Home Oregon

Oregon

Return to state-by-state climate policy map
 

This summary is part of Beyond the Beltway: A Report on State Energy and Climate Policies produced by the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at Berkeley Law

 

Oregon, like its neighbor Washington, obtains over half its electricity from hydropower. As in Washington, there’s almost no solar, but wind constitutes over 10% of total generation. Coal is a minor factor at about 4%, but natural gas accounts for 28% of electricity generation, providing some room for cuts. The governor’s mansion and the state legislature are held by the Democrats. 

Oregon law mandates an end to the use of coal-fired electricity no later than 2035. The law also sets a renewable portfolio standard that requires that at least half of the electricity supplied by the state’s largest utilities, Pacific Power and Portland General Electric, come from new renewable sources such as solar and wind power by 2040.[1] (The state has interim 2025 targets of 25% renewable generation for large utilities and 10% for small ones.) Oregon has also been very progressive in terms of energy efficiency, ranking 4th out of 50 states according to Georgetown’s analysis of programs adopted.

The state plans to add transportation measures to reduce carbon emissions by 75% below 1990 levels. The Oregon Department of Transportation has a strategic plan to achieve this goal, but it isn’t clear what metrics apply and how stringent carbon reduction measures will be. In addition, the state has adopted California’s tailpipe standard for carbon emissions from new vehicles.

Carbon pricing is under active consideration by Oregon lawmakers, with both carbon tax and cap-and-trade bills having been introduced in 2017 (although passage of any of the proposals remains uncertain).[2]

In 2009, Oregon adopted legislation mandating a state adaptation plan, which was completed in 2012.[3] There has been some progress in implementing the plan, particularly in terms of upgrading emergency response capabilities, but many of the infrastructure- and public health-related goals remain unmet.

 

  1. Oregon Department of Energy, “Renewable Portfolio Standard,” http://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/Pages/Renewable-Portfolio-Standard.aspx.
  2. Joshua Linn and Kristin Hayes, “Cap-and-Trade Policy Potential in Oregon: Addressing Emissions Leakage,” Resources for the Future (November 29, 2017), http://www.rff.org/blog/2017/cap-and-trade-policy-potential-oregon-addressing-emissions-leakage.
  3. Georgetown Climate Center, “Overview of Oregon’s Climate Change Preparations,” http://www.georgetownclimate.org/adaptation/state-information/overview-of-oregons-climate-change-preparations/adaptation-plan-status.html.