The Oregon Senate Business and Transportation Committee on Tuesday voted 3-2 in favor of legislation requiring the elimination of coal-fired power generation from the state energy mix. The bill specifically states that “on or before January 1, 2030, an electric company shall eliminate coal-fired resources from its allocation of electricity.” Currently, there is only one coal-fired power plant operating in Oregon. That facility is scheduled to close in 2020. However, the bill also applies to out-of-state coal-generated power imported to Oregonians. Those plants do not need to be shut down for utilities to comply, but cannot be used to meet the state’s energy needs.
The bill, HB 4036, is now waiting to be brought before the full state Senate.
