Oregon's Energy Facility Siting Council is made up of seven volunteer members who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
The Energy Facility Siting Council
is responsible for overseeing the development of large electric
generating facilities, high voltage transmission lines, gas pipelines,
radioactive
waste disposal sites, and other projects. State-level oversight of energy facilities helps ensure that Oregon has an adequate energy supply while protecting Oregon’s
environment and public safety.
A proposed energy facility must undergo a thorough review and meet the council's
siting standards to receive a site certificate.
Standards
cover issues such as land use, environmental impacts, noise concerns,
and cultural and archeological artifacts. If the council approves a site
certificate, the developer is authorized to
construct and operate the facility. After issuing a site certificate,
the council has ongoing regulatory authority over the construction and
operation of the facility.
The council also regulates the transportation of radioactive materials through Oregon, the disposal of radioactive materials within the state's borders, and the decommissioning of the
Trojan Nuclear Power Plant.
Who serves on the Council?
The council has
seven members who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate.
Members
are selected to understand, evaluate, and deliberate complex issues
associated with proposed facilities and how those facilities affect
people, habitat,
and communities. Appointees are also selected to ensure broad geographic
representation. Council meetings are open to the public, and public
involvement is built into
the council’s review. The volunteer council members receive
reimbursements for travel and meal expenses when they are performing
council business.
Oregon
Department of Energy employees serve as staff members for the council,
handling the ongoing work related to the regulation of energy
facilities. Staff are energy experts who
research issues involved with locating, building and operating large
energy facilities. They make recommendations to the council based on
their research and analysis.
Council History
Oregon's
energy facility siting law originated with formation of the Nuclear and
Thermal Energy Council in 1971. The role of NTEC was to regulate the
siting of nuclear and coal-fired
generating plants that had an electric generating capacity of at least
200 megawatts.
In
1975, Oregon revised its energy facility siting laws. The revisions
created the Energy Facility Siting Council, replacing NTEC. The 1975
legislation also created the Oregon Department
of Energy, which was formed to promote energy conservation
and development of renewable energy sources, and to provide staff
support for the council.