The Oregon Department of Energy is putting 48 potential climate “gap measures” on the table and asking Oregonians to weigh in fast. State modeling shows that soaring electricity demand from data centers, along with weaker federal fuel-economy rules, has knocked Oregon off the path to its 2035 and 2050 climate targets. Agency staff plan to run the numbers on each proposal to see which ones actually move the emissions needle, all on a tight schedule that depends on public and technical feedback this spring.
Draft list, comment deadline and next report
The draft list of 48 possible gap measures is part of the Transformational Integrated Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction (TIGHGER) 2.0 analysis, and comments are due by 5 p.m. on March 27, 2026, at [email protected], according to the Oregon Department of Energy. Officials told Salem Reporter they expect to lock in key modeling assumptions in April and release a results report in June that ranks which ideas would cut the most greenhouse gases.
Measures range from buildings to diets
The draft reads like a climate policy buffet, covering a wide spread of possible programs and scenarios. It explicitly calls out “95-100% heat pumps and electric water heaters in new residential homes by 2045,” language lifted straight from the agency’s list. Other concepts on the modeling list include cutting livestock methane, trimming use of nitrogen-based fertilizer, offering incentives for hydrogen-fueled trains and ships, expanding behind-the-meter solar, and setting targets to reduce beef and pork consumption by 50% by 2050. All of these are framed as scenarios to test how much emissions reduction they could deliver, not as ready-to-go legislation, according to the Oregon Department of Energy draft.
Data centers changed the forecast
The updated TIGHGER modeling shows that booming power demand from data centers, combined with loosened federal vehicle-efficiency standards, has opened roughly a two-year gap on Oregon’s 2035 emissions benchmark and pushed the state off track unless new measures are adopted, as reported by OPB. Alan Zelenka, the agency’s assistant director for energy planning and innovation, told Salem Reporter the department is already tracking rapid growth in the sector and that “we’ve got over 150 data centers in Oregon already.” The modeling will also test ideas such as using waste heat from data centers or steering new large electricity loads toward 100% clean power to see how much those steps could change the outlook.
How to weigh in and what happens next
Public comments will be folded into the next round of modeling so staff can estimate the greenhouse-gas impact of each option and brief state leaders on the results. Many of the draft measures build on programs that already exist; proposals needing new state laws or fresh funding would have to go through the Legislature. The work is tied to Governor Tina Kotek’s Executive Order 25-29, which directs agencies to speed up clean-energy deployment. That order, outlined in the governor’s news release, lays out the broader directive and timeline, while ODOE’s outreach materials and newsletters highlight parallel chances for Oregonians to plug into the process and track meetings.
Where to find materials
The draft gap measures, modeling assumptions and related meeting materials are posted online for anyone who wants to dig into the details. The Climate Action Commission and ODOE will factor in public input as they refine the models. For links to the draft documents, presentations and the meeting calendar, visit the Climate Action Commission.
