Governor Kitzhaber Signs Bills that Support Clean Energy

Salem, Ore. – Today Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber signed several energy and conservation-related bills into law in a ceremony at the state capital. As a package, the bills are consistent with the goals of the Governor’s 10-year plan to support clean energy.  The ceremony occurred just moments before President Obama’s speech on climate change delivered from the nation’s capital. Renewable Northwest commends the President’s call to get serious on climate change, and looks forward to working with the state and federal agencies to improve and implement renewable energy policies toward that end. The bills passed into law today in Oregon continue the state’s path towards a cleaner energy future.

Stated Governor Kitzhaber, “These bills are a great step forward in meeting the goals of our 10-Year Energy Plan and positioning Oregon to be more competitive in the global economy. Energy is the issue of our time, and no single issue will have a greater impact on our state’s economy, environment and quality of life in the coming decade.” 

Added Rachel Shimshak, executive director of Renewable Northwest, “The energy bills passed this session will help to build on Oregon’s clean, renewable energy legacy. Oregon has seen over $9 billion of investment in renewable energy so far, and these investments have created over 5,000 jobs, many of them in rural areas with low employment. We look forward to building on this year’s success for the benefit of all Oregonians.”

Among the bills passed that Renewable Northwest supported were SB 242, which fixes the state’s Emission Performance Standard to prevent utilities from entering into new, long-term contracts for out-of-state coal, and HB 2893, which extends the solar feed-in-tariff program and initiates a comprehensive solar study.

Renewable Northwest is a regional nonprofit advocacy organization promoting responsible development of renewable energy resources in the Pacific Northwest. For more information, please visit www.renewablenw.org.

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130625_PR_RSKitzCeremony_ObamaSpeech_final.pdf ( 54.11 KB )