Mayor Bemis, Others Endorse PGE Clean Energy Program Bid

GRESHAM, OR — Shane Bemis was one of six Oregon mayors to recently endorse Portland General Electric's new program to meet the state's goal of clean energy production and consumption.

Filed last Friday with the Oregon Public Utility Commission, PGE's "Green Tariff" program — if approved — could create new options for large non-residential customers to purchase clean energy directly from solar, wind, and other renewable energy facilities through PGE's service.

"This is part of PGE's ongoing commitment to leading the way to a clean energy future for Oregon," PGE president and CEO Maria Pope said in a statement released Monday. "Many of our customers have ambitious clean energy and sustainability goals — while at the same time wanting to keep prices affordable. This is another way we can meet their needs."

While the Green Tariff Program allows PGE municipal and large business customers to continue their current service, it also creates the option to obtain clean energy from renewable resources — pushing PGE toward the state's goal of seeing half the state's energy supply come from renewable resources over the next 22 years.

Senate Bill 1547, which was passed by Oregon state legislators in 2016, increases the previous clean energy goal of 25 percent renewable resources by 2025 to 50 percent renewable by 2040.

According to PGE, "The proposed program would deliver power to participating large customers at a price that reflects the actual cost of producing and delivering the energy from a specific facility, and it would be self-supporting to assure that no costs would be shifted to non-participating customers."

Details on the pricing structure and varying contract options can be found here.

In written testimony offered to the commission, Bemis outlined Gresham's interest in the Green Tariff program and described what he personally hopes to see happen in the city.

"Shortly after taking office in 2007, I signed the Mayor’s Climate Protection Act and went to work looking for places where environmental responsibility could make economic sense," Bemis testified. "In 2011, the City Council formally approved Gresham’s Internal Operations and Facilities Sustainability Plan, further guiding Gresham’s sustainability goals and opportunities.

"We are innovating with technology to save money for our residents while doing the right thing for the environment," he said.

From a revamped wastewater treatment plant to installing more than 8,000 LED street lights throughout the city, Bemis said Gresham has set course to save upward of $600,000 in energy costs over the next 30 years.

“In Gresham, we are always searching for creative proposals that have all the right shades of green, in terms of positive outcomes for the environment, and the opportunity to save taxpayer funds," Bemis said in a statement. "I think this new tool shows a lot of promise to do just that."

Along with Bemis, mayors from Portland, Milwaukie, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Salem signed the application endorsing the commission's approval.

Click here for more information about the proposed Green Tariff program.

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