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Energy by the Numbers

Oregon’s Energy Story

Oregon’s energy story has evolved over time thanks to new technologies, resource availability shifts, and policy changes. While the Pacific Northwest has a long history of using hydropower, 20 years ago, solar- and wind-generated energy was scarce. Today, Oregon’s energy resources are diverse. In the chart at right, start at the left to see imported energy and energy produced in Oregon. The numbers represent trillions of Btus of energy.

The energy lines flow from left to right to show the different types of resources (hydro, natural gas, solar, and others), and where they end up in Oregon’s energy story — from transportation fuels to the natural gas and electricity that supply homes and businesses. Some energy ultimately goes unused and some is exported to other states.

Full Energy by the Numbers Section

Oregon Energy Flow Diagram
The numbers in the diagram represent trillions of Btus of energy. A British Thermal Unit is a measurement of the heat content of fuels or energy sources. Btu offers a common unit of measurement that can be used to count and compare different energy sources or fuels. Fuels are converted from physical units of measurement, such as weight or volume, into Btu to more easily evaluate data and show changes over time.

Oregon’s Energy Consumption Over Time

Oregon saw an overall trend of increased energy use for almost four decades—an average of 3.6 percent growth per year from 1960 to 1999. During that time, we shifted from a reliance on fuel oil and wood to increased usage of natural gas and electricity in our homes and businesses. Oregon reached our highest consumption of energy in 1999. Since then, total energy use has been decreasing.

At a Local Level

Oregon Counties
Profiles for each Oregon county provide residential data related to population, demographics, income, energy and transportation burden, and household characteristics. The profiles paint a picture of how energy is used in each county, along with the nexus between energy and other important community attributes.

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2020 BIENNIAL
ENERGY REPORT

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Energy 101

How Energy is Produced, Used, and Transformed

This includes fundamental information for people new to energy or specific energy topics, along with those looking for data or a central place to help tell the story of how energy systems affect their work and interests. Narratives range from basic information about where our transportation and natural gas resources come from and how they get to consumers, to the role that codes, standards, and net-zero buildings play in reducing overall energy use.

Full Energy 101 Section

Energy Production Categories

Electricity
Much of the electricity generated in-state uses Oregon-based natural resources – wind or hydropower, for example. Oregon energy facilities also generate electricity using raw materials from out of state. All of the coal and almost all of the natural gas used at Oregon’s large scale in-state coal and natural gas power plants is imported. Oregon does produce renewable natural gas and biofuels that are used to generate electricity, they are also sometimes used for combined heat and power at mainly commercial and industrial facilities in Oregon.

Direct Use Fuels
Direct use fuels include small amounts of natural gas and a variety of biofuels produced in-state: hog fuel (wood chips) used for industrial heat, commercial wood pellets for commercial industrial heat, renewable natural gas and other biofuels used for combined heat and power, and others.

Transportation Fuels
Oregon produces about 25 percent of the biofuels our transportation system uses; overall, biofuels make up 6.4 percent of Oregon’s use of transportation fuels.

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Electricity Transmission

Transmission lines move large volumes of high-voltage electricity across long distances and are needed to connect large distant generating resources to electricity customers (also known as load centers). Transmission lines create a networked system by interconnecting a variety of load centers to generating resources. Most generators are located long distances from the towns, cities, counties, and rural areas they serve.

Energy and our daily lives

The second part of the story is how energy systems affect the lives of Oregonians. Information in this section includes an explanation of energy bills and how net metering works for technologies like rooftop solar. Readers can then learn more about the very real challenges of energy burden in our state, along with the growth and opportunities of clean energy jobs in Oregon.

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Resource Reviews

RAPID ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY HAVE RESPONDED TO AND PIONEERED CHANGES IN OUR STATE AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

The technologies examined in the gallery are those that are prevalent in Oregon. Many of these technologies place Oregon and its communities on the forefront of a cleaner, more sustainable future.

They help Oregon meet its climate and energy goals by enabling cleaner and more efficient fuels and resources. They offer opportunities to invest in Oregon’s economy by creating energy-related jobs to maintain our energy system and develop new projects. They can make us more resilient by enabling us to maintain or restore our energy systems when disruptions occur. And beyond these opportunities and benefits — they are just so cool.

Full Technology Reviews Section

 
Tech Reviews Gallery 2020
Hydropower Total Capacity in Oregon (2019): 8,303 MW Facilities in Oregon (0.03 to 2,160 MW): 94 *includes 7 facilities cross state borders Total Generation (2018): 35,442,773 MWh Total Consumption (2018): 22,125,769 MWh Total Exports

Hydropower

Total Capacity in Oregon (2019): 8,303 MW

Facilities in Oregon (0.03 to 2,160 MW): 94 *includes 7 facilities cross state borders

Total Generation (2018): 35,442,773 MWh

Total Consumption (2018): 22,125,769 MWh

Total Exports (2018): 13,317,004 MWh

Biomass Total Capacity in Oregon: 288 MW Facilities in Oregon (1.5 to 51.5 MW): 16 Total Generation (2018): 738,296 MWh Total Consumption (2018): 700,841 MWh Total Exports (2018): 37,454 MWh

Biomass

Total Capacity in Oregon: 288 MW

Facilities in Oregon (1.5 to 51.5 MW): 16

Total Generation (2018): 738,296 MWh

Total Consumption (2018): 700,841 MWh

Total Exports (2018): 37,454 MWh

Conduit Hydropower Total Capacity in Oregon: 4,140 MW Facilities in Oregon (6.5 to 689 MW): 18 Total Generation (2018): 17,922,777 MWh Total Consumption (2018): 10,876,934 MWh Total Exports (2018): 7,045,842 MWh

Conduit Hydropower

Total Capacity in Oregon: 4,140 MW

Facilities in Oregon (6.5 to 689 MW): 18

Total Generation (2018): 17,922,777 MWh

Total Consumption (2018): 10,876,934 MWh

Total Exports (2018): 7,045,842 MWh

Solar Energy Total Capacity in Oregon (2019): 592 MW Facilities in Oregon (2019): 18,000+ Residential/Commercial (1 kW to 56 MW) and 77 Utility-Scale Total Generation (2018): 776,000 MWh In-State Consumption (2018): 680,499 MWh Tota

Solar Energy

Total Capacity in Oregon (2019): 592 MW

Facilities in Oregon (2019): 18,000+ Residential/Commercial

(1 kW to 56 MW) and 77 Utility-Scale

Total Generation (2018): 776,000 MWh

In-State Consumption (2018): 680,499 MWh

Total Exports: (2018): 95,501 MWh

Natural Gas Total Capacity in Oregon: 4,140 MW Facilities in Oregon (6.5 to 689 MW): 18 Total Generation (2018): 17,922,777 MWh Total Consumption (2018): 10,876,934 MWh Total Exports (2018): 7,045,842 MWh

Natural Gas

Total Capacity in Oregon: 4,140 MW

Facilities in Oregon (6.5 to 689 MW): 18

Total Generation (2018): 17,922,777 MWh

Total Consumption (2018): 10,876,934 MWh

Total Exports (2018): 7,045,842 MWh

Wind Power Total MW Capacity in Oregon: 3,415 MW Facilities in Oregon (1.65 to 290 MW): 46 (3 under construction) Total Generation (2018): 7,447,442 MWh Total Consumption (2018): 2,396,878 MWh Total Exports (2018): 5,050,564 MWh

Wind Power

Total MW Capacity in Oregon: 3,415 MW

Facilities in Oregon (1.65 to 290 MW): 46 (3 under construction)

Total Generation (2018): 7,447,442 MWh

Total Consumption (2018): 2,396,878 MWh

Total Exports (2018): 5,050,564 MWh

Onshore Wind Potential A 2012 NREL study indicates Oregon has technical potential for 27 GW of onshore wind power. Much of this technical potential along the Cascades and in Southeastern Oregon is undeveloped due to challenges finding sites for p

Onshore Wind Potential

A 2012 NREL study indicates Oregon has technical potential for 27 GW of onshore wind power. Much of this technical potential along the Cascades and in Southeastern Oregon is undeveloped due to challenges finding sites for projects and transmission corridors that meet the requirements to limit environmental effects from wind projects on sensitive environments and communities, as well as costs.

Coal Total Capacity in Oregon: 0 MW *Boardman Coal Plant closed 10/2020 Facilities in Oregon: 0 *Boardman Coal Plant closed 10/2020 Total Generation (2018): 1,476,244 MWh Total Consumption (2018): 12,681,244 MWh Total Imports (2018):

Coal

Total Capacity in Oregon: 0 MW *Boardman Coal Plant closed 10/2020

Facilities in Oregon: 0 *Boardman Coal Plant closed 10/2020

Total Generation (2018): 1,476,244 MWh

Total Consumption (2018): 12,681,244 MWh

Total Imports (2018): 11,204,853 MWh

Geothermal Energy Total Capacity in Oregon: 26.9 MW Facilities in Oregon (1.75 to 22 MW): 3 Total Generation (2018): 176,235 MWh Total Consumption (2018): 59,389 MWh Total Imports (2018): 116,846 MWh

Geothermal Energy

Total Capacity in Oregon: 26.9 MW

Facilities in Oregon (1.75 to 22 MW): 3

Total Generation (2018): 176,235 MWh

Total Consumption (2018): 59,389 MWh

Total Imports (2018): 116,846 MWh

Biogas and Renewable Natural Gas Total MW Capacity in Oregon: 52.6 MW Facilities in Oregon (0.07 MW – 6.4 MW): 25 Total Generation (2018): 299,000 MWh Total Consumption (2018): 55,589 MWh Total Exports (2018): 243,411 MWh

Biogas and Renewable Natural Gas

Total MW Capacity in Oregon: 52.6 MW

Facilities in Oregon (0.07 MW – 6.4 MW): 25

Total Generation (2018): 299,000 MWh

Total Consumption (2018): 55,589 MWh

Total Exports (2018): 243,411 MWh

Nuclear Oregon Total Capacity and Facilities: 0 Oregon Consumption (2018): 1,390,000 MWh The United States is the world’s largest producer of nuclear power, which supplies around 20 percent of the nation’s electricity.

Nuclear

Oregon Total Capacity and Facilities: 0

Oregon Consumption (2018): 1,390,000 MWh

The United States is the world’s largest producer of nuclear power, which supplies around 20 percent of the nation’s electricity.

Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Total Capacity and Facilities in Oregon: 0 Range of Potential Sizes: 60 – 250 MW per module Oregon-based NuScale developed the first modular reactor to receive design approval by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Co

Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

Total Capacity and Facilities in Oregon: 0

Range of Potential Sizes: 60 – 250 MW per module

Oregon-based NuScale developed the first modular reactor to receive design approval by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Petroleum Fossil fuel extracted from beneath the earth’s crust that includes gasoline, diesel, heating oil, lubricants, and other fuels we use for space heating, industrial equipment and transportation. Oregon imports the petroleum that it uses

Petroleum

Fossil fuel extracted from beneath the earth’s crust that includes gasoline, diesel, heating oil, lubricants, and other fuels we use for space heating, industrial equipment and transportation. Oregon imports the petroleum that it uses

Residential Energy Storage Peak Power Capacity in Oregon: 670 kW Facilities in Oregon: 291 Maximum Stored Energy in Oregon: 1,440 kWh Range of Sizes: 2.4 to 46 kWh

Residential Energy Storage

Peak Power Capacity in Oregon: 670 kW

Facilities in Oregon: 291

Maximum Stored Energy in Oregon: 1,440 kWh

Range of Sizes: 2.4 to 46 kWh

Utility-Scale Storage Peak Power Capacity in Oregon (2019): 5 MW Facilities in Oregon (2019): 1 (5 MW) Total Capacity of Storage Under Construction: 430 MW Maximum Stored Energy in Oregon (2019): 1.25 MWh Total Energy Discharged (2018

Utility-Scale Storage

Peak Power Capacity in Oregon (2019): 5 MW

Facilities in Oregon (2019): 1 (5 MW)

Total Capacity of Storage Under Construction: 430 MW

Maximum Stored Energy in Oregon (2019): 1.25 MWh

Total Energy Discharged (2018): 545 MWh

Demand Response The Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Seventh Power Plan identified demand response as the least-cost solution for providing new peaking capacity. Portland General Electric’s Smart Grid Test Bed is a nationally recognize

Demand Response

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Seventh Power Plan identified demand response as the least-cost solution for providing new peaking capacity.

Portland General Electric’s Smart Grid Test Bed is a nationally recognized project looking to deploy demand response at-scale across three selected geographic areas.

Advanced Meter Infrastructure or “Smart Meters” By the end of 2018, electric utilities had deployed smart meters to approximately 128 million customers across the United States, with the majority of those installations for residential customers.

Advanced Meter Infrastructure or “Smart Meters”

By the end of 2018, electric utilities had deployed smart meters to approximately 128 million customers across the United States, with the majority of those installations for residential customers. In Oregon over the same period, utilities have deployed nearly 1.8 million AMR and AMI meters, with more than 48 percent penetration among commercial and industrial customers, and 87 percent penetration among residential customers.

Electric Vehicle Chargers  Public Electric Vehicle Charge Points in Oregon: 1,796 Public EV Charging Locations or Stations: 656 Level 2 Chargers: 1,361 DC Fast Chargers (Level 3): 384

Electric Vehicle Chargers 

Public Electric Vehicle Charge Points in Oregon: 1,796

Public EV Charging Locations or Stations: 656

Level 2 Chargers: 1,361

DC Fast Chargers (Level 3): 384

Electric Vehicles Number of electric vehicles registered in Oregon: 31,9771 Number of battery electric vehicles in Oregon: 20,2512 Number of plug-in hybrid EVs in Oregon: 11,7263 Number of public EV chargers in Oregon: 1,7964

Electric Vehicles

Number of electric vehicles registered in Oregon: 31,9771

Number of battery electric vehicles in Oregon: 20,2512

Number of plug-in hybrid EVs in Oregon: 11,7263

Number of public EV chargers in Oregon: 1,7964

Hydrogen Cars Fuel cell vehicles registered in Oregon: 1 Fueling facilities in Oregon: 0 Fun fact: FCEVs emit only water from their tailpipes

Hydrogen Cars

Fuel cell vehicles registered in Oregon: 1

Fueling facilities in Oregon: 0

Fun fact: FCEVs emit only water from their tailpipes

Combined Heat and Power Installed Capacity in Oregon: ~1,700 MW Sites in Oregon: 30+ Sites range in size from a few hundred kilowatts to several hundred megawatts, and are located at a variety of industrial facilities like pulp and paper mi

Combined Heat and Power

Installed Capacity in Oregon: ~1,700 MW

Sites in Oregon: 30+

Sites range in size from a few hundred kilowatts to several hundred megawatts, and are located at a variety of industrial facilities like pulp and paper mills, lumber mills, wastewater treatment plants, and universities.

Resilient Microgrids Microgrids in Oregon are employed in a wide range of situations today and most often rely on diesel or propane generators to provide emergency back-up power in case of a grid outage. These types of systems are especially comm

Resilient Microgrids

Microgrids in Oregon are employed in a wide range of situations today and most often rely on diesel or propane generators to provide emergency back-up power in case of a grid outage. These types of systems are especially common with certain types of commercial and industrial customers. Meanwhile, rapid declines in the cost for solar and battery storage systems have led to an emerging interest in the deployment of microgrid systems based on these technologies, particularly at facilities that provide critical lifeline services to communities.

Marine Hydrokinetic Energy Total MW Capacity in Oregon: 0 Facilities in Oregon: 2 test sites Marine energy is an emerging technology resource. There is one gridconnected facility in the United States.

Marine Hydrokinetic Energy

Total MW Capacity in Oregon: 0

Facilities in Oregon: 2 test sites

Marine energy is an emerging technology resource. There is one gridconnected facility in the United States.

Carbon Capture and Storage There are currently no large-scale projects (capturing more than one metric ton of carbon dioxide per year) in Oregon. There are currently six operating and five planned projects in the United States. Worldwide, there a

Carbon Capture and Storage

There are currently no large-scale projects (capturing more than one metric ton of carbon dioxide per year) in Oregon. There are currently six operating and five planned projects in the United States. Worldwide, there are another 13 operating projects and two planned projects.

Power-to-Gas Established technology in Europe; emerging in the U.S. NW Natural and Eugene Water & Electric Board and Bonneville Environmental Foundation are evaluating an 8.5 MW project opportunity in Oregon. Douglas County PUD in Washing

Power-to-Gas

Established technology in Europe; emerging in the U.S.

NW Natural and Eugene Water & Electric Board and Bonneville Environmental Foundation are evaluating an 8.5 MW project opportunity in Oregon.

Douglas County PUD in Washington is planning a 5 MW facility

 

A Shout Out for Solar

Solar energy is a viable resource throughout Oregon, generating electricity across the state. In 2018, utility-scale, commercial, and residential solar generated approximately 776,000 MWh or 1.2 percent of all electricity generated in Oregon (18th among all states).

Oregonians consumed approximately 680,500 MWh accounting for 1.3 percent of all electricity consumed in Oregon. Oregon solar grew over five-fold between 2015 and 2019, with installed capacity growing from 91 MW to 592 MW, and generation increasing from 116,000 MWh to 776,000 MWh.

 

FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLE (HYDROGEN CARS)

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Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) or hydrogen vehicles, are similar to battery electric vehicles (BEV) because they are powered by an electric motor-based drivetrain. However, instead of a large pack of batteries as the source of the electric energy, FCEVs store energy as hydrogen in a fuel tank. Fuel cells use oxygen to split electrons from the hydrogen molecules to create the electric fuel that powers the vehicle, thus the name – Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles.

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) or hydrogen vehicles, are similar to battery electric vehicles (BEV) because they are powered by an electric motor-based drivetrain. However, instead of a large pack of batteries as the source of the electric energy, FCEVs store energy as hydrogen in a fuel tank. Fuel cells use oxygen to split electrons from the hydrogen molecules to create the electric fuel that powers the vehicle, thus the name – Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles.

Learn more about FCEVs

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Policy Briefs

This section of the report provides insights on emerging energy trends, opportunities, and barriers in the energy sector. ODOE began the development of this portion of the report by listening – and then identifying the critical energy questions and issues that we heard from stakeholders, policy makers, and the public. ODOE applied a data and equity lens in determining topics for this policy briefs section of the report – are these questions being asked by people or entities that have historically not been at the table? Do we have the data and information to help answer these questions?

Full Policy Briefs Section

Popular Topics

Equity in State Renewable Energy Programs

Oregon has been a leader in development of renewable energy for many years. Customer-owned or on-site renewables can provide individual financial benefits, societal benefits associated with clean energy production, and economic development associated with jobs to install systems. However, access and benefits of on-site renewable energy systems have not been enjoyed by all Oregonians.

This section will review a number of ways in which Oregonians have gained access to renewable energy including customer or community sited systems, utility voluntary green power programs, and acquisition of large-scale renewables by utilities. This policy brief also acknowledges that access to renewable energy does not necessarily ensure equitable distribution of benefits as many access options require significant financial investments by consumers.


Full “Equity in State Renewable Energy Programs” Brief


Energy Efficiency

In 2020, energy efficiency continues to be a cornerstone of Oregon’s energy policy. As the least-cost and priority resource, energy efficiency is second only to hydropower in terms of meeting the region’s electricity needs. The Pacific Northwest region has achieved 7000 average MW of energy savings since 1978, resulting in millions of dollars in savings for Oregonians.

This section examines two trends that have developed since 2018: the region is no longer on track to meet its electricity energy efficiency goals for everything from greenhouse gas reductions to equity, and at the same time, Oregonians are recognizing and seeking co-benefits of energy efficiency.


Full “Energy Efficiency” Brief

Capitol Building, Salem, Oregon

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Full Report

(Large File Size)

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Introduction

Table of Contents

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Energy

By the Numbers

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History

Timeline

 
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Energy

101

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Reviews

Tech & Resource

Policy Briefs

Key Questions

 

2020 Biennial Energy Report Webinars

December 4, 2020 Introduction to the 2020 Biennial Energy Report

ODOE is planning a virtual "roadshow" in the new year to share more of the report’s content and uses and to hear feedback about what Oregonians want the future of our energy system to look like – and h​ow to get there.

Sign up to receive email notices about future BER-focused webinars. Provide feedback or request a presentation on specific topics for your organization through our onlin​e comment fo​rm.

More coming soon!