Researcher(s):
John Kray Maya Bon Lauren Heald Anna Blythe
ENVS course(s): 330 Initiated: March 2016 Completed: April 2016 Go to project site
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Framing Question: How are renewable energy goals for production established within global, national, and state policy and how are these goals addressed by utilities companies?
Focus Question: How are utilities companies feeding Oregon’s electrical grids meeting the goals established by the Oregon Renewable Energy Standard?
Our project looks at the feasibility of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) in the implementation of renewable energies for electricity production. The RPS works with federal tax breaks to mandate the use of renewables and impose non-compliance penalties on those who don't. Each state's RPS is a little different (or, in the case of Tennessee, doesn't have one at all) and for our project we compared the RPS in Oregon, California, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana through analyzing non-governmental publications of public opinions, as well as analyzing the progress reports of three Oregon utilities companies in addressing their renewable energy regulations. Overall, we found that local/regional policies are more effective at implementing ambitious energy policies than larger national or international treaties. As a state that is successfully meeting the provisions of their RPS, Oregon can be used as an example for other states and locations in increasing renewables production.