Electrification refers to replacing technologies that run on fossil fuels, such as gasoline vehicles and natural gas heating, with electric alternatives powered by clean energy. In Eugene, where about 90% of EWEB's power comes from carbon-free sources, electrification is one of the most effective tools our community has for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Gas-burning cars account for over 50% of local greenhouse gas emissions while burning methane natural gas accounts for nearly a third. Vehicles and buildings powered by EWEB’s 94% carbon-free electricity have almost none.

Starting in 2020, EWEB conducted a two-phase study to understand how widespread electrification would affect our community's electricity demand, our power supply, and our local infrastructure. The study focused on light-duty vehicles and space and water heating — the technologies most likely to shift in the near term.

Key findings included:

• Eugene residents could reduce community carbon emissions by up to 45% compared to 2017 levels, primarily through EV adoption.
• By 2040, about 90% of vehicles on the road could be electric.
• Heat pump water heaters offer strong financial benefits for most customers. Space heating electrification is less financially compelling without policy incentives, though climate benefits are significant either way.
• Charging EVs during off-peak hours (overnight or midday) is important for keeping costs down and maximizing the climate benefits of clean power.

Supporting electrification

EWEB's Board-adopted Climate Change Policy directs us to support customers who want to reduce fossil fuel use. That means helping customers make the switch through rebates, loans, technical assistance, and programs designed to make electric vehicles and efficient electric heating accessible and affordable.

Supporting electrification also means ensuring our power remains reliable and affordable — the foundation that makes the energy transition achievable for everyone.

Across the northwest, electricity demand from commercial and industrial users, including data centers, is growing. This regional growth affects the broader grid that Eugene depends on, even when that demand originates elsewhere.

Eugene does not currently host major data centers, and EWEB does not control which businesses choose to locate here. But as a responsible public utility, we plan for regional reliability risks, including the impact of large energy loads on the broader northwest grid, while continuing to support the transition to clean electricity.

Our Integrated Resource Plan evaluates how to meet future energy needs reliably and affordably under a range of scenarios. Studies of local generation resources, like our University of Oregon Combined Heat and Power Generator study, are part of how we prepare for rare but possible periods of regional supply constraint, without compromising our long-term climate commitments.

Nearly all the time, renewable energy such as hydropower and wind is plentiful, and EWEB doesn’t need to use fossil fuel sources to meet customer demand. However, on rare occasions — particularly during the coldest winter days — electricity demand can surge while renewable output is limited. During these conditions, utilities rely on additional resources that can be turned on quickly and do not depend on weather conditions such as wind, sunlight, or water availability.

EWEB and the University of Oregon (UO) are engaged in a study that seeks to better understand if running UO’s on-site combined heat and power (CHP) generator during short periods of peak winter demand can support a cleaner, more reliable grid. The CHP generator uses natural gas to generate electricity and captures the excess heat to produce steam for campus heating, making it more efficient than conventional power plants.