Brown issues executive order following legislature’s failure to pass cap & trade

Oregon Governor Kate Brown has signed an Executive Order (EO) that seeks to reduce carbon emissions in the state after the proposed Cap and Invest bill, SB 1530, failed to pass due to the Republican legislator walk-out. The Executive Order sets greenhouse emission (GHG) goals at 45% below 1990 levels by 2035 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. The EO directs a number of state agencies, including the Public Utility Commission (PUC), Department of Environmental Quality, and Department of Energy to take actions to meet these goals. The actions include:

  • Establishment of GHG emissions sector caps for transportation, industrial, and natural gas
  • Expansion of the Clean Fuels Program making it the strongest in the country
  • Direction to agencies to update appliance standards and building codes
  • Direction to the PUC to:
    • Give explicit consideration to state GHG goals in utility proceedings,
    • Support investments in transportation electrification investments
    • Prioritize proceedings that advance decarbonization, and
    • Establish a process to address differential energy burdens and environmental justice issues.

The Coalition is in the process of analyzing the details of the order and its effect on regulation in Oregon. The order is available to view and download here.