WASHINGTON,
Feb. 24, 2016 - A bill to double Oregon’s renewable energy mandate could be
headed for Senate consideration as early as today, after being passed by the
House earlier this year.
The
“Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Plan” would require Oregon’s two largest
utilities to phase out coal completely by 2030 and require utilities to use
renewable sources like solar, wind and hydropower to provide at least 50
percent of their customers’ energy demand by 2040.
Currently,
the state’s energy mandate requires utilities to provide 25 percent renewable
energy by 2025.
On
Monday, lawmakers amended the bill to allow Oregon’s Public Utility Commission
(PUC) more control over costs, in case the transition to more renewable energy
results in higher energy bills. Another amendment allows for energy sources
such as certain hydropower projects, biomass, and power plants that burn
municipal solid waste to be counted as renewable energy. The bill passed the
Oregon Senate’s Committee on Business and Transportation 3-2.
Supporters
of the bill argue that it would be an important first step in getting utilities
in line with Oregon’s greenhouse gas reduction goals, which call for reducing
emissions by 75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Hydroelectric energy already
provides 44 percent of the state’s energy mix, while coal provides almost 30
percent. Portland General Electric has already committed to close Oregon’s only
coal plant by 2020.
#30
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