Proposed Natural Gas Pipelines Might Go Through Oregon Vineyards

Pipelines race out of the mountains; into yards

By Sandy Shore – AP Energy Writer – November 30, 2008
 
In the push toward more energy independence, massive infrastructure projects that will help to deliver it have clashed with cherished rights of land ownership.

Proven natural gas reserves have jumped 10 of the past 11 years, according to the Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration, and thousands of miles of new pipelines have snaked in every direction.

In just the past 10 years alone, more than 20,000 miles of new natural gas pipelines have been built and brought on line. Those pipelines can carry more than 97 billion cubic feet of natural gas every day.

The owners of property over which new pipelines are planned are concerned about leaks into water and soil, land damaged by construction, land lost to a right of way and, in some cases, even loss of livelihood.

Those concerns range from a Midwestern horse farm which stands to lose grazing land, to Betty Wahle’s family vineyard in Yamhill, Ore.

Her land is actually ground zero for not one, but two pipelines. The developers would dig up chunks of rich dirt and some vines that have been nurtured for more than three decades, she said.

Those vines, said Wahle, 68, would not be restored to their current state in her lifetime.

“It’s just going to be devastating,” she said.

Eugene Water & Electric Pioneers Renewable Energy Payments

EWEB a pioneer in renewable energy payment plans
By Bill Welch – Guest Viewpoint – Register-Guard – November 25, 2008

Gov. Ted Kulongoski recently unveiled his climate change goals for the 2009 Oregon Legislature. One of the goals — developing a pilot program to allow Oregonians to sell renewable power directly to their local utility — prompted a guest viewpoint by Jennifer Gleason of the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (Register-Guard, Nov. 18).

Gleason’s central point was that the success of a pilot program hinges on the need for a renewable energy payments policy, also known as REP. In such a policy, utilities purchase all of the output from customers’ generation systems “at a fair price for an extended period.” She correctly identified several elements to make sure a policy works.

One need not look far to find an example of a successful pilot program. That’s because the Eugene Water & Electric Board already completed a pilot program almost identical to what the governor and Gleason are suggesting. The utility also has an REP in place for customers who wish to install solar or other renewable generation systems.

The utility initiated its pilot program, the EWEB Photovoltaic Generation Program, in 2001. EWEB provided access to its electric distribution system, provided 10-year contracts to purchase all the output of photovoltaic generation systems at almost twice the average retail rate, and worked with local contractors to implement the program — all of the key elements Gleason identified.

In 2007, EWEB created a full program modeled after the pilot program. EWEB’s Photovoltaic Generation Program currently is the only one of its kind in Oregon.

Another Oregon Winery Embraces Solar Power

Oregon wineries go solar
OPB News – November 24, 2008
 
Sun rays hit a spread of solar panels on the winery’s rooftop, and owners Robin and Danuta Pfeiffer watched as their electric meter’s dial spun backward.

They were putting power back on the grid as the sun light converted to electricity and powered both the winery and the couple’s home in the southern Willamette Valley.

The Pfeiffer Winery, which produces about 1,500 cases of wine each year, is one of at least five Oregon wineries to go solar.

Torri Mor Winery, Stoller Vineyards, Schafer Vineyard Cellar and Sokol Blosser Winery have also installed solar panels to power their businesses.

Renewable Energy Payments Coming to Oregon?

Let all join in renewable revolution
By Jennifer Gleason – Guest Viewpoint – Register-Guard – November 18, 2008

Every Oregonian should be able soon to generate renewable energy from the sun and sell it to their local utility at a fair price.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s recently announced plan to protect the climate includes a pilot project that could make it possible for everyone in Oregon — including families, school districts, farms, vineyards, businesses and nonprofit organizations — to help generate energy from the sun.

If done well, this pilot project will be modeled on policies adopted in Europe that have made Germany the world leader in solar energy production. A well-crafted production incentive policy (known as a renewable energy payment, or REP, policy) guarantees that utilities will buy renewable energy — in this case, solar — at a fair price for an extended period.

The price is set to ensure that people generating the electricity will make a profit, but not a windfall profit.

With this guarantee, people are willing to invest in the equipment needed to produce renewable energy. Experience in Germany has shown that REP policies are the most effective and efficient way to promote the generation of electricity from renewable sources.

Feed-In Tariffs Work In Germany – Why Not Use Them in Oregon

Let all join in renewable revolution
By Jennifer Gleason – Guest Viewpoint – Register-Guard – November 18, 2008

Every Oregonian should be able soon to generate renewable energy from the sun and sell it to their local utility at a fair price.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s recently announced plan to protect the climate includes a pilot project that could make it possible for everyone in Oregon — including families, school districts, farms, vineyards, businesses and nonprofit organizations — to help generate energy from the sun.

If done well, this pilot project will be modeled on policies adopted in Europe that have made Germany the world leader in solar energy production. A well-crafted production incentive policy (known as a renewable energy payment, or REP, policy [also known as a feed-in tariff, or FIT]) guarantees that utilities will buy renewable energy — in this case, solar — at a fair price for an extended period.

The price is set to ensure that people generating the electricity will make a profit, but not a windfall profit.

With this guarantee, people are willing to invest in the equipment needed to produce renewable energy. Experience in Germany has shown that REP policies are the most effective and efficient way to promote the generation of electricity from renewable sources.

What Does Geothermal Exploration Mean for C.O.

What might geothermal exploration mean for the region?
Industry representatives take questions in Bend
By Kate Ramsayer - The Bulletin – November 1, 2008

Just to the west of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, a company is drilling more than 10,000 feet through the pumice and other surface rocks, looking for hot water or steam it can harness to produce geothermal power.

And Friday morning, some environmental advocates got a chance to ask people from the geothermal industry and land management agencies what that means for Central Oregon’s environment during a meeting of the Oregon Department of Energy’s geothermal working group.

The group held the meeting in Bend because organizers felt it would be beneficial to spark more interactions between the industry and the environmental community, said Carel DeWinkel with the Oregon Department of Energy.

Mike Riley, executive director of the Central Oregon Environmental Center, wanted to know where Davenport Power, which is developing the Newberry Geothermal Project, would get water from if it turned out it would need to inject water into wells to generate steam.