Letter from ODOE’s Director

We are in the midst of a significant energy transition. Energy technology and the way that energy consumers interact with it is rapidly developing. Oregon has bold clean energy targets, including 100 percent clean electricity by 2040, achieving greenhouse gas emissions levels that are 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, a 100 percent zero emission vehicle sales target by 2035, and others. At the same time we are working to achieve these ambitious goals, Oregon is already experiencing the effects of climate change, from extreme weather to natural disasters like wildfires made worse by climate change.

Transitioning our energy systems while adapting to climate change is a daunting task, and the state has choices to make about how we will do it. What are the best pathways that we can take to reach these big goals while ensuring that all Oregonians can be part of an equitable and affordable clean energy future? What steps do we need to take now to position us for future success?

Two years ago, when the Oregon Department of Energy last published this Biennial Energy Report, we left readers with an idea:

The Oregon Legislature agreed, and in 2023 directed ODOE to develop an Oregon Energy Strategy. We are well underway on the project, engaging with other state agencies, energy experts, community partners, Tribes, and the public as we dive into data and policy analysis.

Over the next year, we’ll review different energy scenarios, modeling results, and potential actions Oregon can take to achieve an equitable clean energy future. We look forward to presenting the new energy strategy in November 2025. Our agency also recently looked at energy security in the state and published a new Oregon Energy Security Plan in September.

The plan outlines the state’s current energy infrastructure, quantifies threats and hazards that cause energy insecurity, and identifies potential measures the state and our partners can implement to manage risk and strengthen Oregon’s energy security.

With these significant projects in mind, ODOE considered topics for this year’s Biennial Energy Report that could support discussions and planning for an equitable and secure clean energy transition. We chose emerging technologies and resources that could contribute to clean energy goals, such as enhanced geothermal electricity generation and fusion power.

Building on the foundation of past reports’ Energy 101s, we identified new topics like advancements in clean hydrogen, agrivoltaics, day-ahead markets, and other areas that Oregon’s energy experts and leaders are thinking about as we forge ahead. We tried to answer questions like what is driving recent electricity rate increases and what options do we have that could reduce the need to build new transmission lines, which can be expensive, timeconsuming, and have effects on ratepayers, the environment, and local communities.

As with past reports, we start with Energy by the Numbers – a section that lays out data, trends, and indicators that illustrate Oregon’s current energy landscape. One trend that the report reflects this year is a rise in electricity use – as Oregon’s population grows, new industrial loads like data centers are introduced, and extreme weather leads to increased installation and use of air conditioning and heating.

We also take a look back, with new moments of interest on our interactive Energy History Timeline, including a modernized Oregon Climate Action Commission, a significant federal investment in Pacific Northwest clean hydrogen, and other new milestones. In service of our mission, ODOE provides a venue for problem-solving Oregon’s energy challenges – like developing a new Oregon Energy Strategy – and we act as a central repository for energy data, information, and analysis.

We’re proud to serve in this role – and to produce this biennial report to help keep Oregon on the leading edge of energy policies, technologies, and trends. We hope you will use this information to engage in discussions and consider options for addressing the energy challenges we face today.

Join us for discussions in 2025 as we continue working toward a new Oregon Energy Strategy. Reach out to us anytime to have a conversation, explore solutions, or request a workshop or presentation on an energy topic for your organization or community.

In 2025, the Oregon Department of Energy will celebrate its 50th year of public service — and we’re already looking ahead to the next 50. Let’s work together to chart a course to a safe, equitable, clean, and sustainable energy future.