Edith Bayer
Oregon Department of Energy
energy.strategy@energy.Oregon.gov
Subject: Comments on the Oregon Energy Strategy Draft Report
Mobilizing Climate Action Together (MCAT) is a community of volunteers working on advancing a healthy climate and a green economy for future generations. Many in our group have followed this work from its inception and participated in several working groups.
The devastating impacts of unmitigated climate change are already costing Oregonians billions of dollars, which will only get worse, unless we take action. Addressing our share of the climate crisis requires a transition to a clean and efficient energy system, and that explicitly requires change, which
can be hard.
We commend the process ODOE used to create this strategy by developing optimized pathways for achieving the state’s policy objectives using the best available data and information, and incorporating the perspectives of a broad range of stakeholders. ODOE and its contractors utilized both regional and
state-level models to properly reflect Oregon as part of the Northwest power system, and they took the time to thoroughly explain the modelling process, inputs, assumptions and outcomes. In addition, the supplementary modeling of Air Quality, Energy Wallet and Jobs Analyses provided much needed granular insights. Our one suggested improvement is to allow more time for the policy working group process to have focused input and discussion of the policy action to be recommended to the legislature. (Click below to read full document)