Renewable Energy Technology Adoption in the Pacific Northwest: A Technology Policy Review

Abstract

The term Northwest in the United States is used loosely to indicate the area between the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, northern California, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. In the heart of Northwest are two states (Oregon and Washington) bordering the Pacific Ocean and are geographically and culturally similar, those two cities are referred to as the Pacific Northwest. The State of Oregon has been strategically weighing energy demand, supply, and resources to give Oregonians a more sustainable and convenient energy future. Renewable energy is perceived by the Oregonians as a source of energy independence, rural community development, and cleaner air. After the oil crises in 1973, Governor Tom McCall launched an emergency energy conservation program and in 1975 The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) was established to support energy conservation and renewable energy policy planning. Many of these policies and plans are still active until today but with some modifications over time. Another crisis that hit the Pacific Northwest was the low rain levels in the years 2000–2001 which lead to lower hydropower year and increased electricity demand with few power plants being built.