A renewable shift, powered by wind and sun
When imagining the future, the younger me dreamed of living like the Jetsons: flying cars, robots and gadgets performing every daily task. Instead we’ll likely see fewer hyper-futuristic homes and cars, and more solar panel-lined roofs and wind turbines.
I’m sure you’ve seen one of the few solar farms in Central Oregon, like the one south of Redmond, which produces enough energy for about 1,500 homes. We can expect to see more of these farms popping up around the state. According to the Redmond Spokesman, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) announced that the Rural Energy for America Program will loan up to $48.2 million for funding solar energy facilities in Deschutes, Klamath, Lake and Clackamas counties. Portland General Electric is building the Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility, the first large scale renewable energy project in the nation, complete with wind turbines, solar panels and battery storage, expected to provide power to 105,000 homes. These facilities will offset the energy needed from fossil fuels and by using batteries for energy storage it alleviates the hurdle of the intermittent power supply that comes from wind and sunshine.