NEEC is gearing-up for the upcoming 2018 legislative session. Both Oregon and Washington will hold short sessions in early 2018 and NEEC has been meeting with community partners and legislators to understand what their priorities are for the upcoming year. With a new majority in both the house and senate, democrats in Washington State are considering their energy and environmental agenda. While it is unclear what will come of the session, we have heard familiar topics raised related to carbon pricing, meter-based energy efficiency programs, and possible gas conservation goals. On the legislative front in Oregon, all eyes are on the Clean Energy Jobs Bill, which seeks to place a cap on Oregonās carbon emissions and a price on carbon emitted by large utilities, fossil fuel companies, and the largest emitters of climate pollution within the state. The bill then aims to reinvest the funds generated through the cap in clean energy solutions like energy efficient homes and business.
Earlier in November, Governor Kate Brown of Oregon, issued a broad Executive Order titled āAccelerating Efficiency in Oregonās Built Environment to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Address Climate Change.ā Among many things included in the executive order, the order directs the appropriate committees to amend the state energy code to assure that new construction buildings exceed ASHRAE 90.1 by 2022. The order also directs the Energy Trust of Oregon to expand meter-based savings pilot programs, including pay for performance pilots, by 2019.