The Oregon Department of Energy, or ODOE, recently published its Oregon Energy Strategy which centers on “decarbonization” by eliminating the generation of fossil fuels in Oregon.

ODOE director Janine Benner told the legislature, “It’s not a matter of when the energy transition from fossil fuels will occur; It’s already happening.”

If so, It’s proceeding at glacial speed. ODOE’s webpage on Oregon’s electricity supply shows that, between 2012 and 2024, fossil fuels remain the dominant source of electricity. It’s true that wind and solar grew to 11 percent, but only after hundreds of millions in subsidies.

What’s most concerning today is the reality that wind and solar are intermittent. For engineering reasons, both the supply of and demand for electricity must always be in equilibrium. Sudden drops caused by weather could lead to blackouts.

Grid operators need “dispatchable” energy sources. Wind and solar are not dispatchable, making them unsuited for the utility grid—and for the coming century.

The energy transition isn’t happening because it can’t happen. Decarbonization conflicts with the demands of a modern economy. Shutting down coal and gas plants and ending fossil fuel sales would transport us back to the nineteenth century.

Oregon’s political leaders have embraced energy poverty at a time when electricity demand is skyrocketing. The fuels needed to power new data centers and electric vehicles are nuclear, coal, gas and hydro—none of which are planned to increase in Oregon due to regulations.

Welcome to the nineteenth century. Stock up on candles.

For the full commentary visit www.cascadepolicy.org