Energy Use in Oregon
Consumption by Source
Oregon relies on energy from a variety of resources. We import energy such as gasoline, natural gas, propane, and other fuels. We use electricity from both in- and out-of-state sources — including hydropower, natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind, and other renewable resources. The energy use totals (in trillion Btu) in the pie chart to the right are source energy totals reflecting the primary energy required to meet demand in Oregon.
For this introduction to Oregon’s energy use, the report sorts energy into three main categories: Transportation, Electricity, and Direct Use Fuels.
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Transportation Fuels: this includes personal, passenger, and commercial vehicles, both on and off the roads, plus airplanes, boats, barges, ships, and trains. Nearly all transportation-related sources of energy are imported from out of state for in-state use. Learn more
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Electricity: this is where most people begin when thinking about energy — the critical resource that powers our day-to-day lives. The electricity Oregonians use comes from facilities across the western United States, including Oregon. Learn more
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Direct Use Fuels: This category includes fuel oil and natural gas used to heat homes and commercial spaces; fuels used for other residential purposes, such as gas stoves; solar thermal heating; and fuels used directly in industrial processes. Read more
Resources Used for Oregon Electricity Mix
In 2022, Oregon used 58.7 million megawatt hours of electricity from both in-state and out-of-state sources. Hydropower, coal, and natural gas make up the bulk of Oregon’s electricity resources, commonly called the resource mix, although the share of each resource is constantly changing and evolving.
Renewable energy makes up an increasingly larger share of the mix each year. In 2021, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2021, requiring Oregon’s largest electric utilities, Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below baseline emissions levels (average from 2010-2012) by 2030, 90% below by 2035, and 100% by 2040.
The seven largest sources of electricity are labeled below; the other resources not listed in the bubble chart are each under 2%. Learn More
12.6%
Percentage of Oregon’s 2022 electricity mix that came from coal.
2040
Year by which Oregon’s two largest utilities and all Electricity Service Suppliers will need to reduce emissions for electricity sold in the state by 100% below baseline emissions levels.
Resources Used to Generate Oregon’s Electricity
Electric utilities are privately owned electric companies (investor-owned utilities) or consumerowned utilities that provide electricity to retail electricity consumers. Oregon utilities generate their own electricity, purchase power from wholesale providers, or enter into short- or long-term contracts to buy electricity from third-party owned power plants or regional markets. Learn More
Energy Efficiency: Oregon’s Second Largest Resource
Oregon Electricity Savings & Estimated Share of Seventh Power Plan Goal (aMW)
Energy efficiency, the use of less energy to perform the same task or produce the same result, plays a critical role in Oregon. It remains the second largest resource in the state after hydropower, and Oregon has consistently met increased demand for electricity by implementing energy efficiency strategies.
While Oregon has long remained in the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) top ten ranking, the state fell to eleventh place in 2022. This was largely due to other states building momentum in the efficiency space, lower relative costs of renewable energy technologies, and fewer investments in energy efficiency programs.
More: ODOE Energy Incentives + Efficiency
Direct Use Fuels
In 2022, Oregon used 267.5 trillion Btu of direct use fuels to heat buildings, cook food, and support commercial and industrial processes.1 Direct use fuels make up about 30.9% of the total energy consumption in Oregon. These fuels are used on-site in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. They do not include fuels used to generate electricity or support the transportation sector.