Doubles state mandates on renewable power by 2040; reaction
pours in
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Oregon lawmakers have given final
approval to pioneering legislation that would eliminate coal from the state's
energy supply by 2030 and double state mandates on renewable power by 2040.
In a statement, Gov. Kate Brown seemed to indicate she would sign the bill.
She said it "equips Oregon with a bold and progressive path towards the
energy resource mix of the future."
The bill passed Wednesday by the Senate would make Oregon the first state to
adopt legislation to eliminate coal-fired power.
The bill would require the state's two largest utilities, Portland General
Electric and Pacific Power, to stop supplying coal-fired energy to Oregonians
by 2030.
Utilities must also serve half of their customers' energy demand with renewable
sources by 2040.
---
Oregon Legislature Passes Historic Coal Transition Bill
Legislation will move Oregon off coal power, double state's clean energy target
to 50% by 2040
PORTLAND,Ore. -- The Oregon Legislative Assembly today approved a landmark bill
that will commit the state to eliminate its use of coal power by 2035 and
double the amount of clean, renewable energy serving Oregonians to 50 percent
by 2040. Otherwise known as the Clean Electricity and Coal Transition plan,
Senate Bill 1547-B received final approval on the Senate floor today after the
Oregon House approved the bill in a 38-20 bipartisan vote on Tuesday.
The Clean Electricity and Coal Transition plan was crafted by bringing diverse
parties to the table, including Oregon's two largest electric utilities, energy
industry and business groups, advocacy and community organizations. The plan
received extensive public review in multiple state House and Senate hearings
during January and February, as well as a special public meeting of the Oregon
Public Utility Commission.
Today's vote represents the most significant state-level legislative action on
climate change taken in the United States in the wake of the historic Paris
agreement reached in December.
Analysis of the legislation's expected impact has shown that the plan will
reduce carbon pollution across the western states by 30 million metric tons -
the equivalent of taking 6.4 million cars off the road. The legislation also
includes provisions to keep electricity prices affordable and ensure reliable
electric service for utility customers.
The electric utilities affected by the bill, Portland General Electric and
Pacific Power, will work with the OPUC through their integrated resource plans
to develop implementation strategies to meet the state's new renewable power
and coal transition standards.
In response to today's historic vote, community leaders, electric utilities,
and Oregonians from across the state praised the landmark legislation:
"Through the Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Bill, Oregon has the
opportunity to become a national leader. By transitioning away from a dirty,
antiquated form of energy and embracing clean, renewable energy, this bill is a
win-win for public health and the environment," said Carrie Nyssen,
Regional Director, American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific
"This is a solid win for Oregon ratepayers. The risk of high-cost coal is
gone and low-risk, affordable clean energy will increase. Our wallets and our
values have been protected," said Bob Jenks, Executive Director of the
Citizens' Utility Board of Oregon (CUB).
"This landmark climate legislation puts Oregon on a bold new course,"
said Kristen Sheeran, Oregon Director of Climate Solutions. "Moving away
from coal and oil toward clean, renewable electricity raises the bar for clean
energy in other states."
"Today, Oregon takes a big step on our path to clean electricity. We look
forward to continuing the collaboration that forged the Clean Electricity and
Coal Transition Plan so the law is implemented in a way that maximizes jobs and
economic benefits for Oregon, while ensuring affordable electricity for all
consumers," said NW Energy Coalition policy director Wendy Gerlitz.
"Today's vote is a win-win for our climate and clean energy here in
Oregon. The Clean Electricity and Coal Transition plan shows that we can come
together to advance real climate solutions as we move away from coal and toward
more clean energy," said Andy Maggi, Oregon Sierra Club Chapter Director.
"Today, Oregon had a clear choice to make: do we want to power our homes
with coal or with clean energy?" says OEC Executive Director Andrea Durbin.
"Kissing coal goodbye and doubling renewable energy will give Oregon some
of the cleanest power in the country, delivers clean energy for all Oregon
families and re-establishes our state as a leader in green."
"Coal costs us all -- it's hurting our climate, our economy, and our
communities," said Doug Moore, OLCV Executive Director. "Oregonians
want clean energy, not dirty coal, and this is a vote they'll remember in
November."
"Maintaining the affordability and the reliability of the electric grid is
very important to us," said Scott Bolton, Pacific Power vice president of
external affairs. "Working through the legislative process with a diverse
range of stakeholders, we have meaningfully advanced Oregon's clean energy
future in a way that is both workable and affordable."
"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 Jim Piro, president and CEO of
Portland General Electric. "This is a sensible approach that reflects our
customers' values while maintaining the affordability and reliability of
electric service."
"Voters asked lawmakers to kiss coal goodbye and they listened. Now it's
up to the Governor to sign the bill," said Thomas Wheatley, Campaign
Director for Renew Oregon, the coalition that proposed a ballot measure to
accomplish the same goals as the legislation.
"The Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Plan will set Oregon apart as a
national leader on the path to a clean energy future, one that reflects our
history, our experience, our citizens and our values," said Rachel
Shimshak, Executive Director, Renewable Northwest.
---
Merkley Applauds Oregon Legislature’s Passage of Bill to End
Coal Electricity, Boost Renewable Energy Standards in Oregon
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released
the following statement after the Oregon State Senate passed landmark
legislation to end the usage of coal-powered electricity in the state and to
increase the percentage of the state’s electricity generated from renewable
power sources to 50% by 2040. The legislation, which was previously passed by
the Oregon House of Representatives, will now go to the Governor to be signed
into law:
“Climate change is already wreaking havoc on our farming,
our fishing and our forests, and we need to pivot rapidly from a fossil fuel
economy to a clean energy economy. I’m pleased to see Oregon once again paving
the way with collaborative and innovative policies to keep us at the forefront
of American leadership on this pressing issue.”
Merkley is a national leader in the fight to take on climate
change. Last November, he introduced the Keep It in the Ground Act, legislation
that would end all new leases for coal, oil, gas and tar sands production on
federal public lands and waters. He also participated in the groundbreaking
global climate talks in Paris in December, 2015. As Speaker of the Oregon House
of Representatives in 2007, Merkley led the successful effort to pass Oregon’s
first-ever Renewable Energy Standard.
---
From the Senate Republican Office
Senate Democrats Pass Controversial Renewable Energy
Mandate, Send Significant Utility Rate Hikes to Oregonians
Oregonians Could See Electricity Bills Spike 4% Per Year
Salem, Ore. - Today, Senate Democrats passed a costly new
energy mandate that will raise electricity rates by 40% while doing little to
reduce pollution from carbon emissions in Oregon. The chamber considered SB
1547-B, which was originally drafted as a benign bill to clarify the definition
of "public utility" and stuffed by a House committee with the
controversial "Coal to Clean" energy plan. Senate Republicans
introduced two amendments to protect ratepayers, including low-income Oregon
families and vulnerable fixed-income seniors, with both motions rejected by
Senate Democrats. The final bill also passed the Oregon Senate in a partisan
vote.
"Despite concerns from the Public Utility Commission
about significant hikes in cost for ratepayers, numerous editorials questioning
the backdoor deal making that resulted in this energy mandate, and repeated
attempts to slow down the process to fully vet the program, Senate Democrats
chose to move forward with the most costly and inefficient version of this
renewable energy mandate," said Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli
(R-John Day). "Senate Republicans will not support a complex and
controversial new mandate that will send Oregonians' electric bills
skyrocketing. Oregonians are being sold a bill of goods with claims that this
new mandate will reduce carbon emissions, when in reality we will see no
improvement in pollution from emissions."
Senate Republicans moved to consider two amendments to SB
1547-B, which would have:
Restored the bill to its original form, preventing the
hijacking of a benign technical fix by out-of-state special interests (-B22);
Restored Senator Alan Olsen's original bill, a benign
technical fix, and added hydroelectric power to the Renewable Portfolio
Standard, allowing utilities to use renewable energy readily available instead
of being force to invest in high-priced, ineffective, taxpayer subsidized
renewable resources (-B24).
"Under this new mandate, utilities will see costs grow
up to 4% per year, which will be passed on to consumers in Oregon," said
Senator Alan Olsen (R-Canby). "As energy prices increase, we will see the
cost of electricity, groceries, and other goods and services increase, too. We
should be limiting the cost to ratepayers and adding the renewable energy we
already have--hydroelectric power from our rivers--instead of passing an
expensive mandate that only benefits out-of-state green energy special interests."
SB 1547-B now goes to Governor Brown's desk for her
signature.
"Senate Republicans sent a letter to Governor Brown
asking her to put this new mandate on hold until we have more information about
how this will hurt working Oregon families," said Ferrioli. "We hope
she will honor our request and stand up for ratepayers across the state who
can't afford to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the
table."
--
From Renew Oregon:
Oregon Legislature Passes Historic Coal Transition Bill
Legislation will move Oregon off coal power, double state’s
clean energy target to 50% by 2040
PORTLAND,Ore. – The Oregon Legislative Assembly today
approved a landmark bill that will commit the state to eliminate its use of
coal power by 2035 and double the amount of clean, renewable energy serving
Oregonians to 50 percent by 2040. Otherwise known as the Clean Electricity and
Coal Transition plan, Senate Bill 1547-B received final approval on the Senate
floor today after the Oregon House approved the bill in a 38-20 bipartisan vote
on Tuesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment