Oregon
Oregon has made significant progress on climate action, with policies such as the Climate Protection Program, a cap-and-reduce program that will significantly reduce the state’s fossil fuel emissions.
Legislative Profile
Governor: Tina Kotek (D)
House: Democratic majority
Senate: Democratic majority
U.S. Climate Alliance Member
Key Resources
Oregon State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
Oregon Climate Change Portal — Oregon Department of Energy
Oregon Energy Policy Simulator — Energy Innovation
Emissions Reduction Targets
By 2035:
45%
By 2050:
75%
All targets relative to 1990 levels
2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)
- Commercial
- Electric
- Residential
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)
Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.
Climate Governance & Equity
Climate Governance
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
45% by 2035 | 75% by 2050 Relative to 1990 levels
Mandate Source
2035: Voluntary – EO 20-04 (2020)
2050: Mandatory – Chapter 0907 (2007)
Climate Action Plan
Climate Bureaucracy
Interagency Commissions/Task Forces
Non-Governmental Advisory Bodies
Oregon Climate Action Commission
Environmental Quality Commission
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Green Bank
Lead by Example
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 1 point**
Public Fleet ZEV Requirements
SB 1044 (2019) – By 2025: At least 25% of new light-duty state fleet purchases and leases will be Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV)
Equity
Environmental Justice Community Designation
Mandate Source
HB 4077 (2022)
Definition
“Environmental justice community” includes communities of color, low-income communities, communities experiencing health inequities, tribal communities, rural, remote, or coastal communities, communities with limited infrastructure and other communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes and adversely harmed by environmental and health hazards.
Include race? Yes | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? No
State EJ Mapping Tools
HB 4077 (2022) – Requires the EJ Council to develop an EJ mapping tool by Sept. 15, 2025
EJ Community Benefit Requirement
EJ Bureaucracy
EJ Advisory Bodies
EJ Government Staff
HB 4077 (2022) – The Department of Environmental Quality will provide staff support to the Environmental Justice Council
Oregon DEQ Environmental Justice Coordinator
**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.
Adaptation & Resilience
Electricity
Renewables and Energy Storage
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
80% by 2030 | 90% by 2035 | 100% by 2040 Relative to 2010-2012 average annual levels
Mandate Source
HB 2021 (2021)
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out
SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*
Net Metering
SPOT Components – 8 out of 11*
Energy Storage Standard
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Shared Renewables
SPOT Components – 4 out of 6*
Grid and Utility Reform
Clean Energy Plan
Grid Modernization Plan
The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.
50-state Ranking – 5th
Interconnection Standards
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Utility Green Power Option
SPOT Components – 4 out of 6*
New Utility Business Model Proceeding
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Buildings & Efficiency
Building Energy Codes
Residential Codes
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Statewide code – Oregon Residential Specialty Code (2021)
Commercial Codes
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Statewide code – ASHRAE 90.1 2019
Stretch or Reach Codes
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Efficiency Programs and Incentives
Weatherization Programs
SPOT Components – 2 out of 4*
Energy Auditing Programs
Retrocommissioning Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
SPOT Components – 6 out of 10*
Energy Savings Performance Contracting
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Standards and Market Mechanisms
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*
Building Performance Standard (BPS)
HB 3049 (2023) – BPS covers large commercial buildings
Appliance Performance Standard (APS)
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings Data Disclosure
Transportation
Vehicle Standards and Incentives
Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
EV Targets and Sales Requirements
Advanced Clean Cars II (2022) – By 2035: 100% of new vehicles sold are zero emission and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
SB 1044 (2019) – By 2020: 50,000 registered ZEVs | 2025: 250,000 registered ZEVs | By 2030: At least 25% of registered vehicles are ZEVs
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards
EV Sales Requirements
By 2035: 55% of Class 2b – 3 truck sales are zero emissions | 75% of Class 4 – 8 straight truck sales are zero emissions | 40% of truck tractor sales are zero-emissions.
Electric Vehicle Incentives
SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*
Charging Infrastructure Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
State Planning and Investment
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
80% by 2050 Relative to 2017-2019 average emissions
Mandate Source
Voluntary – Executive Order 20-04 (2020)
Decarbonization Plan
EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans
EV Transit Bus Deployment
The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 6 points
Bicycle Friendly State
The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.
50-state Ranking – 2nd
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Agriculture
Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Governance
Mandate Source
SB 5502 (2021)
Task Force Portal or Action Plan
Soil Health Specialist in the Oregon Department of Agriculture
Financial Incentives
Technical Assistance & Education Programs
Food Waste Bans and Targets
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) Regulations
HFC Regulations
Methane Regulations
DEQ 16-2021 (2021) – Control of methane emissions from landfills
SF6 Regulations
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buy Clean Requirements
HB 4139 (2022) – Requires state regulators to conduct life cycle assessments for select construction and maintenance materials used for public infrastructure projects.