Implementing the Oregon Energy Strategy
The submission of the final report in 2025 closed the chapter on development, but this is just the beginning of the Oregon Energy Strategy.
Moving forward, decision-makers can now consider the policy and legislative actions and identify next steps.
ODOE will continue to work with partner agencies, the Governor’s office, and other interested parties to plan for how to advance these actions and determine next steps. In some cases, this will involve agencies advancing actions that are within their authority and resources. In others, implementation may require legislation to support agency resources or to create new programs, policies, or authorities.
As we move into the implementation phase, we will track projects and steps taken to advance the Energy Strategy on this site, including latest updates and progress toward the actions highlighted in Gov. Kotek’s Executive Order 25-29 highlighted below.
Gov. Kotek Executive Order 25-29
On November 19, 2025, Gov. Kotek signed Executive Order 25-29 to increase the pace and scale of Oregon’s response to reducing carbon pollution while strengthening grid reliability and energy affordability.
Overall, Executive Order 25-29 will:
Advance Implementation of the Oregon Energy Strategy:
Executive branch agencies identified in the order are directed to adopt and implement greenhouse gas reduction strategies and coordinate decisions, activities, and investments as appropriate to advance the five least-cost pathways identified in the Oregon Energy Strategy. As appropriate, agencies will modify or add to current work plans and performance indicators to track and report on implementation activities to achieve this directive.Get Clean Energy Projects Built:
Agencies are directed to develop and implement a coordinated, proactive approach to streamline land use and environmental reviews, siting and permitting, and interconnection processes for clean energy projects, energy storage, and associated infrastructure. ODOE and the Public Utility Commission will develop a strategic framework for the Legislature to designate transmission corridors, streamline approvals, and target financial support for projects serving the public interest. This work is intended to complement the directive under Executive Order 25-25.Cultivate a Resilient, Clean Energy Economy:
State agencies will explore and prioritize public-private partnerships for clean energy technologies that support state priorities, reporting opportunities to leadership for review. Agencies with expertise in energy, environmental quality, business development, utility regulation, and geology will collaborate to identify opportunities for advanced carbon-free technologies like enhanced geothermal, offshore wind, and energy storage in Oregon's clean energy transition.Ensure Transparency and Accountability in Implementation:
Building on the transparency and accountability implementation structure established in Governor Kotek’s EO 25-26, this order will streamline existing programs and focus resources to create a coordinated approach for tracking climate action and resilience.
Featured Items Underway
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EO 25-29 directs ODOE to examine barriers to the development of large-scale renewable energy projects in Oregon. This report will examine why some projects have not moved forward despite receiving site certificates and seek to recommend solutions for similar projects.
The Oregon Energy Strategy recognizes there is a need for the state to facilitate energy infrastructure enhancement and expansion while avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating negative impacts on energy burden, natural and working lands, Tribal cultural resources, and communities. Executive Order 25-29 directs the Oregon Department of Energy to report by September 1, 2026, on barriers to the permitting, construction and interconnection of large-scale renewable energy projects in Oregon. This furthers implementation of the Oregon Energy Strategy, including Electricity Action 5’s suggested report on barriers to permitted projects. ODOE seeks to recommend actions to overcome barriers while balancing opportunities for public participation with the state’s interest in accelerating deployment of clean energy infrastructure that benefits Oregonians.
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EO 25-29 directs ODOE to examine opportunities to increase the efficiency of siting and permitting processes of large-scale energy projects in Oregon. This report will examine the Energy Facility Siting Council’s processes and seek to identify opportunities for improvement.
The Oregon Energy Strategy recognizes there is a need for the state to facilitate energy infrastructure enhancement and expansion while avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating negative impacts on energy burden, natural and working lands, Tribal cultural resources, and communities. Executive Order 25-29 directs the Oregon Department of Energy to report by September 1, 2026, on opportunities to increase the efficiency of siting and permitting processes of large-scale energy projects in Oregon. Where opportunities are found to exist, ODOE will recommend actions to facilitate development while avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating negative effects while maintaining a robust, inclusive and transparent process.
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ODOE, in partnership with the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement at the University of Oregon, is conducting the Oregon Energy Strategy Workforce Needs Assessment. Advancing the pathways and mission of the Oregon Energy Strategy will require a larger workforce across areas such as renewable energy generation, transmission, energy efficiency, and clean transportation. This assessment aims to understand how well current workforce and training systems are positioned to meet modeled demands and to develop recommendations that support the growth of Oregon’s clean‑energy workforce.
The goals of the project are to:
Evaluate Oregon’s current clean energy workforce and training infrastructure
Identify occupation-level projection gaps for the top 15 clean energy occupations identified in the Energy Strategy
Identify training and education pathway gaps
Recommend strategies to strengthen pathways to meet projected workforce needs.