Oregon Gov. Kate Brown celebrated the signing of a bill committing electricity providers to deliver 100% clean power to Oregon customers by 2040 into law at a ceremony on Tuesday. The move builds on a national trend, as it makes Oregon the eighth state to enact a legislative commitment to 100% clean or renewable electricity. The Beaver State joins the ranks of Hawaii, California, Washington, New Mexico, New York, Maine and Virginia. By setting 2040 as the deadline to reach its commitment, Oregon ties New York for the fastest statewide timeline in the nation.
“From Washington to Virginia, people are raising their voices for power that doesn’t pollute,” said Emma Searson, 100% Renewable campaign director at Environment America. “And in state after state, leaders are heeding that call. We’re excited to welcome Oregon not only to the ranks of states that have set their sights on the cleaner, healthier, renewable-powered future we need, but also to the front of the pack.”
The policy sets targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity sold in Oregon compared to a 2010 baseline. The legislation includes requirements for 80% emissions reductions for power sold in-state by 2030, 90% by 2035 and, ultimately, 100% by 2040. Since emissions from Oregon power have been on the decline since 2010, the bill will, in effect, require emission-free electricity in the state by 2040.
Given the state’s existing renewable portfolio standard and hydropower generation capacity, renewables are set to deliver the vast majority of the new zero emissions electricity target.
News item from Environment America
“The Beaver State joins the ranks of Hawaii, California, Washington, New Mexico, New York, Maine and Virginia. By setting 2040 as the deadline to reach its commitment, Oregon ties New York for the fastest statewide timeline in the nation.”
Now, this is getting interesting, California is “leading the way” to decarbonization and Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona are all chasing their own decarbonization mandates. As this rolls out in the years to come, California that has depended on capacity from Oregon’s hydro electric and I’d imagine some of Washington’s hydroelectric power also finds its way to California will lose it’s easy capacity market as other States tighten up their energy generation and dispatch capsules to meet decarbonization mandates. By 2025 Diablo Canyon nuclear plant in California will be shutdown and decommissioned. This will drive an increase in electricity rates on average in California to around $0.30/kWh to $0.35/kWh by 2030 and there may be NO wiggle room for California to grab capacity from other States of the Union.
Unless California comes up with a “force of nature” plan to execute in 5 years, It will suck to be in California when it comes time to pay for the “vision” and the mandate of decarbonization.