| Electricity from Renewable Sources |
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How much of the electric energy supply in Oregon comes from renewable sources?
Hydroelectric power alone supplies a large share of the electric power produced in the region. Other renewable sources, primarily wind and biomass, supply a very small part of the regional power supply. In 2003, generation from all renewable sources combined supplied about 47 percent of the electricity used in Oregon. In contrast, for the nation as a whole, renewable sources supplied approximately eight percent of total electric power generation.
The electric system serving Oregon is an interconnected network, and the boundaries of the system do not match the political boundaries of the state. Electric power generating facilities outside of Oregon meet much of Oregon´s demand for electricity. Similarly, electric power plants located in Oregon serve loads elsewhere at times. The sources of power shown in the table below reflect power generation for 2003 under actual water conditions, adjusted for imports to and exports from the region.
Because the electric system is an interconnected network that crosses state boundaries, we analyze the energy supply on a regional basis. Electric generators throughout the region plus imports from out of the area serve the electric loads in Oregon. We estimate the regional generation supply mix based on regional generation within that portion of the Northwest Power Pool Area that lies inside the United States (NWPP-US). That region includes all of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah, portions of western Montana, western Wyoming, northern Nevada, and a small part of northern California.
A large amount of the NWPP-US generation comes from hydroelectric power. The amount of hydropower generated varies significantly from year to year, depending largely on precipitation.
Oregon´s Electric Generation Supply Mix
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(2003 actual generation, adjusted for imports and exports)
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Source
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Percent of Total
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Hydroelectric
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2,414
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44.1
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Coal
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2,285
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41.8
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Natural Gas
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388
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7.1
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Nuclear
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187
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3.4
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Biomass and MSW
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136
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2.5
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Wind and Geothermal
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53
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1.0
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Oil and Other
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9
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0.2
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Total
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5,473
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100
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