From July 2025 to June 2026, Oregon's electricity mix was dominated by low-carbon sources, contributing approximately 69% of the total electricity generation. Hydropower was the most significant contributor, generating nearly half of the total electricity. Wind energy also played a notable role by providing over 14%, while solar energy, when combined from utility and behind-the-meter (BTM) sources, contributed over 5%. Biofuels, although a low-carbon source, represented a small fraction of the overall energy mix. In contrast, fossil energy, solely from natural gas, accounted for almost a third of the electricity generated, highlighting a significant associated impact with carbon emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Oregon?

Electricity consumption in Oregon has slightly increased, as shown by the latest figures from 2026, with a per-person use of roughly 16,118 kWh, which surpasses the previous record of 15,959 kWh from 2025 by 158 kWh. This indicates a steady growth, possibly driven by increased electrification in various sectors. Notably, there is a significant rise in low-carbon electricity generation, which jumped by 925 kWh per person compared to the previous year, setting a new record. This development adds a positive note to Oregon's efforts to decarbonize its electricity sector, but more needs to be done to accelerate this transition, particularly to counterbalance and eventually phase out fossil fuel reliance.

Suggestions

Oregon can enhance its low-carbon electricity generation by expanding its existing wind capacity. Regions like Iowa and Denmark demonstrate successful models, where wind contributes more than half of their electricity, serving as excellent references for further growth. Additionally, regions like Nevada and California, where solar constitutes a significant portion of their electricity mix, offer insights into scaling up solar energy. Moreover, learning from countries like France and Slovakia, which heavily utilize nuclear energy, can provide Oregon with strategies to incorporate nuclear power into its low-carbon portfolio, mitigating the intermittency challenges posed by wind and solar and ensuring a stable, reliable electricity supply.

History

In examining the history of low-carbon electricity in Oregon, the past years show a positive trend overall. The mid-2020s particularly stand out, with 2024 marking increases in both hydropower and wind by approximately 0.6 TWh each, indicative of active development efforts. Despite a slight retraction in wind and biofuels in 2025, with wind seeing a minor decrease of 0.1 TWh, hydropower counteracted this with a significant boost of 2.2 TWh. The year 2026 continued this momentum, with hydropower surging by an impressive 3.3 TWh and wind by 0.4 TWh. While geothermal and biofuels showed no significant change, the robust performance of hydropower and wind underscores Oregon's potential to further advance its low-carbon electricity infrastructure, particularly as demand continues to grow.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.