Special CUB Conference Preview: Beyond the RPS
Posted on September 18, 2015 by Jeff Bissonnette
Tags, Conference & Events
A utility executive, a renewable energy advocate, a government staffer, a clean energy leader and an environmentalist walk into a room….
While that might sound like the start of a good story, it actually describes one of the panels that will be taking place at next month’s 5th annual CUB Policy Conference, Utility 2025: Building the Northwest’s Energy Future.
One of the landmark energy policies that CUB helped develop is Oregon’s Renewable Energy Standard (also referred to as the Renewable Portfolio Standard, or RPS), the policy that requires utilities to have 25 percent of their load met by renewable resources by 2025. For more background and information on the RPS, check out the CUB blog piece “Renewable Energy 101”, published in February 2014.
Although the utilities must maintain the 25 percent level once the standard is met, it’s not clear what happens beyond that. We’ll likely need even more renewable resources. 2025 is not that far off. In order to plan adequately for next steps, it’s important that we start imagining and discussing the options now.
So, what is next? That’s the question that will be explored in “Beyond the RPS.” The panelists will look at how the current RPS is being implemented and possible options for the future. Should the standard be increased? How expensive would it be to increase the standard? How much renewable energy can be integrated into the utility system? How do other incentives for renewable energy fit in to the picture? The discussion will be rapid-fire and will include the audience.
Joining me in this conversation will be Bill Corcoran, Western Regional Director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign; Kevin Lynch, Managing Director of External Affairs at Iberdrola Renewables; Julie Peacock, Senior Analyst at Oregon Department of Energy; Maria Pope, Senior Vice President of Power Supply and Operations and Resource Strategy at Portland General Electric; and Rachel Shimshak, Executive Director of Renewable NW.
The CUB Policy Conference is scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2015 at the Hilton in downtown Portland. We encourage you to register early – Early Bird discount ticket sales end on Friday October 2! Don’t miss a great day thinking about and discussing what utilities need to be doing today to prepare for 2025 and beyond.
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05/02/17 | 0 Comments | Special CUB Conference Preview: Beyond the RPS