PGE will go halfway

I talked to Mark Fryburg, PGE spokesman, today who said that in a couple of weeks his company will release a new integrated resource plan that, among other things, will increase the goal of contribution from renewables and efficiency measures to 50 percent of its overall power production. PGE's current goal is 25 percent. The change is the result of a number of factors, Fryburg said. PGE customers are demanding more of their energy from renewables. But also they are required by the public utility commission to update the plan every five years. I suspect that the proposed renewable portfolio standard is also a factor in PGE's decision. If they were to keep the 25 percent standard, there would be nothing to differentiate them as the green utility in Oregon when a 25 percent goal becomes a mandate.