FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oregon Moves to a Renewable Future: 838 to be Signed by the Governor

Salem: On Friday, the Senate concurred with the House to pass SB 838, the Oregon Renewable Energy Act. The bill now moves to the Governor’s office, where Governor Kulongoski is expected to sign it into law.

Salem:  On Friday, the Senate concurred with the House to pass SB 838, the Oregon Renewable Energy Act.  The bill now moves to the Governor’s office, where Governor Kulongoski is expected to sign it into law.

“This is a great day for all Oregonians as Oregon emerges as a leader in efforts to reduce global warming pollution. Not only will we shrink our energy footprint by getting more electricity from clean energy sources like wind and solar, but we will create jobs in rural Oregon and reduce our energy dependence on foreign oil,” said Sybil Ackerman, Legislative Affairs Director at the Oregon League of Conservation Voters.

SB 838 calls for 25% of the state's electricity to come from new renewable sources by 2025 and will help ensure that Oregonians benefit from greater energy independence, a stronger economy and stable electricity prices, using electricity that comes from clean, homegrown, renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal, and wave energy.

Establishing an effective renewable energy standard is one of the priorities of the Oregon Conservation Network, the coalition of Oregon’s environmental groups.

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