you to the McLoughlin Promenade, a fenced path along Singer Hill Bluff, with expansive views of the Willamette River, including Willamette Falls, the nation’s second-largest waterfall by volume, right behind the mighty Niagara. You might also eye the dilapidated, recently burned former Blue Heron Paper Mill—the property is part of nearly 24 acres purchased by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and is currently under demolition and restoration to build the future Tumwata Village. Don’t forget to turn toward the bluff, too, to catch a few historical markers, like the Páaxloo Weyíiletpuum Háham, or “Five Cayuse Men,” acknowledging and honoring the five Cayuse men tried and executed for the death of missionary Marcus Whitman in 1847 as measles tore through the Cayuse population. Their unmarked graves remain unfound.
Grab a Book
Speaking of educating ourselves—stick around Singer Hill and wander a couple of blocks over to the Oregon City Carnegie Library (606 John Adams St., 503-657-8269, orcity.org). Brass door handles, maroon cozy chairs, a welcoming fireplace (for the right season), and board games to check out—the library’s both gorgeous and inviting. Spend a little time in the two front rooms originally from 1913, then venture into the rest of the library from the 2016 expansion. And keep an eye out for the library’s book bike, out on the prowl. The hashtag is #ocplbookbike and at the time of reporting has zero posts—that first one could be yours.
Grab a Bev
A little parched from all your exploring? Just cross the street and pop by The Hive Social (602 7th St., 503–908-87500, thehivecatering.com) for a pristine cocktail or a bite. You’ll have to hoof it a little farther, but you’ve got two directions for your final stop: First, you can head south and land at the Highland Stillhouse Pub (201 S 2nd St., 503-723-6789, highlandstillhouse.com), a Scottish-influenced whisky bar and local treasure. The bar has more than 750 types of whisky, with a rotating selection of rare offerings (you can schedule a private tasting, too). You can also head north and trek over to Oregon City Brewing (1401 Washington St., 503-705-4805, ocbeerco.com) for a fresh pint from the tap. The brewery’s got food carts too, as does Corner 14 (508 14th St., 503-908-8789, corner14oc.com) across the street, which includes a wealth of carts, a stage for live music, and covered tables with mini fire pits for the chilly days, though you might’ve worked up a sweat from your jaunt.
Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney has three predictions on Xavier Griffin’s future destination, USC’s recruiting and Oregon’s quarterback recruiting after some misses.
MORE GORNEY: Recruiting Rumor Mill
1. XAVIER GRIFFIN WILL CHOOSE ALABAMA
Griffin and USC parted ways after he was informed to either stay committed to the Trojans and stop taking visits or reopen things if he wanted to stay on the road.
The four-star linebacker from Gainesville, Ga., opted for the latter and now he’s back on the market with Ohio State, Alabama, Texas and Florida State as the frontrunners.
Texas and Ohio State have been coming on strong but there are numerous reasons why my prediction is that Griffin ends up in Tuscaloosa.
He’s an Alabama legacy. He met with the Alabama coaches twice recently – and some of that prompted his de-commitment from USC. It’s a manageable four hours away.
There is one caveat: If Georgia gets much more seriously involved then the Bulldogs could have some significant pull here. There’s a chance the four-star linebacker makes it to Athens for the Scavenger Hunt this weekend but there is a lot of family stuff going on as well so his absence from that event could be telling as well.
2. USC RECRUITING WILL BE JUST FINE
Rivals.com
Over the last couple weeks, USC had de-commitments from four-star receiver Kohen Brown and four-star linebacker Xavier Griffin.
It looked like the start of a repeat from the 2025 class when the Trojans landed all these out-of-region stars only to see numerous five-stars and four-star prospects back off their pledge later in recruiting.
This is not the same case.
The word coming down is that Griffin and Brown wanted to take other visits and USC is just not going to play that game right now. Maybe it’s a reaction to last year’s collapse especially from players in the Southeast or maybe the Trojans have a different recruiting philosophy under new general manager Chad Bowden, but this does not look like the same circumstances.
Even with the losses of Griffin and Brown, two very talented prospects, USC still has the No. 1 recruiting class in the country and has at least 10 more commitments than any other team in the country.
Only 10 pledges are from out-of-state. That’s a much different mix of recruits from last recruiting cycle so the Trojans should be just fine moving forward, even if there are some inevitable departures to come.
3. OREGON WILL BENEFIT FROM RECENT QB LOSSES
Oregon lost four-star quarterback Jonas Williams to USC. The Ducks missed on five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, who picked Georgia over Oregon in recent days.
The Big Ten powerhouse might still end up winning in the end, especially since this opens a nice pathway to focus on landing five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons.
Over the last few days, Oregon offered four-star quarterback Matt Ponatoski from Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller but let’s not forget Lyons is basically a 2027 prospect since he’s taking a one-year Mormon mission.
So offering Ponatoski helps both sides – Oregon gets a quarterback but he’s not someone that would necessarily scare off Lyons once he gets to Eugene.
Recently, Oregon, Michigan and BYU have emerged as the leaders for the five-star quarterback. USC cannot be counted out while Ole Miss, Ohio State and others are involved.
The Ducks have had some painful recruiting losses recently – Curtis, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Jackson Cantwell. But Lyons would be a huge addition and with Williams and Curtis going elsewhere, Oregon might actually win out in the end.
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