PDX Solar
@pdxsolar.org
A solar and new energy education nonprofit. Promoting independent, affordable, libre solar energy in Portland, Oregon
https://pdxsolar.org - Lux Liberat
https://pdxsolar.org - Lux Liberat
Want reliable electricity? Put more batteries everywhere.
Buffers make systems stable- we learned this 6,000 years ago with the invention of grain storage.
Buffers make systems stable- we learned this 6,000 years ago with the invention of grain storage.
Hawaii: ‘oil-fired generator tripped…batteries provided a fast frequency response <50 ms, contained frequency decline <1.5 s, brought frequency back to 60 Hz <60 s…frequency oscillations during the first minute though…switched to grid-forming controls…tripped again in 2023, no oscillation occurred’
Grid-forming inverters significantly enhance grid stability, national lab finds
The Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative in Hawaii, which deployed storage before grid-forming inverters became available, became a test case for diagnosing grid issues that can arise with older grid-fol...
pv-magazine-usa.com
January 18, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Want reliable electricity? Put more batteries everywhere.
Buffers make systems stable- we learned this 6,000 years ago with the invention of grain storage.
Buffers make systems stable- we learned this 6,000 years ago with the invention of grain storage.
Reposted by PDX Solar
"...with just a handful of state-level reforms, plug-in solar could reach 60 million Americans by 2035 and slash household electricity costs — without a dime of public subsidy."
CleanTechnica reports on our recent white paper :https://bit.ly/4oE1kYn
CleanTechnica reports on our recent white paper :https://bit.ly/4oE1kYn
November 14, 2025 at 11:53 AM
"...with just a handful of state-level reforms, plug-in solar could reach 60 million Americans by 2035 and slash household electricity costs — without a dime of public subsidy."
CleanTechnica reports on our recent white paper :https://bit.ly/4oE1kYn
CleanTechnica reports on our recent white paper :https://bit.ly/4oE1kYn
Wonderful, we just learned Washington (state) also has a pending Plug-in Solar bill, HB2296! app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
Oregon's is LC75, to be introduced in the upcoming February short legislative session, and California has one in the works as well.
We're looking at you, BC!
Oregon's is LC75, to be introduced in the upcoming February short legislative session, and California has one in the works as well.
We're looking at you, BC!
January 18, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Wonderful, we just learned Washington (state) also has a pending Plug-in Solar bill, HB2296! app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
Oregon's is LC75, to be introduced in the upcoming February short legislative session, and California has one in the works as well.
We're looking at you, BC!
Oregon's is LC75, to be introduced in the upcoming February short legislative session, and California has one in the works as well.
We're looking at you, BC!
"the Centralia plant is typically idled each spring, when high flows on the Columbia River produce an abundance of cheap hydropower."
Coal: expensive, dirty, unreliable. Consigned to the scrapheap of history, never to return.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
Coal: expensive, dirty, unreliable. Consigned to the scrapheap of history, never to return.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
Washington’s largest climate polluter shuts down despite federal order
Canadian company TransAlta’s coal-burning power plant in Centralia, Washington, shut down Dec. 19, according to grid data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
www.opb.org
January 17, 2026 at 9:48 PM
"the Centralia plant is typically idled each spring, when high flows on the Columbia River produce an abundance of cheap hydropower."
Coal: expensive, dirty, unreliable. Consigned to the scrapheap of history, never to return.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
Coal: expensive, dirty, unreliable. Consigned to the scrapheap of history, never to return.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
Reposted by PDX Solar
Worth remembering: The world has been spending more on solar than oil for the last two years.
January 15, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Worth remembering: The world has been spending more on solar than oil for the last two years.
Reposted by PDX Solar
North of Chicago is a community solar project, built on a Superfund site too polluted for much else.
Residents who subscribe to get energy from the solar farm are guaranteed savings on their energy bills, under a state program incentivizing solar in low-income areas.
Good news story! No pay wall.
Residents who subscribe to get energy from the solar farm are guaranteed savings on their energy bills, under a state program incentivizing solar in low-income areas.
Good news story! No pay wall.
How Community Solar Turned a Superfund Site into Savings in Illinois
A new 9.1-MW solar array will help residents of Waukegan, Illinois, reduce energy bills. State incentives for low-income solar made the project possible.
reasonstobecheerful.world
January 16, 2026 at 9:47 PM
North of Chicago is a community solar project, built on a Superfund site too polluted for much else.
Residents who subscribe to get energy from the solar farm are guaranteed savings on their energy bills, under a state program incentivizing solar in low-income areas.
Good news story! No pay wall.
Residents who subscribe to get energy from the solar farm are guaranteed savings on their energy bills, under a state program incentivizing solar in low-income areas.
Good news story! No pay wall.
Reposted by PDX Solar
EIA: "In our STEO forecast, utility-scale solar is the fastest-growing source of electricity generation in the United States, increasing from 290 BkWh in 2025 to 424 BkWh by 2027." www.eia.gov/todayinenerg... 🔌💡
January 16, 2026 at 11:57 PM
EIA: "In our STEO forecast, utility-scale solar is the fastest-growing source of electricity generation in the United States, increasing from 290 BkWh in 2025 to 424 BkWh by 2027." www.eia.gov/todayinenerg... 🔌💡
Reposted by PDX Solar
7. Solar can grow in many states...
37 states have less than a 10% share of solar.
However, fast change is possible...
There are six states which saw solar’s share rise by five+ percentage points in the 24mths to Oct-2025.
New Mexico was the fastest - rising from 7% to 17%.
37 states have less than a 10% share of solar.
However, fast change is possible...
There are six states which saw solar’s share rise by five+ percentage points in the 24mths to Oct-2025.
New Mexico was the fastest - rising from 7% to 17%.
January 16, 2026 at 10:35 AM
7. Solar can grow in many states...
37 states have less than a 10% share of solar.
However, fast change is possible...
There are six states which saw solar’s share rise by five+ percentage points in the 24mths to Oct-2025.
New Mexico was the fastest - rising from 7% to 17%.
37 states have less than a 10% share of solar.
However, fast change is possible...
There are six states which saw solar’s share rise by five+ percentage points in the 24mths to Oct-2025.
New Mexico was the fastest - rising from 7% to 17%.
Reposted by PDX Solar
Dear Battery Industry, I've got you a new slogan 😜🔋
January 16, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Dear Battery Industry, I've got you a new slogan 😜🔋
Solar: The Fastest Energy Transition Ever
Webinar
Wed Jan 21 at 7pm PST (Portland Standard Time)
Webinar
Wed Jan 21 at 7pm PST (Portland Standard Time)
Solar: The Fastest Energy Transition Ever
Webinar
How did this happen?
Is an even faster transition be possible?
What has driven solar’s rapid rise
Can emerging clean technologies go faster?
Thur, 22 Jan 2026, 1:00 PM AEST
www.eit.edu.au/event/solar-...
Webinar
How did this happen?
Is an even faster transition be possible?
What has driven solar’s rapid rise
Can emerging clean technologies go faster?
Thur, 22 Jan 2026, 1:00 PM AEST
www.eit.edu.au/event/solar-...
Solar: The Fastest Energy Transition Ever
Solar is the fastest energy transition in human history. How did this happen and could an even faster transition be possible? This session explores the forces behind solar’s rapid rise, the crucial ro...
www.eit.edu.au
January 15, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Solar: The Fastest Energy Transition Ever
Webinar
Wed Jan 21 at 7pm PST (Portland Standard Time)
Webinar
Wed Jan 21 at 7pm PST (Portland Standard Time)
Our motto* is "Lux Liberat" - Light Liberates.
Solar power is inexhaustible, available to everyone on earth, and the least expensive form of energy in human history.
billmckibben.substack.com/p/solar-as-s...
(*it's latin because we're not only engineers but also incorrigible liberal arts majors)
Solar power is inexhaustible, available to everyone on earth, and the least expensive form of energy in human history.
billmckibben.substack.com/p/solar-as-s...
(*it's latin because we're not only engineers but also incorrigible liberal arts majors)
Solar as Solidarity
It's not just for saving planets any more
billmckibben.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Our motto* is "Lux Liberat" - Light Liberates.
Solar power is inexhaustible, available to everyone on earth, and the least expensive form of energy in human history.
billmckibben.substack.com/p/solar-as-s...
(*it's latin because we're not only engineers but also incorrigible liberal arts majors)
Solar power is inexhaustible, available to everyone on earth, and the least expensive form of energy in human history.
billmckibben.substack.com/p/solar-as-s...
(*it's latin because we're not only engineers but also incorrigible liberal arts majors)
Are we going to plant our seed corn, or eat it?
In a time of budget shortfalls, we shouldn't let up on the capital investments that will yield ongoing energy, health, and livability benefits, especially around electrification.
In a time of budget shortfalls, we shouldn't let up on the capital investments that will yield ongoing energy, health, and livability benefits, especially around electrification.
January 15, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Are we going to plant our seed corn, or eat it?
In a time of budget shortfalls, we shouldn't let up on the capital investments that will yield ongoing energy, health, and livability benefits, especially around electrification.
In a time of budget shortfalls, we shouldn't let up on the capital investments that will yield ongoing energy, health, and livability benefits, especially around electrification.
Reposted by PDX Solar
Coal just blinked. For the first time in decades, China and India both reduced coal generation while demand kept growing. Renewables filled the gap. This isn’t policy theater — it’s structural disruption. Power is being re-architected around solar, wind and batteries. ⚡🔋 #Bettrification #Renewables
Coal power falls in China and India for first time in decades
The shift, driven by record installations and softer demand growth, could mark a turning point for the world’s two biggest coal users
www.independent.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Coal just blinked. For the first time in decades, China and India both reduced coal generation while demand kept growing. Renewables filled the gap. This isn’t policy theater — it’s structural disruption. Power is being re-architected around solar, wind and batteries. ⚡🔋 #Bettrification #Renewables
Reposted by PDX Solar
Third Act Oregon will host a webinar on how to advocate for the Plug-in Solar bill, which will be introduced in the Oregon Legislature this session. Jan. 20, 6:00 pm.
What is Plug-in Solar Webinar and What Does It Mean for Oregon?
A plug-in solar bill is coming to Oregon. Curious about plug-in solar? Join us for WHAT IS PLUG-IN SOLAR and What Does It Mean for Oregon, a webinar on Tuesday, January 20th, 6 – 6:45 PM. We’ll i...
actionnetwork.org
January 14, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Third Act Oregon will host a webinar on how to advocate for the Plug-in Solar bill, which will be introduced in the Oregon Legislature this session. Jan. 20, 6:00 pm.
To stay sane in this world, you have to let in good news when you find it.
UK contracts for record 8.4 GW of offshore wind!
12 projects, including world's largest offshore project, at ~$91/MWh or 40% less than new gas!
New gas plant costs $147/MWh, with CO2 emission cost.
UK has 29 GW of operating wind & 10 GW under construction.
www.edie.net/record-8-4-g... #energysky
12 projects, including world's largest offshore project, at ~$91/MWh or 40% less than new gas!
New gas plant costs $147/MWh, with CO2 emission cost.
UK has 29 GW of operating wind & 10 GW under construction.
www.edie.net/record-8-4-g... #energysky
UK Secures Record 8.4GW in Offshore Wind Capacity
Discover how the UK's CfD Auction Round 7 secures 8.4GW offshore wind, boosting energy independence and unlocking £22bn investments, powering 12m homes.
www.edie.net
January 14, 2026 at 3:46 PM
To stay sane in this world, you have to let in good news when you find it.
Reposted by PDX Solar
☀️ Solar has gotten so cheap to build and install that it’s transforming many countries’ power grids. @billmckibben.bsky.social shares where solar adoption stands in the U.S.—and across the world right now.
Can The Rise In Solar Power Balance Out Clean Energy Cuts?
Solar power adoption has been rising fast. Amid recent federal efforts to limit clean energy, will it make a dent in our climate impact?
buff.ly
January 13, 2026 at 1:16 PM
☀️ Solar has gotten so cheap to build and install that it’s transforming many countries’ power grids. @billmckibben.bsky.social shares where solar adoption stands in the U.S.—and across the world right now.
The cool thing about being in the tank for solar is that our "right around the corner" innovations actually materialize.
Brace yourself: perovskites are coming.
www.colorado.edu/rasei/2026/0...
Brace yourself: perovskites are coming.
www.colorado.edu/rasei/2026/0...
Locking in Solar Power: How a Stronger Interlayer Boosts Perovskite Cell Durability
JANUARY 2026
www.colorado.edu
January 13, 2026 at 10:15 PM
The cool thing about being in the tank for solar is that our "right around the corner" innovations actually materialize.
Brace yourself: perovskites are coming.
www.colorado.edu/rasei/2026/0...
Brace yourself: perovskites are coming.
www.colorado.edu/rasei/2026/0...
Portland residents are proud of our water supply from the Bull Run reservoir. Did you know the city also operates a hydroelectric dam as part of the Portland Hydro Project?
This city-owned dams produce 36MW of carbon-free, dispatchable electricity. www.portland.gov/hydroelectri...
This city-owned dams produce 36MW of carbon-free, dispatchable electricity. www.portland.gov/hydroelectri...
About the Portland Hydroelectric Project
The Portland Hydroelectric Project generates electricity from dams in the Bull Run Watershed.
www.portland.gov
January 13, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Portland residents are proud of our water supply from the Bull Run reservoir. Did you know the city also operates a hydroelectric dam as part of the Portland Hydro Project?
This city-owned dams produce 36MW of carbon-free, dispatchable electricity. www.portland.gov/hydroelectri...
This city-owned dams produce 36MW of carbon-free, dispatchable electricity. www.portland.gov/hydroelectri...
Reposted by PDX Solar
The sun supplies us with the cheapest and cleanest power source in existence, that’s also unlimited. It also supplies us with safety, which is why acting on clean energy needs all of us. 🌿☀️Words by @billmckibben.bsky.social
January 13, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The sun supplies us with the cheapest and cleanest power source in existence, that’s also unlimited. It also supplies us with safety, which is why acting on clean energy needs all of us. 🌿☀️Words by @billmckibben.bsky.social
"You could drive 70 times as many miles in a solar-powered electric car as you could in one running on biofuels from the same amount of land."
ourworldindata.org/biofuel-land...
ourworldindata.org/biofuel-land...
Putting solar panels on land used for biofuels would produce enough electricity for all cars and trucks to go electric
The world dedicates a Poland-sized area of land to liquid biofuels. Is there a more efficient way to generate energy?
ourworldindata.org
January 13, 2026 at 12:35 AM
"You could drive 70 times as many miles in a solar-powered electric car as you could in one running on biofuels from the same amount of land."
ourworldindata.org/biofuel-land...
ourworldindata.org/biofuel-land...
What if there were one big fusion reactor in the sky and we could harvest energy from it using sand?
Plug-in solar is real and we have a chance to legalize it here in Oregon.
solarunitedneighbors.org/news/solar-m...
Plug-in solar is real and we have a chance to legalize it here in Oregon.
solarunitedneighbors.org/news/solar-m...
Solar, minus the red tape: plug-in solar could bring affordable energy to millions - Solar United Neighbors
Plug-in solar panels are a new way to benefit from the sun. This blog describes how they work and how much you can save with plug-in solar.
solarunitedneighbors.org
January 12, 2026 at 10:27 PM
What if there were one big fusion reactor in the sky and we could harvest energy from it using sand?
Plug-in solar is real and we have a chance to legalize it here in Oregon.
solarunitedneighbors.org/news/solar-m...
Plug-in solar is real and we have a chance to legalize it here in Oregon.
solarunitedneighbors.org/news/solar-m...
"While hydropower can be ramped up and down relatively quickly..., supporting the minute-by-minute changes required by today’s variable energy demands causes more wear and tear on the machinery."
Batteries make the grid better, even here in the PNW!
www.pnnl.gov/news-media/a...
Batteries make the grid better, even here in the PNW!
www.pnnl.gov/news-media/a...
Adding Batteries to Hydropower Facilities Could Increase Dam Lifespan, Potential Revenue
A modeling study shows that adding batteries to a dam could decrease the wear and tear on hydropower turbines and open up new opportunities for dam operators to earn revenue.
www.pnnl.gov
January 12, 2026 at 7:57 PM
"While hydropower can be ramped up and down relatively quickly..., supporting the minute-by-minute changes required by today’s variable energy demands causes more wear and tear on the machinery."
Batteries make the grid better, even here in the PNW!
www.pnnl.gov/news-media/a...
Batteries make the grid better, even here in the PNW!
www.pnnl.gov/news-media/a...
People still haven't figured out that everything has changed, so we'll keep letting everyone know
Good morning with good news: India's new solar & battery storage price of 3.5 cents/kWh kills fossil fuels!
1.2 GW of solar & 600 MW/3600 MWh of batteries for 3.5 cents/kWh! Wow!
3.5 cents/kWh for dispatchable solar!
EXISTING coal is 5.4 cents/kWh!
#energysky www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/12/i...
1.2 GW of solar & 600 MW/3600 MWh of batteries for 3.5 cents/kWh! Wow!
3.5 cents/kWh for dispatchable solar!
EXISTING coal is 5.4 cents/kWh!
#energysky www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/12/i...
India’s SECI awards 1.2 GW of solar, 600 MW/3,600 MWh of storage at $0.035/kWh
Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has concluded a tender for 1.2 GW of interstate transmission system-connected solar projects paired with 600 MW/3,600 MWh of energy storage, with tariffs as low as I...
www.pv-magazine.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:27 PM
People still haven't figured out that everything has changed, so we'll keep letting everyone know
Reposted by PDX Solar
Australia’s grid just passed a brutal heatwave stress test. Jan 7, 2026 hit record demand, yet solar surged at peak, batteries carried the evening, and reliability beat 2019. Not more fossil fuels — clean energy scaled. This is modern resilience, and a sign of what’s coming. 🔋⚡ #Solar #BESS #Energy
January 11, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Hey brother, can you spare a trillion? www.dw.com/en/fossil-fu...
How clean energy could save us trillions – DW – 01/07/2026
As clean energy prices fall, a fast transition to renewable energy is the cheapest option on the table. Experts say it could save us trillions in energy costs alone.
www.dw.com
January 10, 2026 at 5:11 AM
Hey brother, can you spare a trillion? www.dw.com/en/fossil-fu...