HB 2021

Abstract

Requires retail electricity providers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity sold to Oregon consumers to 80 percent below baseline emissions levels by 2030, 90 percent below baseline emissions levels by 2035 and 100 percent below baseline emissions levels by 2040. Requires electric companies to develop clean energy plans and electricity service suppliers to report information for meeting clean energy targets. Directs Department of Environment Quality to determine amount of emissions reduction necessary for each retail electricity provider to meet clean energy targets. Limits cumulative rate impact for compliance to six percent of annual revenue requirements. Permits performance incentive for early compliance. Requires electric company that files clean energy plan to convene Community Benefits and Impacts Advisory Group with input from stakeholders who represent interests of customers and affected entities and communities. Requires electric company to file biennial report with Public Utility Commission that assesses community benefits and impacts of electric company. Directs State Department of Energy to convene work group to examine opportunities to encourage development of small scale and community-based renewable energy projects and report findings to interim committee of Legislative Assembly no later than September 30, 2022. Sunsets December 15, 2022. Permits electric company, if agreed to and in coordination with government, to provide program of rates or charges to serve retail electricity consumers that covers costs of electricity generated from renewable energy resources or nonemitting energy resources or paired with unbundled renewable energy certificates. Defines "government." Requires electricity service suppliers to publicly disclose aggregated energy supply mix and associated emissions of power sources. Establishes contractor labor standards in construction or repowering of large-scale projects. Defines "large-scale project." Prohibits Energy Facility Siting Council from issuing site certificate for new generating facility that produces energy from fossil fuels unless facility generates only nonemitting electricity. Prohibits council from approving amendment of site certificate for generating facility in manner that would increase carbon dioxide emissions from operation of generating facility. Creates grant program within State Department of Energy to provide grants to Indian tribes, public bodies and consumer-owned utilities to plan or develop community renewable energy projects. Establishes Community Renewable Investment Fund within State Treasury for purposes of grant program for community renewable energy projects. Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Community Renewable Investment Fund. Increases, from eight percent to 10 percent by 2030, requirement that aggregate electrical capacity of all electric companies be composed of electricity from small-scale renewable energy projects or facilities using biomass. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.