Salem, OR. — Oregon Republicans sharply criticized Governor Tina Kotek’s newly issued Executive Order 25-29, arguing the directive to accelerate the state’s clean-energy transition will raise consumer costs, undermine grid reliability, and push Oregon beyond what residents can afford.
The order, signed November 19, directs state agencies to implement the Oregon Energy Strategy’s least-cost decarbonization pathways, streamline permitting for renewable energy and transmission projects, and coordinate long-term planning for electrification, energy efficiency, and grid-resilience investments. It also requires expanded reporting and accountability measures across state departments.
Republicans immediately condemned the move.
State Sen. David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) called EO 25-29 “authoritarian” and argued it will “drive up costs for every Oregonian across the state while doing nothing to impact global greenhouse gas emissions.” He pointed to state data showing Oregon produces less than 0.14% of global emissions and highlighted past testimony from climate scientists describing Oregon’s contribution as “minuscule” or “imperceptible.”
Brock Smith warned the order accelerates policies that restrict natural gas even as the state faces winter storm outages and summer heat events. He cited recent failures in electric-transit fleets in Eugene and Josephine County—buses sidelined by short-circuiting batteries or fires—as evidence that electrification mandates are outpacing technology.
House Republicans echoed those concerns, saying the governor is “raising costs and targeting 97% of Oregonians that drive gas-powered vehicles” just days after signing a $4.3 billion transportation revenue package that increases fuel taxes and DMV fees.
They also pointed to Oregon Department of Energy findings that zero-emission vehicles remain too expensive for many families and that the state is far behind its 2025 EV-registration target. ODOE has found the Clean Fuels Program already adds 7–8 cents per gallon at the pump; Republicans argue further rule changes will disproportionately hit rural households and workers.
Kotek defended the order as a necessary response to wildfire, drought, and rising energy demand, saying Oregon must “increase the pace and scale” of its climate and energy work to secure long-term affordability and reliability. Supporters— including Climate Solutions and Renewable Northwest—said the directive moves the state “from strategy to action.”
Agencies are required to begin implementing the order immediately, with biennial reports to the Legislature starting in 2026.
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You bitch let make things worse like you accuse Trump of doing .Most of us cant afford gas or anything else right now and you gonna make it worse. you need to retire you ugly ass and let someone else do what you CANT, only by executive order because you know it would never pass by anyone else