News & Resources Oregon Renewable Energy Act News: Governor Kulongoski Signs Oregon Renewable Energy Act Into Law “This bill is the most significant environmental legislation we can enact in more than 30 years that will also stimulate billions of dollars in investment – creating hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs in both urban and rural Oregon,” Governor Kulongoski said. “This bill is not the end – it’s just the beginning of a much broader, sustained effort to reestablish – and maintain – Oregon as a leader in innovative environmental and energy policies that protect our quality of life, contribute to a robust economy and combat global warming,” the Governor continued. The effort to pass SB 838, the Oregon Renewable Energy Act has been a truly team effort, and everyone who helped support this landmark legislation deserves to share in this success. Thank you to all of you who supported this bill! The governor's office press release can be found here. Victory! Oregon Renewable Energy Act on its Way to Governor's Desk The effort to pass the Oregon Renewable Energy Act has been a truly team effort, and everyone who helped support this landmark legislation deserves to share in this success. Thank you to all of you who supported this bill! Victory! Oregon Renewable Energy Act Passes House With Strong, Bipartisan Support! The bill will now head back to the Senate for concurrence before heading to the Governor's desk where it is expected to be signed into law. The effort to pass the Oregon Renewable Energy Act has been a truly team effort, and everyone who helped support this landmark legislation deserves to share in this success. Thank you to all of you who supported this bill! Oregon Renewable Energy Act Heading to Floor Vote We're nearing the home stretch, but our work is not yet over. Although the Oregon Renewable Energy Act has received overwhelming support from cities, counties, labor, advocates, tribes, businesses, farmers, students, investor owned utilities, municipal utilities, the Public Utility Commission, and the Governor, the few remaining opponents are still fighting to stop the bill. If we keep up the pressure, we can help pass this crucial bill. Please contact your State Representative as soon as you can and ask them to vote YES for SB 838-B. Click here to contact your Representative. Oregon Renewable Energy Act Back in Committee SB 838 has recieved continued widespread support from across the state, but our work is not yet over. Although the Oregon Renewable Energy Act has received overwhelming support from cities, counties, labor, advocates, tribes, businesses, farmers, students, investor owned utilities, municipal utilities, the Public Utility Commission, and the Governor, the few remaining opponents continue to try to weigh the bill down. Now more than ever, we need you to contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for SB 838-B. Click here to contact your Representative. The Oregonian and Register-Guard Endorse Oregon Renewable Energy Act [May 7th, 2007] Oregon's two largest newspapers threw their support behind the Oregon Renewable Energy Act this weekend. The Oregonian and the Eugene Register-Guard both ran editorials this weekend calling on the Oregon House to pass SB 838 and enact a strong 25% by 2025 renewable energy standard. SB 838, which passed the Oregon Senate with a 20-10 vote several weeks ago is heading towards a House floor vote soon. Despite receiving overwhelming support from a diverse range of constituents hailing from across Oregon, the few opponents of SB 838 are still trying to block the bill's passage, and the House vote could be very close. Oregon Renewable Energy Act Heads to House Floor Despite continued widespread support from across the state, and passing the Senate by a bi-partisan, two-thirds vote, the work is not over. Although the Oregon Renewable Energy Act has received overwhelming support from cities, counties, labor, advocates, tribes, businesses, farmers, students, investor owned utilities, municipal utilities, the Public Utility Commission, and the Governor, the few remaining opponents continue to try to weigh the bill down. Click here to contact your Representative. Senate Passes Oregon Renewable Energy Act with Two-Thirds Majority [April 10th, 2007] The Oregon Renewable Energy Act, SB 838, passed the Oregon Senate today by a vote of 20-10. The bill received bipartisan support with Republican Senators Jason Atkinson (Grants Pass) and Bruce Starr (Hillsboro) joining all but one Senate Democrat in support of this landmark clean energy legislation. Senator Joanne Verger (D-Coos Bay) was the lone Democrat to vote "no" on the bill. SB 838 now heads to the House of Representatives for hearings beginning as early as next week. Despite this landmark success in the Senate, the work is not over. Although the Oregon Renewable Energy Act has received overwhelming support from investor owned utilities, municipal utilities, cities, counties, labor, advocates, tribes, businesses, farmers, students, the Public Utility Commission, and the Governor, the few remaining opponents continue to try to weigh the bill down. We encourage you to contact your State Representative and ask them to vote yes for SB 838. Senate Environment Committee Sends Oregon Renewable Energy Act to the Floor with Bipartisan Support [March 26th, 2007] The Oregon Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted to send the Oregon Renewable Energy Act, SB 838, to the Senate floor today with bipartisan support. Senator Jason Atkinson (R-Grants Pass) joined committee Democrats Brad Avakian (D-Bethany), Alan Bates (D-Medford) and Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene) in a 4-1 vote to send the bill on to a full Senate vote. The bipartisan vote was a fitting end to five full days of testimony during which the Committee heard overwhelmingly positive support from a diverse range of Oregon constituents. Governor Ted Kulongoski kicked off the hearings on March 6th and his supportive testimony was followed by renewable energy advocates and environmentalists, rural Oregonian farmers, ranchers, irrigators and county officials, Native American tribes, business owners, consumer advocates, venture capitalists, faith organizations and state government officials who all joined together to support the proposed Renewable Energy Standard. The state's two large investor-owned utilities, Portland General Electric and PacifiCorp, as well as the Oregon Municipal Utilities Association and the Eugene Water and Electric Board all testified in support of SB 838 as well. The bill now moves to a full vote on the Senate floor sometime in the next two weeks.
Related News: Colorado Doubles Renewable Energy Standard to 20% by 2020 [March 29th, 2007] Yesterday, Governor Bill Ritter signed into law House Bill 1281 which expands the Renewable Energy Standard enacted by Colorado voters in 2004. The bill doubles the standard enacted by voter-approved Amendment 37 from 10% by 2015 to 20% by 2020. HB 1281 passed both the House and Senate with broad support, with a 59-5 vote in the House and a 27-8 vote in the Senate. "These new laws will improve our economic security, our environmental security and our national security," Governor Ritter said. "They will breathe new economic life into rural Colorado. They will create new jobs, and they will say to the rest of the world, 'Colorado is open for business in what will be one of the most important industries of the 21st century.'" New Mexico Expands Successful Renewable Energy Standard - 20% by 2020 [March 5nd, 2007] On Monday, Governor Bill Richardson signed into law Senate Bill 418, which will dramatically increase New Mexico's existing Renewable Energy Standard and put New Mexico at the forefront of states committed to clean energy. The expanded energy standard will require the state's investor-owned utilities to expand their use of renewable energy to 20% by 2020. The new law also includes the state's public utility districts and municipal and rural cooperatives who will be held to a standard of 10% by 2020. [March 2nd, 2007] SolarWorld AG announced plans Thursday to establish a solar silicon wafer and solar cell production plant in Hillsboro that it expects to become the largest in the United States by 2009. SolarWorld expects to invest $440 million in the plant, hiring as many as 1,000. Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who has worked with business leaders to champion sustainability as the state's new industrial focus, said SolarWorld would help Oregon move toward energy independence. Strong public policy support, including the Business Energy Tax Credit and the proposed Renewable Energy Standard, could help make Oregon a hub for solar and other renewable energy industries. Renewable Energy Bills Fly Through Oregon House [March 2nd, 2007] The Oregon House passed a package of expansive tax credits and mandates on Thursday that are designed to compliment the proposed Renewable Energy Standard and position the state as a leader in renewable energy. The House unanimously approved an expansion of tax credits promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency for both businesses and individuals. Legislation intended to jumpstart the biofuels industry in Oregon with a mix of production incentives and blending requirements also passed the House with only four "No" votes. The bills now move to the Senate. Duke Energy Denied Plans to Construct Coal-fired Power Plant Due to Rising Costs of Coal [February 28th, 2007] Duke Energy Corp's request to build two new 800 megawatt coal-fired power plants at a site in North Carolina was denied Wednesday by state utility regulators. Citing cost estimates for the plants, which have increased more than 50% from original estimates, the state Utility Commission ruled that Duke could only construct one coal plant, and only if the utility retired four aging coal-fired units as soon as the new plant came online. Duke would also be required to invest at least 1 percent of its annual retail revenues from electricity sales in energy efficiency programs. Oregon Joins Four Other Western States to Tackle Global Warming [February 27th, 2007] Oregon will join four other Western states in setting limits on greenhouse gases. In taking the action Monday, Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona and New Mexico build momentum for a national strategy to control carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to global warming. States are increasingly pressing forward on their own amid inaction by the Bush administration and Congress. Capping emissions from fossil-fuel burning power plants could also push energy companies toward wind and other renewable energy. [February 23rd, 2007] Colorado Governor Bill Ritter joined clean energy advocates to announce a new report showing that if the state doubled its renewable energy by 20%, it would add $1.9 billion to the gross domestic production in the state. “More clean, homegrown energy means more jobs and higher wages paid for Coloradans,” said Ritter. “Increasing our use of renewable energy would bring over 4,000 high-paying, high-skilled jobs and over $570 million in wages paid to our state.” In 2004, Colorado became the first state in the country to enact a Renewable Energy Standard by popular referendum. Amendment 37 requires Colorado's larger utilities to get 10% of their energy from clean, homegrown, renewable energy sources by 2015. Xcel Energy, Colorado's largest utility, is on track to exceed the 10% target several years ahead of schedule, and the Colorado State Legislature is now considering expanding the RES to 20% by 2020. Minnesota Enacts Aggressive New Renewable Energy Standard - 25% by 2025 [February 19th, 2007] The Minnesota Legislature adopted what many are calling the strongest Renewable Energy Standard in the nation when the House overwhelmingly gave its approval to them Monday night. The legislation, which passed 123-10, mandates more production of clean, homegrown, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power and sets in motion a timetable to increase the state's use of renewable energy for the next 18 years. Identical legislation already has passed the Senate, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty has pledged to sign the bill [February 2nd, 2007] People and the everyday life of modern societies are the main culprits behind the rise in global warming of the past few decades, and they may accelerate heating even more in this century, say hundreds of the world's premier climate scientists. The findings of the new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report are the most definitive to date in declaring that natural climate cycles do not account for the sharp rise in temperatures since the onset of the Industrial Revolution. The claim also has sharp meaning in the Pacific Northwest, which depends heavily on mountain snows and melt-off for its yearlong water supply. Much of that snowpack is now at risk, making this one of the nation's most vulnerable areas to climate change, according to regional scientists contributing to the report. Climate Change Threatens the Way of Life Oregonians Take for Granted [December 31st, 2006] Northwest climate experts are forecasting dramatic changes to Oregon's climate driven by global warming, threatening many of the things Oregonians take for granted -- fine wine, abundant electricity, wild salmon and more. We should expect hotter, drier heat waves, heavier rains and quicker snowmelt, experts say. The Northwest, a natural target of major storms, will feel the effects of climate change in ways other regions will not. Kansas Utility Delays New Coal Plant Citing Rising Costs [December 28th, 2006] Citing "sharply higher equipment and construction cost estimates," Westar Energy, Inc., Kansas' largest utility, decided to delay plans to develop a new base load coal-fired power plant. "When we started this process over a year ago, the lowest cost means to satisfy these needs was with a coal-fueled power plant. With the recent increases in the estimated cost of coal plants, however, that assumption does not necessarily remain valid," said James Haines, Westar Energy's chief executive officer. Washington Voters Approve Clean Energy Initiative [November 8th, 2006] Washington voters went green on election day, becoming the second state in the nation to approve a Renewable Energy Standard by popular vote. Voters approved Initiative 937, the Clean Energy Initiative, which calls for the state's larger utilities to get at least 15% of their electricity from new, homegrown, renewable energy sources by 2020. Arizona Expands Renewable Energy Standard - 15% by 2025 [November 1st, 2006] By a vote of 4-1, Arizona utility regulators voted on October 31 to expand the state's Renewable Energy Standard to 15% by 2025, paving the way for more renewable energy in the Grand Canyon State. Wind Turbine Traffic Through Port of Vancouver Creating Thousands of New Jobs [October 15th, 2006] Wind turbine traffic through the Port of Vancouver, now home to the world's largest mobile harbor crane, is creating major economic development benefits for the surrounding communities, including thousands of new jobs in the area.
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