North American Windpower: Oregon Governor's New Energy Plan Aims To Streamline Wind Power Development

by NAW Staff on Tuesday 18 December 2012

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has released a new 10-year energy plan that outlines the steps the state will take to meet renewable energy, energy efficiency, greenhouse-gas reduction and transportation objectives.

The plan presents three core goals:

Meeting 100% of new electric load growth through energy efficiency and conservation;
Enhancing clean energy infrastructure development by removing finance and regulatory barriers to attract new investment and pursue promising new technologies; and
Accelerating the market transition to a more efficient, lower-cost and cleaner transportation system, including strategies for fleet vehicle conversion and access to cleaner-burning and more efficient vehicles.

The governor’s plan proposes streamlined permitting for renewable energy facilities in order to provide more certainty for companies considering investments in Oregon, as well as recommends workforce development initiatives to ensure Oregonians have the skills and training necessary to land clean energy jobs.

The plan also calls for building retrofits and efficiency improvements on up to 4 million square feet of state-owned buildings and office space to improve their energy performance and help drive private-sector investment.

“We have a tremendous opportunity to build a more competitive and resilient economy while improving the health of the environment,” Kitzhaber says. “Oregon is consistently ranked as one of the most energy-efficient states in the country. This plan builds on that leadership and boosts homegrown renewable energy, clean energy infrastructure and Oregon companies.”

More information on the plan is available here.

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