EWEB cuts greenhouse gas emissions from operations 55% since 2010
EWEB has significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions from its operations, achieving a 55% reduction since 2010, according to data in the customer-owned utility’s Climate Guidebook.
In 2024, emissions from EWEB’s operations were well below the 2010 baseline, surpassing EWEB’s goal of cutting emissions 50% by 2030. The latest version of EWEB’s Climate Guidebook, published in April, details these efforts and EWEB’s broader strategy to combat climate change.
“We’ve already met our 2030 emissions reduction target, but our work isn’t done,” said EWEB Climate Policy Analyst and Advisor Kelly Hoell. “But we have more to do to help our customers decarbonize and cut their own emissions. One of the first steps on that path is to keep our clean electricity affordable so that customers feel confident transitioning off fossil fuels and to electricity wherever they can.”
Renewable fuels drive fleet emissions reductions.
EWEB’s shift to renewable diesel and ethanol has significantly lowered emissions from its service vehicles. Since 2010, emissions from EWEB’s fleet have fallen 53%, even as fuel consumption increased 12% due to fleet expansion.
EWEB’s currently operates 418 in service units, 234 vehicles, 68 units of power-operated equipment and 116 trailers – a 9% increase since 2020.
However, from 2023 to 2024, fleet emissions rose 43% due to limited availability of renewable fuels, especially ethanol.
“Renewable fuel supplies aren’t expected to increase any time soon,” said EWEB Fleet Services Manager Gary Lentsch. “Shifting tax incentives have made non-domestic renewable fuel production less attractive for some suppliers, while demand has surged due to new policies like Washington State’s Clean Fuels Standard and the Federal Aviation Administration’s push to use renewable diesel for aviation fuel.” EWEB anticipates that availability of fuels like ethanol and renewable diesel may become even more limited in 2025 which could negatively impact EWEB’s future greenhouse gas emissions.
Water treatment drives operational electricity use.
EWEB’s electricity-related emissions fluctuate yearly based on weather conditions and the availability of hydropower generation. For instance, the highest emissions in the last 15 years occurred in 2019, when droughts across the Western U.S. reduced hydropower generation.
While overall electricity consumption has dropped 20% since 2010, emissions from EWEB’s electricity use were 3% higher in 2024 than in 2010.
Among EWEB’s facilities, the Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant is the largest electricity consumer, accounting for 64% of the utility’s electricity use in 2024. Pump stations moving that water added another 17%.
“Treating and moving water is our biggest driver of electricity consumption,” Hoell said. “That means water conservation directly translates to energy conservation.”
Emissions of from natural gas use have also fallen. From 2023 to 2024, those emissions dropped 51%, due to the sale of EWEB’s former headquarters building on the Willamette River.
EWEB will use new methods of greenhouse gas accounting starting in 2025.
Moving forward in 2025, EWEB plans to expand the boundaries of its greenhouse gas inventory to also include its emissions from owned power generation resources. This change will be in accordance with The Climate Registry’s Electric Power Sector Protocol.
These emissions have been reported to Oregon DEQ since its Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program began in 2010, but will now also be included in EWEB’s internal operations inventory.
“This change in methods will help us better align with industry standards specifically for electric utilities and allow for a more comprehensive reporting of our total emissions portfolio,” said Hoell.
