Oregon Legislature Sets New Renewable Energy Standards
Creates firm timelines for PGE transition off coal-fired generation
"We were pleased to be part of a collaborative process that puts
Oregon's electricity sector on a path to achieve its state carbon
reduction goals as we plan for Oregon's energy future," said
PGE was part of a coalition of organizations that supported the
legislation, which received extensive public review in multiple state
The state's existing renewable energy standard, adopted in 2007, requires PGE to meet customers' power needs using 20 percent qualifying renewable resources by 2020 and 25 percent by 2025. The new law increases the standard to 50 percent by 2040, with intermediate steps of 27 percent in 2025, 35 percent in 2030, and 45 percent in 2035.
The legislation requires PGE to cease serving customers with power from
its share of the
Also included in the bill are mechanisms to protect utility customers from excessive cost increases or reliability issues resulting from the new mandates. Other provisions promote community solar installations, transportation electrification, energy efficiency measures, small-scale renewable power projects, and power generation from biomass.
PGE estimates that the new requirements could result in a cost impact to
customers averaging 1.5 percent annually between 2017 and 2040. The
utility will work proactively with the
Backers of a competing ballot measure that would mandate similar renewable power and coal transition timelines, but without key consumer protections, have stated that they will withdraw the ballot measure once the new bill becomes law.
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PGE
Steven.Corson@pgn.com
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