Mayor Callaway, Others Endorse PGE Clean Energy Program Bid

HILLSBORO, OR — Steve Callaway 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, Callaway outlined Hillsboro's interest in the Green Tariff program and described what he personally hopes to see happen in the city.

“We believe in increasing sustainable options to meet the energy needs of Hillsboro residents, businesses, and community groups, and we wholeheartedly support PGE’s choice to expand its local, renewable energy sources,” Callaway said. "Environmental sustainability formally emerged as a community priority during the 10-year update of the Hillsboro 2020 Vision and Action Plan in 2010. Through that outreach process, the public expressed strong support for expanding sustainability efforts beyond City Hall and into the broader community."

A Sustainability Task Force launched in 2012, and research initiated the following year as part of the city's process to develop its next twenty-year community plan, Hillsboro 2035, have helped steer and define the city's goals for a greener future, Callaway said.

Callaway shared with the commission a litany of actions the city hopes to perform over the next five years that will all push Hillsboro toward its ultimate goal.

Those actions include:

• Developing or supporting a community solar program;
• Converting biogas from wastewater treatment to natural gas for city vehicles and other energy uses;
• Enhancing city bicycle options and facilities;
• Diversifying housing options; and
• Providing community education on how to change little things in every residents' daily life that could help guide the entire community toward clean energy consumption.

Along with Callaway, mayors from Gresham, Portland, Beaverton, Milwaukie, 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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