Oregon
Clean electricity and coal transition plan — now SB 1547A — faces another House vote and Senate concurrence
Oregon’s clean electricity and coal transition bill is once again headed for floor vote in the House. The original bill (HB 4036) passed the House on a 39-20 bipartisan vote more than a week ago. The bill re-emerged yesterday as SB 1547A, strengthened overall by amendments stemming from continued collaboration among various interests, including the Public Utility Commission.
Read MoreOregon: Clean electricity and coal transition bill advances to Senate floor
House Bill 4036, Oregon’s clean electricity and coal transition plan, is headed for a Senate floor vote after being passed out of committee on Monday. The bill is the product of an historic collaboration between investor-owned utilities, clean energy/climate organizations and the state’s foremost consumer advocacy group. HB 4036 cleared the House last week on a 39-20 bipartisan vote.
Read MoreClean electricity/coal transition plan passes Oregon House!
Oregon’s clean electricity and coal transition plan, House Bill 4036, passed its first big test on Monday, clearing the House floor on a 39-20 bipartisan vote.
The vote reflected both the historic collaboration of investor-owned utilities Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, clean energy/climate organizations and consumer advocates, and your efforts in contacting and educating House members on the importance of advancing the bill.
Read MoreRoger Hamilton OpEd: "Weaning state off coal is what Oregonians want"
Just over five years ago, Oregon regulators approved a proposal to shut down the state’s only coal-burning power plant. For more than three decades, the Boardman plant was a workhorse providing electricity to Oregon families and businesses. But in the end, with overwhelming public support, it became clear the benefits of closing the doors on Boardman, by far the state’s biggest air polluter, outweighed the costs.
Read MoreBob Jenks OpEd in Statesman Journal: "Transition from coal is best for Oregon’s energy future"
As the executive director of the Citizens’ Utility Board of Oregon (CUB), Oregon’s utility ratepayer advocate for 30 years, I am pleased to have negotiated with a coalition of utilities and clean energy advocates to craft proposed House Bill 4036 or The Clean Energy and Transition from Coal Bill.
Read MoreSupport HB 4036, Oregon’s Clean Electricity Plan
The NW Energy Coalition and several of its members and allies have joined with Pacific Power and member utility Portland General Electric in designing legislation to stop Oregon energy consumers from paying for coal-fired power and to double the state’s 25% renewable portfolio standard for investor-owned utilities. This compromise represents a significant step forward for cleaner electric power and for carbon emissions reductions in Oregon.
Read MoreClean energy developments in Oregon
The NW Energy Coalition, Citizens’ Utility Board of Oregon, Climate Solutions, Oregon Environmental Council, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, Renewable Northwest and Sierra Club have agreed on a state legislative proposal to move Oregon utility ratepayers off of coal and to double the state’s renewable portfolio standard to 50%.
Read MoreCoalition comments highlight strengths, weaknesses of draft 7th Power Plan
On Dec. 18, the NW Energy Coalition submitted its written comments on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s draft 7th regional plan which, when finalized, will inform resource decisions by Northwest electric utilities for the next 20 years – especially in the initial five- to six-year action plan period.
Read MoreHundreds testify for clean energy and salmon provisions in 7th Northwest Power and Conservation Plan
A series of eight public hearings on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s draft 7th Plan drew hundreds of clean energy, climate and endangered salmon advocates expressing support for the Council’s embrace of energy efficiency to meet virtually all new power demands through the plan’s 20-year horizon.
Read MoreWeigh in on the 7th Power Plan
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council, the region’s official power planning agency, has just released the draft of its seventh regional power plan. The public now has 60 days to provide written reactions and opportunities to attend and testify at public hearings in all four Northwest states.
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