Oregon looks to overhaul its electricity supply
The largest utility companies in Oregon, along with environmental advocates, agreed to a deal that pushes the state clearly in the direction of renewable energy sources.
Two of the most important takeaways from the agreement:
- Utilities will meet 25 percent of their demand with renewable energy by 2025, and that ratio would be increased to 50 percent by 2040.
- Utilities are committed to stop selling coal power completely in Oregon by 2035.
Oregon's largest utilities agree to clean energy plan https://t.co/dLHGwpy3x5 pic.twitter.com/ySjbndcUy4
— Statesman Journal (@Salem_Statesman) January 7, 2016
Solar power and wind power increases are likely
The new agreement specifies that Oregon’s electricity come from qualifying renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal or energy efficiency. Existing hydropower doesn’t count.
Currently, a minuscule 0.02 percent of Oregon’s electricity comes from solar power, compared to 33.4 percent from coal and 44.7 percent from hydroelectric sources. Wind power currently creates 5.2 percent of the state’s electricity.
Pacific Power, one of the key utilities in the agreement, has agreed to massive investments in wind and solar, and the agreement should also make it easier to build large solar energy complexes in the state.
Source → Statesman JournalUtilities, environmentalists strike huge deal to eliminate use of coal in Oregon, boost …: A potentially lan… https://t.co/V954oGtoPT
— The Portland Tribune (@ThePortlandTrib) January 12, 2016
