Governor Kulongoski signed a bill into law on Wednesday that would make Oregon's power greener and its air cleaner in the near future.

The bill requires that large utilities generate one quarter of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

Those sources include wind power.

The governor called the billl, the most significant economic and environmental legislation in Oregon in more than 30 years.

An advocacy group, Environment Oregon, says the new standard will generate enough renewable energy to power nearly 1.2 million households in the state.

In addition, the group says, the new rules will remove 6.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the air.

Governor Kulongoski says the legislation makes good business sense, too.

"The signing of this bill will stimulate billions of dollars in investment in our economy, creating hundreds if not thousands of jobs in both urban and rural Oregon," the governor said.

In addition the governor says the bill protects "ratepayers in the form of more stable and predictable utility rates."

Oregon's standard is one of the strongest in the country.