Mighty, Green, and Determined: The Tale of Oregon’s Renewable Energy Revolution
It’s a well-known fact among us Oregonians that our state has some of the richest biodiversity in the United States. From the pristine shores of Cannon Beach to the limitless majesty of Mount Hood, Oregonians have long recognized the importance of preserving their slice of paradise. Now, through the ongoing renewable energy boom, we are making strides towards ensuring a cleaner, greener future.
Harnessing the Fierce Pacific Winds
When there’s a wind stirring up a fuss along the rugged Oregon coast, as it’s wont to do, the locals know that it’s the offshore turbines doing a good old-fashioned Ceili dance. All along the Oregon coastline, from Astoria to Brookings, these twirling behemoths capture the relentless snort and huff of the Pacific winds, transforming it into that sweet, clean renewable energy we strive for.
A recent project spearheaded by Principle Power, in collaboration with Portland General Electric, known as the WindFloat Pacific (it’s not a floating cocktails party, folks!), sets to make Oregon a pioneer in offshore wind energy production. This project is pioneering a path for renewable energy that other places will only gaze upon from afar, a bit like the Suttle Lodge & Boathouse’s handcrafted Douglas Fir suite with a view of Deschutes National Forest.
The Sun’s Gift to Beavertown
However, it’s not all about the wind. Oregon, despite being the land known for marionberry pies, funky Powell’s City of Books, and, occasionally, heart-and-soul-testing rainfall, is also surprisingly sunny. Anyone who’s ventured into Eastern Oregon, with its sagebrush and junipers, knows it’s not all lumberjacks and rainclouds over here.
Just a stone’s throw from Bend’s mountain biking trails and the vineyard-laced valleys of Hood River, the city of Beaver is home to one of the most impressive solar farms in the Pacific Northwest: the 56-acre Beaver Solar Project. Thanks to companies like Obsidian Renewables, the silence out in the wide-open Beaver fields is often punctuated by the gentle hum of solar power generation.
Where Water Turns To Watts: The Power of Hydro
It would be a sin against the spirit of adventure, not to mention the Yankee Doodle of Sam Hill’s Stonehenge in Maryhill, if we didn’t talk about hydroelectric power. The Columbia River—the wild, watery thread that weaves Washington and Oregon together—makes up the largest portion of Oregon’s renewable energy output. Included in it is The Dalles Dam, characterized by locals as ‘one whopper of a fish ladder’. In fact, Oregon’s hydroelectric power production accounts for over half of our state’s total net electricity generation. Now that’s what we call walking on water!
The Volatile Ingredient: Geothermal Energy
Paging all you fans of the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn…you might’ve missed our state’s natural underground heater! Oregon is one of the leading states harnessing geothermal energy. The Neal Hot Springs project near Vale, developed by US Geothermal Inc., makes good use of our volcanic past, providing a renewable source of energy that sure beats cranking up the woodstove on those nippy winter mornings we’re familiar with.
The Future is Renewable
These marvels of renewable energy generation are not only helping Oregon remain beautifully pockmarked with craft breweries, street murals, and Voodoo Doughnut’s inventive treats, but they’re also shaping a future where we no longer need to rely on non-renewable energy sources.
A renewed commitment to harnessing the power of nature goes hand in glove with our state’s ethos. Whether we’re hoofing it in the Tillamook State Forest, honing our kite-flying prowess at Lincoln City’s Annual Summer Kite Festival, or simply sipping an artisanal latte at Coava Coffee Brew Bar in Portland, we Oregonians are loving caretakers of our home.
We have a knack for combining innovation with tradition—whether it’s a holiday parade in Pendleton or launching a reusable water bottle company like Hydroflask in Bend—and our enthusiasm for renewable energy leaps towards a greener future is just the latest testament of that blend.
So next time you’re out and about enjoying all that Oregon has to offer, take a moment to appreciate not only breweries like Deschutes and Rogue, but our wind turbines spinning in rhythm with the Pacific, our solar panels soaking up the rich Eastern Oregon sunlight, our mighty Columbia River turning water to watts, and that hot underground energy waiting to surface. It’s not just the view—it’s Oregon’s future. And it looks pretty darn good to this Oregonian.