SALEM, Ore. - Mar 11

 

Gov. Ted Kulongoski wants state government to run entirely on renewable electricity by 2010.

Kulongoski told the Oregon Sustainability Board on Friday that he wants state agencies to rely on energy sources such as wind and sun power within four years, when he hopes to complete a second term in office.

Kulongoski had previously set 2025 as the deadline before deciding to accelerate the schedule to create jobs and encourage responsible energy use.

"The state must lead by example in its consumption of energy," Kulongoski said. "It is not only good fiscal policy for the taxpayers, but it's also sound policy that will contribute to protecting our environment and promoting economic development."

Besides wind and solar generators, renewable sources include biomass, geothermal and other types of generation that do not depend on fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. They include hydroelectric power, but officials say that only small-scale projects are envisioned in the future.

Less than 1 percent of the electrical consumption of state agencies now comes from renewable energy. Primary users are the Department of Administrative Services, Department of Energy, University of Oregon and Oregon State University.

State government spends about $26 million annually on electricity, according to Lonn Hoklin, the governor's spokesman.

Kulongoski gave no specifics on public investment costs, potential savings or ways to meet a goal that would make Oregon the first in the nation.

But he promised that the state departments of Administrative Services and Energy would deliver options to him by July.

The proposed goals for state government "are ambitious targets," said Michael Grainey, the state Department of Energy director.

Wind and solar sources are attractive "because there's no fuel nature is the fuel you have very stable prices over the long term," said Rachel Shimshak, director of the Renewable Northwest Project, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Bob Jenks, executive director of the consumer-friendly Citizens' Utility Board, said government is poised to encourage demand.

"Twenty years ago, government did a lot to push the purchase of recycled paper and helped build the market for that," he said. "And they can do the same here: use their purchasing power to develop renewable energy."

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Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com

Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com

Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com