OLCV Talk

Oregon Chases the Gore Chalenge

Last Thursday, Al Gore challenged the nation to get to 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2018.

Today, we learn that Oregon and Washington are planning to quadruple our wind power. From The Oregonian:

Utilities and independent developers are poised to more than quadruple the amount of wind power in the Northwest, a huge increase that underscores the region's push for renewable energy.

"It's phenomenal," said Elliot Mainzer, a transmission manager with the federal Bonneville Power Administration. "It's more than we expected."

Highlights of Gore's speech:

Offshore Oil Drilling

McCain plays with fire on offshore drilling

Now that gas is over $4, we're seeing increased pressure to expand drilling for oil here in the United States.  Not only in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, but also in other environmentally sensitive areas in the Rocky Mountains and off the east and west coasts, especially in Florida and California.

The hypothesis is that if only those pesky environmentalists would let us, we could drill for more oil here in the US, and then the price of gas would come down, and we could free ourselves from dependence on foreign oil from the middle east.

The only problem is that this is complete, total B.S.  Even if we developed all our remaining oil reserves here in the US, it would only amount to a drop in the bucket in global supply.  And this new supply would be overwhelmed by continued increasing global demand.

The price of oil is determined by world wide supply and demand, not just what happens here in the US.  The reason oil and gas prices are so high right now is mostly due to increased demand over the past several years from rapidly developing countries such as China and India.  Global supply hasn't kept up with global demand, mostly because when oil was cheap only a few years ago, it wasn't economic for oil companies to invest in new supply.

Now Saudi Arabia and other countries are making investments that will increase supply by the end of this year and next, and into the future.  The amount of oil these countries will bring online over the next few years will dwarf any additional supply the US could bring on by new drilling in environmentally sensitive areas.  But even so, at best it will barely keep up with additional new global demand.

Short term, oil and gas prices will probably decline a bit later this year due to seasonality, and especially if the Federal Reserves raises interest rates this summer to strengthen the dollar and control inflation.

But over the long term, prices will probably keep increasing, even with all this new drilling.  Any additional drilling we do here in the US won't make a difference to the global price of oil, or the price we pay for gas, because we are only talking about drops in the bucket when compared to the global supply and demand for oil.

The bottom line is that we have reached the point where it is impossible to lower the price of oil or lower the price of gas by increasing supply, because any new supply will just be overwhelmed by increasing demand.   Every day, more people in China and India and other countries are buying cars and becoming wealthier, and using more energy.  This new demand is just overwhelming world supply, and whether or not we drill for more oil here in the US is trivial in comparison.

The only way out of this mess is to improve energy efficiency and conservation, and develop renewable alternatives.  We have to reduce demand.  Both here in the US and globally.  We can't solve the problem by increasing supply.   The problem is not that we need to wean ourselves off foreign oil.  We have to wean ourselves off oil, period. 

So we have a choice.  We can open all our beautiful coastlines and mountains and wildlife areas to oil drilling in an attempt to increase supply, ruining our environment in the process, and then do what we need to do to improve energy efficiency and conservation and develop renewables in order to wean ourselves off oil.

Or, we can skip the part about ruining our environment, and just proceed straight to doing what we need to do to improve energy efficiency, conservation, and renewables.

This means improving the energy efficiency of our cars, trucks, homes, factories, appliances, everything.  Develop renewable biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol  and sugar cane ethanol.

The best incentive to facilitate our transition from oil and gas to other alternatives would be to implement a carbon tax, or at least a cap and trade system for carbon emissions.  But we also need improved efficiency standards for cars and trucks.

The choice we face is very similar to the choice regarding the last remaining old growth forests.  We can either cut them all down, and then switch over to other alternatives to old growth forest wood products, or we can save our last old growth forests and switch over to alternatives right now.

So whether we drill for oil off our coastlines or not, we are still going to have to take serious steps to reduce demand for oil here in the US and globally.  We can either start doing that aggressively now, or wait until after we have ruined our planet by drilling for oil everywhere we can. 

A lot of people will say, well we have to do both.  We have to drill for oil and also do all that efficiency stuff at the same time. The problem is that once we spoil an environmentally sensitive place, we can't get it back.  We have already developed a lot.  And adding more supply just isn't going to make any difference.  Only slowing and reducing demand will make a noticeable difference.  We need to start now rather than wait.

Who would be Oregon's first city to become carbon neutral?

The winds are changing at the coast. The Lincoln City Council hopes to work with the Westwind Stewardship Group, a organization that manages a 500-acre Westwind conservation area north of Otis.

If all goes right, Lincoln City will be the first city in Oregon to become carbon neutral.

"It shows enormous potential," councilor Rick Brissette said. "Just the idea that Lincoln City can become a zero-carbon community someday is just phenomenal.

"It's become a huge issue and a tourism-related issue now all over the country, with people only wanting to visit sustainable and environmentally sound communities on their vacations."

He's right. You can read more about the rise of the carbon-neutral city here.

You can read the entire article about Lincoln City's plans over at The Newport News-Times.

The debate paper vs. plastic is more aptly named plastic vs. anything is better

While away in Seatle, the person ahead of me in line at Pike's market - the only person ahead of me in a deep line that didn't have a cloth bag over their shoulder - sheepishly looked around and answered, "Yes, I need a bag."

I laughed a little inside my head. Wow, times have changed. He is actually so embarrassed that he didn't bring his own bag that he can't make eye contact with the clerk!

 

Still, the debate continues locally:

Paper or plastic?

Where does that plastic bag come from?

Plastic is a petroleum product - it comes from oil.

Plastic is a by-product of oil refining and accounts for 4% of the worlds total oil production. It is a 'biogeochemical' manipulation of certain properties of oil, into polymers. Plastic polymers are manufactured into five main types; plastic bags are made from polyethylene. Polyethylene, as a raw material, can be manipulated into any shape, size, form or color. It is watertight and can be made UV resistant. Anything can be printed on it and it can be reused.

For the most part, the whole process of making plastic bags requires only electricity (minus the large, fuel burning heavy machinery required to acquire the oil). The electricity used in the actual production and manufacturing of plastic bags comes from coal fire power plants, which, it is interesting to note, 50% of that electricity is generated from the burning of old tires (made from rubber which is essentially, plastic).

Learn more about paper vs. plastic at greenfeet.net.

Maybe if we didn't waste so many of our resources on such an unnecessary evil, we'd have cheaper prices at the pump, cleaner air and feel a little better not having to answer paper or plastic.

There are many alternatives to plastic bags: you can bring your own bag (BYOB - the most environmentally friendly choice) or urge your store to start using biodegradable or compostable bags.

But remember - the best way to shop is with your own reuseable bag. There are tons of styles out that and you'll look really cool doing it.

 

It is long overdue for Portland to shift from plastic. Let's make it happen!

Everyone loves a rally!

 

For  Immediate Release              January 31, 2007 For More Information                     866-211-7335   NO LNG Rally Planned At The State Capitol   Please join us on Wednesday, February 6th at 11:00am on the front steps of our State Capitol in for a rally against   hazardous liquefied natural gas in SalemOregonCoosCounties.   Oregonians from around the state will be coming together to let Governor   Kulongoski and their state legislators know we don't want and don't need a   hazardous LNG terminal on the North Spit of Coos Bay or a 230-mile pipeline   cutting through our communities.   The rally begins at 11:00 AM with speakers and opportunities to sign up and   to get involved. For   more information, click on this link or visit www.nocaliforniapipeline.com/calendar.php.   If you need transportation, buses will be leaving from Douglas and Coos Counties.   To   sign up, click on this link.   If you can't make the rally, call Governor Ted Kulongoski at 503-378-4592 to   tell him to stand up for Oregonians against LNG and for a clean, renewable   energy future.   For more information about the rally, call 866-211-7335 or click   on this link.

Top 5 environmental victories of 2007

What were the top 5 environmental victories of 2007?

1.) Measure 49

OLCV E-bulletin subscriber, Stan Seleen, said it best, "The passage of Measure 49 must be the most important success in 2007.  It is a tremendous relief to know that Oregonians have once again shown their support for our land use planning."

2.) Passage of SB 838, the renewable Energy Standard

The 2007 Legislature passed legislation setting a new renewable energy standard that is among the best in the country.

3.) Passage of all five Oregon Conservation Network's (OCN) Priorities for a Healthy Oregon

You can find out what these priorities are and what they mean for you at OCN's website

4.) More positive pro-environment bills became law in 2007 than in the period from 1991-2005 combined

The record number of environmental bills passed through the Legislature can be attributed to strong leadership fueled by the urgent need to take responsibility to combat global warming, promote energy independence, and a strong wish to protect our children from toxic pollution in our air and water.

The passage of legislation requiring municipal water quality enforcement in Oregon, a major breakthrough in an area where we have had few major victories since the heyday of the 70s, is just one example of such legislation. Thanks to OLCV E-bulletin reader, Chuck Johnson, for this contribution.

5.) The average scores in both the House and Senate climbed to heights not seen since 1977.  The average Senate score was 73% and the House was 69%.

Voters have made the environment a priority and they are choosing to vote for people that understand this.  Expect to see even more environmental leaders elected locally and statewide in 2008.

You can find out how your elected officials voted on the environment in OLCV's Environmental Scorecard for the 2007 Legislature.

What were your top five?