Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed executive orders on Monday to
impose sweeping green energy mandates on new construction and help triple the
number of electric vehicles in the state by 2020.
The governor signed the orders at a ceremony in Portland,
before she travels to Germany later this week to attend the United Nations
climate talks.
The goal of Brown's two executive orders is to "drive
the state's efforts forward in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," she
told reporters after the event. "Buildings, both residential and
commercial, consume about 30 percent of Oregon's energy use."