The US
State of Oregon has decided to raise its state renewable energy law to
50 percent renewables by 2040, doubling access to renewable energy in the
state.
Oregon’s new renewable portfolio standard (RPS) target puts
it on track to meet its target of a 75 percent reduction in carbon emissions,
below 1990 levels, by 2050. Portland General Electric and Pacific Power will
now generate 50 percent of their power from renewables by 2040, up from the
current 25 percent by 2025 target, a move that will help spur significant
growth in local wind and solar energy investments.
The decision has been welcomed by the American wind power
sector, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) applauding the leadership
of the Oregon legislature for passing what it described as ‘landmark renewable
energy and clean energy legislation’.
“The passage of this historic legislation would not have
been possible without their leadership, and the leadership of a broad coalition
of energy officials, consumer advocates, and community groups, working together
to develop the next generation of energy policy for Oregon” said Tom Kiernan,
AWEA CEO. “Wind power can help get this job done for Oregon, and save
money doing it.”
Other leading US wind industry spokespersons also commented
on the historic agreement. Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy and current
Chair of the AWEA Board, said that states driving for 50 percent
renewable energy are “well ahead of the curve as new market drivers and and
state-federal policies point in the direction of a cleaner electric grid.”
These states currently include Hawaii, California and Vermont, and now Oregon.
The fifth state could well be New York, if legislation currently under
consideration in that state goes through. Meanwhile, non-utility clients such
as Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, and Google, have created a new market for
renewable energy by investing in renewables in order to cut costs and lower
their carbon footprints.
There are currently 3,300 megawatts of clean, renewable
energy installed in Oregon, generating enough power for over 700,000 Oregon
homes. That growth has resulted in renewable energy businesses investing close to $10 billion dollars in the state,
supporting over 5,000 well-paying jobs, and contributing to state and local
revenue by paying over $150 million. Wind energy supplies more than 12 percent
of Oregon’s electricity with eleven other states in the US generating 10
percent or more of their in-state electricity from wind.
Growing wind energy benefits also include reduced air
pollution, sulphur and nitrogen oxides and particulates. According to
recently-released AWEA data, Oregon could save over $2.3 billion on electric
bills with 37 percent electricity generation from wind by 2030, the
cost-savings estimate coming from calculations made using the US Department of
Energy 2015 report Wind
Vision: A new era for wind power in the United States. Wind energy
could also generate $48 million in annual property tax revenue and almost $22
million in annual wind farm lease payments to landowners by 2030. Currently,
installed wind power in Oregon displaces over 1.4 million metric tons of carbon
dioxide emissions per year, representing 307,000 cars taken off the road per
year.
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