Against a backdrop of newly installed solar panels at the Oregon National Guard armory in Pendleton, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden spoke enthusiastically about what he described as the “new frontier of renewable energy.”

Wyden arrived in town Thursday morning for the official dedication of the 150-kilowatt solar array, part of the Army’s net-zero energy pilot program. The project is expected to cut the facility’s energy bills by more than $11,000 annually, and has already generated 166,644 kilowatt-hours of electricity — enough to offset 119 tons of carbon dioxide.

The Oregon Army National Guard was selected in 2011 as one of nine locations to test the net-zero initiative, with the goal to achieve net-zero energy by 2020. Speaking to a group of local officials, Wyden praised the effort as a benefit to jobs, the environment and national security.

“The link between these benefits is as clear as an August day in Eastern Oregon,” Wyden said. “We are going to be trying to use this as a model moving forward.”

Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers will hold a conference committee meeting to work out the details of a comprehensive energy bill after Congress reconvenes. Wyden, a Democrat and senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said developments like the Pendleton Solar Array should be held front and center of those talks.

“This project stands out as a fantastic example of what can be achieved,” Wyden said. “It will make a marvelous example of what I will be advocating for in the coming months in Congress as a member of the conference committee on the energy bill.”

Renewable energy received a major political boost in Oregon earlier this year, when the Legislature passed a bill doubling the renewable mandate for Pacific Power and Portland General Electric. The bill requires the utilities to generate 50 percent of power from renewable sources by 2040, while phasing out coal to serve Oregon customers by 2030.

Pacific Power, which serves 17,864 customers in Umatilla County and 5,117 customers in Wallowa County, went out to bid in April for a host of renewable projects to comply with the new law. The company recently announced it will invest in 13 wind and solar facilities, 10 of which are located in Oregon.

These purchases will allow Pacific Power to meet its renewable portfolio standard through 2028, said spokesman Ry Schwark. Contracts with the facilities are expected to be complete by mid-September.

Scott Bolton, vice president of external affairs for Pacific Power, said the rate impact is one-tenth of what the utility originally anticipated. Both Pacific Power and PGE campaigned on behalf of the Clean Electricity and Coal Transition bill, as opposed to fighting a ballot measure they claim would have been much more expensive.

Bolton said the cost of renewable energy keeps falling due to increasing development, which has been spurred along by tax credits, carbon regulations and other incentives.

“Most of these are solar (developments) that we’re looking at,” Bolton said. “Solar is today where wind was seven or eight years ago.”

As it stands, Pacific Power still generates roughly 60 percent of its electricity from coal, and 10 percent from wind and other renewables. That will change as the utility’s coal fleet is gradually retired and replaced by other sources.

“I think we’re in a great position,” Bolton said.

Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program also helped in part to fund the Oregon National Guard solar array, contributing $250,000. The installation also received $814,756 in federal energy funding and $84,319 from the Energy Trust of Oregon. It has been up and running since June 16.

Lt. Col. Ken Safe, construction and facility management officer for the Oregon Army National Guard, said they are working hard toward net-zero initiative.

“We will have facilities at net-zero by 2020, I guarantee it,” Safe said. “I’m very excited about where we’re going in the future.”

Wyden said Congress has exhibited bipartisan support on the development of renewable energy, and is optimistic about the energy bill moving forward.

“We will be stronger, and we will be better, with projects like this,” he said.