Solar Power
Latest Stories

Environment
Under Trump’s new law, Oregon could lose big on solar and wind energy projects
Under the Trump Adminstration's One Big Beautiful Bill, Oregon could lose about 4 gigawatts of planned wind and solar energy, or enough energy to power one million homes.
Infrastructure
Pendleton powers wastewater plant with ‘solar canopy’
The Eastern Oregon city hopes solar energy will eventually supply electricity to all plant operations.
Think Out Loud
The Department of Energy promised a tribal nation millions of dollars for solar energy, but has made it nearly impossible to access
Washington’s Yakama Nation received both a grant and a $100 million federal loan to build a large solar project. Held up by a series of bureaucratic hurdles, the funding could expire before the government lets the tribal nation access the money. OPB Investigative Editor Tony Schick joins us to explain how bureaucracy is getting in the way of progress.

Plan would make 1M acres of federal land in Oregon available for solar energy projects
Officials at the federal Bureau of Land Management announced Aug. 29 they had finalized a plan to add Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming to its existing Western Solar Plan — an Obama-era project that expanded permitting for solar projects on federal land.

Environment
The Department of Energy promised this tribal nation a $32 million solar grant. It’s nearly impossible to access
Washington’s Yakama Nation received both a solar grant and a $100 million federal loan. Held up by a series of bureaucratic hurdles, the funding could expire before the government lets the tribal nation touch a dime.

Solar project offers low-income Portland residents relief from high energy bills
One of the largest community solar projects in Portland aimed at helping lower energy bills for some Cully residents is nearly ready to power on.
Think Out Loud
Eastern Washington solar project paused amid concerns around Indigenous cultural sites
An investigation from High Country News and ProPublica earlier this year revealed a solar developer omitted culturally significant sites from its land survey in eastern Washington. We'll hear from the reporter.

Science & Environment
Oregon awarded nearly $87 million to increase solar adopting in low-income communities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Oregon will receive $86.6 million through the Solar for All grant.

Feds could tap more Northwest land for potential expansion of solar energy
Millions of acres of federal public land in five Western states, including Washington and Oregon, could be opened up to solar energy production.

Pacific Northwest could experience ‘energy droughts,’ study finds
Drops in solar and wind energy production, also known as energy droughts, could potentially last for hours in the Pacific Northwest. New research is aimed at helping grid planners better understand these energy gaps and where solutions, like battery storage, could be best utilized.