In the last year, spanning from September 2024 to August 2025, the state of Oregon has shown a significant commitment to low-carbon electricity generation. Clean energy sources accounted for more than 62% of Oregon's electricity consumption, with hydropower alone contributing nearly 43%. Wind and solar energy further bolstered the state's commitment to sustainability, representing 14% and about 4% of consumption, respectively. Conversely, fossil fuels, entirely from gas, accounted for nearly 36% of consumption, highlighting a notable area for improvement as the state seeks to reduce its reliance on non-renewable resources. The net imports and biofuels combined provide a small fraction of the electricity, encapsulating Oregon's focus on more sustainable, locally generated electricity.
Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Oregon?
While Oregon's total electricity consumption recently stood at 15,200 kWh per person, this marks a slight decrease compared to the 2012 record of 15,623 kWh per person. This decline of 424 kWh per person is an indication of stagnation in overall electricity consumption growth. The situation is further accentuated when looking at low-carbon electricity, which in 2025 was at 9,477 kWh per person. This is significantly lower than the previous high of 12,344 kWh per person set in 2011, reflecting a reduction of nearly 2,867 kWh per person. These figures are concerning, as they point to a serious downturn in sustainable electricity generation when increased availability is critically needed to support future electrification and technology-driven growth.
Suggestions
To bolster Oregon's low-carbon electricity production, there is an opportunity to expand its efficient wind sector, which already accounts for a significant portion of the state's electricity generation. Learning from regions with significant achievements in clean electricity can also offer valuable insights. For instance, Iowa and South Dakota's impressive commitment to wind power, achieving 60% and 57% respectively, can serve as a blueprint for Oregon's wind energy endeavors. Additionally, considering the robust nuclear electricity contributions of countries like France and Slovakia, or US states like Illinois, suggests that Oregon could greatly benefit from investing in nuclear energy as a stable, large-scale low-carbon electricity source. Expanding solar energy, inspired by advancements in regions like Lebanon and Nevada, will also help Oregon harness its potential for greater clean energy generation.
History
Historically, Oregon's journey in low-carbon electricity generation has been marked by notable fluctuations in hydropower contributions alongside continual growth in wind energy. The early 2000s saw varied trends, with hydropower volatility evident through significant annual changes, such as a 6.9 TWh increase in 2006 and an 11.8 TWh gain in 2011, marked by challenging years with steep declines of over 4 TWh in both 2007 and 2015. Encouragingly, wind power saw consistent growth, exemplified by a 1.6 TWh rise in 2012 and a substantial 2.2 TWh increase in 2020. Although there have been setbacks in hydropower, the consistent advances in wind energy demonstrate Oregon's potential to stabilize and expand its low-carbon electricity portfolio, which can be further enriched by embracing, and ideally intensifying, solar and nuclear energy development.
