EVPP 432-001. Energy profile of Oregon state. Life Sciences Essay

Energy Profile of Oregon  
EVPP 432-001
Oregon lies on the West Coast of the U.S., in the Pacific Northwest region. Much of its northern border with Washington state is delineated by the Columbia River, while its boundary with Idaho is by the Snake River. It is one of the few states with reliable and sustainable energy resources for its population, mainly associated with its abundant rainfall and mild climate (Walmsley et al., 2015). It experiences heavily sustained runoff from its snowpack in high, mountainous areas and high annual rainfall, enabling generations of substantial hydroelectric power. Large dams have been constructed along the Columbia River, and they produce enough electricity for Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest region. There are also several promising areas of geothermal and wind energy development. The abundant rainfall and mild temperatures support tree growth and agricultural waste products, which produce adequate biomass that is used for power generation. The state has placed policies and regulations to support the sustainability of energy in the region. Although the policies have enhanced the sufficiency of the energy profile in the state, the existing policies can be reviewed to support more energy production and sustainability in Oregon.
Supply Source Description
There are various sources of energy supply in Oregon and some of the most common and reliable include natural gas, and renewable energy. They account for much of the electricity that is generated and distributed in Oregon today. 
Electricity 
Hydroelectric power in Oregon currently contributes over 50% of the net electricity generated in the state. During times of high precipitation, hydropower accounts for more than 50% of the share. In 1995, hydropower accounted for over nine-tenths of the net generation in the state, and in 2018 the share was almost three-fifths (Procter, 2017). The four largest facilities for electricity generation in Oregon are Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day, and McNary; these are all hydropower plants on the Columbia River (Procter, 2017 ). They contribute around two-thirds of the generating capacity of the 10 major power plants. Several smaller hydroelectric power plants are located along various rivers in the western side of Oregon. 
Notably, natural gas is the second greatest contributor to electricity generation in the state. In 2018, power plants fired by natural gas contributed over one-fourth of the net generation in the state (Boomhower & Davis, 2020). The contribution from coal power plants reduced by around one-tenth two decades ago to approximately 10% today. The state does not have any commercial nuclear power plant. 
Renewable Energy
Oregon was ranked the second highest producer of hydroelectric power after Washington in 2018. Such renewable resources as hydroelectric power accounted for three-fourths of the electricity that was generated in the state (Boomhower & Davis, 2020). Hydropower in the country accounts for more than 50% of the new electricity that is generated in Oregon. Renewable resources account for over four-fifths on the net generation during times of prolonged snowmelt or precipitation. In 2018, 70% of the utility-scale net electricity generation in Oregon was from conventional hydroelectric power plants as well as other resources of renewable energy. Wind farms produced around 12% from around 1900 turbines whose generating capacity was around 3200 megawatts. Further, Oregon was the second highest producer of hydroelectric power as it accounted for 12$ of the hydroelectric generation in the U.S. 
Natural Gas
The state’s only source of natural gas is in the Pacific Northwest. The few available natural gas reserves account for only 0.002% of the overall gas production in the state. The Mist Field is located to the northwest part of Oregon, and it is the only in that area. Several reservoirs have also been identified in the field since it was discovered in 1979 (Izadian, Girrens, & Khayyer, 2013). Drilling of exploration continues in the fields, but there has been a significant decline in production. In 2018, the natural gas produced from the Mist Field was less than 500m cubic feet. 
Coal
The first coal-fired power plant is expected to begin towards the end of 2020 (Procter, 2017). Coal mining took place in the southwestern part of the State from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century. However, the state does not have any active coal mines today. This implies that a new coal mine is set to open this year, following the closure of the other mines. 
Supply and Demand Policies Description
In Oregon, it is the responsibility of the Oregon Department of Energy to regulate activities associated with energy, conservation and development. Creation of the department was in accordance with ORS 469.030, and it is the primary agency tasked with collecting data on energy generation and resources. Their main objective is to ensure that the state has enough supply of affordable and reliable energy, and the energy is free from nuclear contamination (Hamje, Hass, Lonza, Maas, Reid, Rose, & Venderbosch, 2014). It pursues this mission engaging the Oregonians in saving energy, developing clean sources of energy, promoting energy renewable, and cleaning up any cases of nuclear waste. One of the policies the government has implemented is ORS 469.030(2). According to ORS 469.030(2), some of the duties that the department has to perform include the following (Steel, Pierce, Warner, & Lovrich, 2015). The policy is on regulation of power generation, as well as guiding players in the sector on how to maximize production. It has achieved this mission through the following; 
i. Formulate and implement ways of educating the public on energy problems and providing guidance on methods of conserving energy resources. The department can disseminate the educative information through private and public sources.
ii. Conduct research or provide grant to appropriate private or public agencies to conduct research projects, and other services that are related to energy resources. 
iii. Prepare contingent energy programs to ensure all forms of energy are included.  This mandate is fulfilled under ORS 469.030(2). 
iv. Control state and federal energy conservation and allocation programs, and research and development programs on energy matters, as per ORS 469.030(2). The department should also apply for and receive funds for energy research, conservation, and development initiatives. 
v. Act as a clearinghouse for energy research and development programs. 
vi. Collect, compile, and analyze energy data, statistics, and information. 
Assessment of Current Plan
The Oregon State Energy plan profile has been effective thus far due to such policies as ORS 469.030(2). This policy outlines the duties which are to be played by the Energy Department towards increasing energy sustainability i...