Grounded: a Podcast by the Oregon Department of Energy

State of Oregon
  • 4.0 (9)
  • Government
  • Updated Bimonthly

Grounded is a podcast by the Oregon Department of Energy. Here on Grounded, we're talking energy – from renewable energy and the history of nuclear power… to utilities, businesses, nonprofits, schools, and Oregon families going green and making a difference.

  1. Aug 26

    Getting Grounded: Heat Pumps!

    Get grounded in energy fundamentals with our mini-episode series: Getting Grounded. Just what are heat pumps and what is a mini split? Get introduced to heat pumps -- an efficient way to heat and cool your home. Guest: Stephanie Kruse, ODOE facilities engineer Resources: • Hub for Information and Incentive Programs in Oregon: https://incentives.oregon.gov/ • Home energy tips and heat pump resources: https://incentives.oregon.gov/homeowner • Video: How heat pumps work (Energy Trust of Oregon): https://www.energytrust.org/residential/tips/understanding-heat-pumps-how-they-work-and-why-theyre-transforming-home-comfort-in-oregon/

    Getting Grounded: Heat Pumps!

  2. Jul 8

    Episode 57: EV electricity needs

    Portland General Electric and Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative discuss how they are planning for an increasing number of electric vehicles plugging into their networks and incentives available for customers. Guests: Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative Marketing and Member Services Manager Keith Buchhalter and Portland General Electric Transportation Electrification Manager Karla Hendrickson. Grounded music by PaulYudin Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay Resources: • EV Dashboard: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Pages/Oregon-Electric-Vehicle-Dashboard.aspx • Go Electric Oregon Incentive Finder: https://goelectric.oregon.gov/incentives-rebates • ODOE’s Biennial Zero Emission Vehicle Report: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/BIZEV.aspx • Energy Strategy Electrification Pathway: https://energystrategy.oregon.gov/electrification • Coos-Curry Electric Off Peak Charging Program: https://ccec.coop/ev-charging-program • PGE Electric School Bus Fund: https://portlandgeneral.com/energy-choices/electric-vehicles-charging/funding-your-ev-or-charging-project/pge-electric-school-bus-fund • PGE Ride and Drive Events: https://portlandgeneral.com/lets-go • DEQ Clean Fuels Program: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/ghgp/cfp/Pages/default.aspx

    Episode 57: EV electricity needs

  3. Jun 3

    Episode 56: Pillars for ODOE’s future

    ODOE’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan is out now, and our guests walk us through the plan, sharing their hopes of how it will strengthen the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness as we work as a cohesive unit to address our greatest energy challenges. Guests: ODOE Director Janine Benner and Associate Director for Strategic Engagement Ruchi Sadhir Grounded music by PaulYudin Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay Resources: ODOE’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/about-us/Pages/Strategic-Plan.aspx About ODOE: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/about-us/Pages/default.aspx Oregon Energy Strategy: https://energystrategy.oregon.gov/

    Episode 56: Pillars for ODOE’s future

  4. May 4

    Episode 55: Putting soil & plants to work

    All around us, natural and working lands – from forests, to crops, to wetlands, and parks – are putting in work to benefit Oregonians. Dig into natural and working lands and natural climate solutions on this episode of grounded. Guests: ODOE’s Elizabeth Ruther, Senior Natural & Working Lands Policy Analyst, and Jason Sauer, Natural & Working Lands Analyst Grounded music by PaulYudin Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay Resources Land-based Net Carbon Inventory: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Documents/2025-Land-Based-Net-Carbon-Inventory-Report.pdf Study on workforce development and training needs for natural climate solutions: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Documents/2025-NCS-Workforce-Needs-Report.pdf What are Natural Climate Solutions? What are Natural Climate Solutions? DEQ's sector-based emissions inventory: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/ghgp/Pages/GHG-Inventory.aspx DEQ's consumption-based emissions inventory: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/Pages/Consumption-based-GHG.aspx Natural and working lands fund report: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Reports/2025-Natural-Working-Lands-Annual-Fund-Report.pdf Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission: https://www.oregon.gov/highered/Pages/default.aspx Natural and Working Lands Advisory Committee: https://climate.oregon.gov/committee-meetings

    Episode 55: Putting soil & plants to work

  5. Apr 8

    Episode 54: Reflecting on fuel pipeline shutdowns (bonus)

    The Olympic Pipeline brings 90 percent of our transportation fuels from Washington into Oregon. In November 2025, the pipeline was shut down to repair a leak, causing a fuel emergency declaration. In this episode, we’re reflecting on Oregon's response to the incident. Guests: ODOE’s Energy Security Manager Traci Naile, and Mike Freese, of Romain and Freese representing the Oregon Fuels Association Grounded music by PaulYudin Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay Resources: • Episode 52: Hoping for blue skies, planning for black skies: https://on.soundcloud.com/ia3ikp2SjkODtJOOzd • Oregon Fuels Association: www.wpma.com/oregon • Fueling Up in Oregon: Supply & Pricing: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/blog/2026/3/23/fueling-up-in-oregon-supply-amp-pricing • Olympic Pipeline partially restarts as Oregon remains under fuel emergency declaration: https://www.opb.org/article/2025/11/25/olympic-pipeline-oregon-fuel-emergency-gas-prices/

    Episode 54: Reflecting on fuel pipeline shutdowns (bonus)

  6. Mar 18

    Episode 53: Fueling EVs in rural Oregon

    Fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are powered by electricity, so they need to “fuel up” at charging stations. While as much as 80 percent of charging happens at home, public chargers allow those without access to home charging and those traveling farther distances to recharge their batteries. On this episode, we discuss EV charger availability and reliability and get a first-person perspective of EVs in rural Oregon. Guests: Jillian DiMedio, ODOE Senior Energy Policy Analyst; Steve Gutmann, co-founder of EVmath; and Robert Wallace, executive director Wy’East RC&D Grounded music by PaulYudin Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay Resources • Biennial Zero Emission Vehicle Report : https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/BIZEV.aspx • EVmath.org: https://www.evmath.org/ • Wy'East RC&D: https://www.wyeast-rcd.org/ • Oregon Electric Vehicle Dashboard: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Pages/Oregon-Electric-Vehicle-Dashboard.aspx • ODOT’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/climate/Pages/NEVI.aspx • DEQ’s Zero-Emission Fueling Infrastructure Grant: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/programs/Pages/OZEF.aspx

    Episode 53: Fueling EVs in rural Oregon

  7. Feb 18

    Getting Grounded: Volcanoes and electricity (geothermal)

    Get grounded in energy fundamentals with our mini-episode series: Getting Grounded. We're breaking down Oregon's energy sources. Up next: Geothermal Guest: Rob Del Mar, ODOE senior policy analyst Resources: • Geothermal Energy in Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/Geothermal.aspx • Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries’ interactive map of geothermal springs and wells in Oregon: https://gis.dogami.oregon.gov/maps/gtilo/ • Newberry Volcano Project: https://mazamaenergy.com/newberry/ • Neal Hot Springs: https://www.enbridge.com/about-us/renewable-energy/geothermal • Oregon Institute of Technology's Geo-Heat Center: https://www.oit.edu/library/about/collections/archives/all-collections/geo-heat

    Getting Grounded: Volcanoes and electricity (geothermal)

  8. Jan 21

    Getting Grounded: Organic matter as fuel (biomass)

    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

    Getting Grounded: Organic matter as fuel (biomass)
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Grounded is a podcast by the Oregon Department of Energy. Here on Grounded, we're talking energy – from renewable energy and the history of nuclear power… to utilities, businesses, nonprofits, schools, and Oregon families going green and making a difference.

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