A picture of a virtual power plant.
Strengthening Oregon’s energy grid: The value of virtual power plants
Oregon can make our energy grid stronger and more affordable by using virtual power plants to coordinate local tools like home batteries and smart appliances. These smart solutions help lower energy costs for everyone while creating good local jobs in our communities.
Energy efficiency
"The value of virtual power plants" text imposed over a clip art rendering of a virtual power plant.

Strengthening Oregon’s energy grid: The value of virtual power plants

Oregon can make our energy grid stronger and more affordable by using virtual power plants to coordinate local tools like home batteries and smart appliances. These smart solutions help lower energy costs for everyone while creating good local jobs in our communities.

image of Salem capitol with Oregon Legislative session 2026 as text

A defend-and-deliver moment: A preview of Climate Solutions’ 2026 Oregon legislative priorities

Announcing Oregon’s 2026 legislative short session priorities, which aim to double down on climate action that lowers household energy costs, addresses financing gaps left by federal funding cuts, grows the economy, and strengthens community resilience.

image of a utility bill

Lower Costs and Less Pollution! What We Can Win in Gas Rate Cases

In recent rate cases, we have secured big wins for customers and the climate! This spring, we reached an agreement with Avista Gas to reduce climate pollution through an electrification pilot. In our NW Natural rate case, we have an agreement to eliminate gas subsidies for developers, and we are still fighting to improve energy choice for low-income customers.

powerlines at sunset

Oregon has the tools to repair and revamp our aging grid

The grid is the ‘superhighway’ on which electricity travels. It is a vast network of transmission lines and infrastructure that delivers the electricity we need to power our daily lives (i.e., our homes, businesses, and industrial sites). The grid is crucial for maintaining reliable and affordable power for Oregonians. Importantly, the grid must also evolve to accommodate our state’s clean energy transition and to serve our growing population and economy. Two recently passed pieces of legislation will help modernize the grid, relieving congestion and streamlining permitting of new…

image of phone managing power from rooftop solar

Macro Wins for Microgrids!

Last week, Governor Kotek signed two bills into law, HB 2065 and HB 2066, which will create a process for developing community-owned microgrids. Microgrids are a key part of Oregon’s decarbonization and energy resiliency goals. But their development has been hampered by technical and regulatory challenges. What are microgrids, why has building them been challenging, and how does this legislation help?

Climatecast logo, picture of EPA plaque

Reckless, dangerous, and disgusting

EPA's new rules, The big "beautiful" bill, The data center boom, and funding impacts on BIPOC farmers and environmental programs

picture of Salem Capitol building under construction

Oregon’s 2025 Legislative Session: Climate Wins, Losses, and the Road Ahead

Oregon’s 2025 legislative session delivered mixed results for climate progress. Sound familiar? That’s because this is the second year in a row that Oregon lawmakers fell short of delivering the bold investments and climate action this moment demands. While we secured hard-fought wins and defended against serious threats that would unwind existing progress, this was far from a banner year for climate action in Oregon. Still, this session laid important groundwork, and we have a clear call to action for the road ahead.

protesters for Building Resilience

Our communities deserve a climate future, tell lawmakers to act now

Oregon’s legislative session is almost over, and lawmakers have only passed one of nine critical bills in the Energy Affordability and Resilience Package. The rest are still sitting on the table, and we need your help to move them forward.

green wall with gas meter in the center

Remember when NWN was secretly piping hydrogen gas into Portland homes? Well, no more secrets.

Oregon lawmakers have taken action to improve public oversight of gas utilities’ hydrogen “pipe dreams.”

image of an old powerline

Our energy grid needs help fast. Contact your legislator today!

To achieve Oregon’s 100% clean energy goals reliably and affordably, we need to address our transmission bottleneck. Through innovative policy solutions, the 2025 Legislature can help meet the energy demands of our growing economy without compromising affordability.

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image of a utility bill

Lower Costs and Less Pollution! What We Can Win in Gas Rate Cases

In recent rate cases, we have secured big wins for customers and the climate! This spring, we reached an agreement with Avista Gas to reduce climate pollution through an electrification pilot. In our NW Natural rate case, we have an agreement to eliminate gas subsidies for developers, and we are still fighting to improve energy choice for low-income customers.

Read More

powerlines at sunset

Oregon has the tools to repair and revamp our aging grid

The grid is the ‘superhighway’ on which electricity travels. It is a vast network of transmission lines and infrastructure that delivers the electricity we need to power our daily lives (i.e., our homes, businesses, and industrial sites). The grid is crucial for maintaining reliable and affordable power for Oregonians. Importantly, the grid must also evolve to accommodate our state’s clean energy transition and to serve our growing population and economy. Two recently passed pieces of legislation will help modernize the grid, relieving congestion and streamlining permitting of new transmission lines.
Read More

image of phone managing power from rooftop solar

Macro Wins for Microgrids!

Last week, Governor Kotek signed two bills into law, HB 2065 and HB 2066, which will create a process for developing community-owned microgrids. Microgrids are a key part of Oregon’s decarbonization and energy resiliency goals. But their development has been hampered by technical and regulatory challenges. What are microgrids, why has building them been challenging, and how does this legislation help?
Read More

picture of Salem Capitol building under construction

Oregon’s 2025 Legislative Session: Climate Wins, Losses, and the Road Ahead

Submitted by Nora Apter on

Oregon’s 2025 legislative session delivered mixed results for climate progress. Sound familiar? That’s because this is the second year in a row that Oregon lawmakers fell short of delivering the bold investments and climate action this moment demands. While we secured hard-fought wins and defended against serious threats that would unwind existing progress, this was far from a banner year for climate action in Oregon. Still, this session laid important groundwork, and we have a clear call to action for the road ahead.
Read More