Rounding Out Governor Kulongoski's 2009 Clean Energy Agenda
Senate Bill 201 would create an account to fund energy efficiency improvements to 800 low-income houses annually.
House Bill 2121 would establish a pilot program for feed in tariffs to guarantee prices for solar-powered energy. The bill is modeled on a successful feed in tariff program in Germany credited with spurring installation of over 2,500 MW of new solar energy generation capacity. The pilot program would help the state evaluate if similar results would be achieved in Oregon.
House Bill 2186 would require fuels sold in Oregon to reduce their carbon intensity by 10% over a specified time period.
Senate Bill 168 would clarify the authority of the state to use state lands for renewable energy projects. This bill was spurred by the first installment of the Oregon Solar Highway on lands operated by the Oregon Department of Transportation. One hurdle to that project was the obligation of ODOT to use state highways only for "highway purposes." This bill would facilitate further renewable energy projects on state lands by circumventing this and similar restrictive language on the use of state land.
Senate Bill 76 would authorize the Public Utility Commission to permit cost recovery to PacifiCorp for the removal and decommissioning of four major dams on the Klamath River. The bill assumes that removal and decommissioning would ultimately save ratepayers money as compared to the cost of upgrading and relicensing the dams, which would be passed through in rates if the dams are not removed.
The Governor's legislative agenda is ambitious, especially with the Legislature focused on economic issues. However, it is consistent with his vision of Oregon as a leader in green and sustainable industries. All of his proposals would be welcome additions to Oregon law, but the most important and far-reaching would be Senate Bills 80 and 168, and House Bills 2181 and 2121, all of which would provide significant incentives to development of solar energy as a complement to Oregon's already robust wind energy industry. From an environmental perspective, Senate Bill 76 would provide a fantastic impetus to resolution of the seemingly intractable Klamath Basin water disputes.
Post authored by David J. Peterson, partner practicing in the Sustainability and Real Estate and Land Use Practice Groups.
