How Oregon's Clean Energy Law Could Affect Power Bills

The Oregon Legislature passed a bill in February that requires public utility companies to phase out coal from their energy portfolios by 2030.

But what does this mean for your electric bill? The short answer: It depends.

The sweeping, first-of-its-kind law, signed by Gov. Kate Brown last month, also mandates that at least half the electricity sold to Oregonians is generated from renewable sources by 2040.

Ohio's Clean Energy Law A Success, Environmentalists Say

Now in its fourth year, Ohio's Clean Energy Law (S.B.221) continues to spur investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, according to a new report from the Environment Ohio Research and Policy Center.

Passed in 2008, the Clean Energy Law established benchmarks for Ohio investor-owned utilities to get 12.5% of their electricity from renewable sources and save 22% of their electricity through energy efficiency by 2025, Environment Ohio explains. In addition, at least half of the renewable energy required must be purchased from in-state projects.

Clean Energy Law Reducing Electricity Costs in Ohio

More than 1,000 renewable energy projects have been built in Ohio during the past five years — part of a scramble by utilities to comply with the state’s renewable energy standard. The biggest project, a wind farm, cost $600 million.

So how much are the state’s electricity customers being forced to fork out for this flurry of climate-friendly construction activity?

Nada. Not even nada — less than nada. An analysis [PDF] by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio concludes that all those green energy projects have actually reduced the price of wholesale power in the state, albeit just a little bit.

Ohio: Energy law works

FirstEnergy Corp. doesn’t want to develop renewable energy, but the electricity provider has grudgingly agreed to invest in it. That demonstrates why lawmakers should ignore an ill-advised effort to repeal Ohio’s landmark clean-energy law.