LOC News
Multiple Renewable Energy Proposals Advance
Last week’s LOC Bulletin highlighted four significant energy policy bills that have gained traction this legislative session. This week, there was action taken on two of those bills (HB 2021 and SB 784), while another bill (HB 3180) died in committee. A fourth bill, HB 3221, had already passed out of its policy committee several weeks ago, and is still awaiting a public hearing in the Ways and Means process. The LOC is closely monitoring these bills and encourages cities to reach out to their legislators with feedback.
HB 2021: 100% Renewable
HB 2021 would require investor-owned utilities to meet specific renewable energy targets, with requirements for utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to: 80% below baseline emissions by the year 2030; 90% below baseline emissions by 2040; and 100% below baseline emissions by the 2050. Baseline emissions are measured by the average annual emissions from the years 2010, 2011 and 2013. The bill includes provisions that would allow a local government, or federally recognized tribe, to adopt a local green tariff program for the deployment of community-scale renewables within the local government’s jurisdictional boundaries. The program would provide opt-out provisions for residential customers who do not wish to participate. Several proposed amendments have been drafted for HB 2021. On April 12, the House Energy & Environment Committee adopted the -23 amendments and moved the bill to the House Revenue Committee for further consideration.
SB 784: Green Tariff Program
SB 784 proposes a green energy tariff program in Oregon. Like HB 2021, the bill would allow a local government, or federally recognized tribe, to adopt a local green tariff program for the deployment of community-scale renewables within the local government’s jurisdictional boundaries. The program would be made available within the territory of the state’s investor-owned utilities, including Pacific Power and Portland General Electric. The program would provide opt-out provisions for residential customers who do not wish to participate. The bill was amended during Tuesday’s Senate Energy & Environment Committee meeting with -7 amendments, and will now move to the Senate floor. The -7 amendments: provide additional clarity on the types of resilience projects that can be supported with green tariff ratepayer dollars; expand green tariff opportunities to include natural gas utilities; require the Oregon Public Utility Commission to establish a voluntary emission reduction program for natural gas, and make changes to the labor provision contained in the bill.
HB 3180: Updates to Oregon Renewable Portfolio Standard
HB 3180 would have revised Oregon’s Renewable Portfolio Standards, which were last updated and increased in 2016. The bill would have required 100% of electricity sold to retail customers to come from “qualifying electricity” by the year 2050. During Monday’s House Energy & Environment Committee meeting, it was announced that HB 3180 would not move forward this session.
Contact: Tracy Rutten Rainey, Lobbyist – trutten@orcities.org
Last Updated 4/16/21