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This Wednesday in Eugene, environmental leaders and legislators joined Governor Kulongoski as he signed into law a set of climate bills passed by the 2009 Legislature. The set of seven bills including three OCN priority bills. The bills will cut energy waste, save consumers money, and take steps to protect Oregon's future from climate change.
The bills will generally go into effect January 1, 2010, though task force work required by some of the bills will start immediately.
The three most important bills -- all part of the Governor's climate agenda -- were SB 79, which directs the state to improve building codes and cut energy waste in new buildings, SB 101, which limits the ability of utilities to build new coal plants, and HB 2186, which is the nation's first legislatively-adopted bill to cut pollution from fuel, by 10% by 2020. HB 2626, an innovative law championed by Rep. Jules Bailey about loaning businesses and homeowners funds for energy improvements, was also signed into law.
While scientists have noted the urgency for much stronger and immediate action on climate change, we hope the laws legislators passed in 2009 will create momentum for future action, demonstrating a prosperous future depends on addressing climate change, rather than inaction and delay.
It’s been a busy five months at the Capitol, and as the
session enters its final weeks, we still have a lot of work to do.
Hundreds of
environmental bills were introduced this session, an even dozen of which we
prioritized, on six key issues. As of today, only two priority bills have made it to the Governor.
In short, the session hasn’t exactly gone swimmingly.
While the session is not over, right now legislators have a
lot of work to do to meet the bar set by the 2007 session, when the Oregon
Legislature moved the state forward to fight climate change, fight toxins in
rivers, expand the bottle bill, and more. That session was defined by
groundbreaking legislation that set goals for reducing global warming pollution
and spurred the growth of local renewable energy sources.
But a lot has changed since 2007 – most obviously, the state
of our economy. And while the climate crisis offers Oregon a chance to create
local jobs for Oregon families (The New York Times reports today Oregon leads the nation in green jobs), the 2009
Legislature has yet to send any of the four Oregon Conservation Network priority
climate bills to the Governor. The state’s budget woes have proven to be a
powerful distraction, and an excuse for inaction.
That’s not to say we haven’t seen some small and not-so-small victories,
such as:
Penalties
for corporate polluters will be increased for the first time in 36 years.
A critical climate bill, House Bill 2186, passed the House
last month, but has yet to pass the Senate. And the House passed a consensus bill (HB 3013) related to OCN's Marine Reserves priority, which is now in the Senate.
Yet the Legislature has missed some opportunities -- like making Oregon's bottle bill more robust -- and may even
send the state backwards on climate. Here are some of the battles we’re
fighting right now:
HB
2186 - the Senate may considerably weaken the version the House passed, or
not take it up at all.
We may
end up fighting against Senate Bill 80, which could be irreparably altered
to benefit corporate polluters. Sadly, this bill was once the centerpiece
of this session’s climate and jobs package.
HB 2940 would dramatically cut Oregon’s commitment to our clean energy,
undermining the Renewable Energy Standard targets passed in 2007.
Liquefied
natural gas and HB 3058: It’s been an all-session battle against
out-of-state corporations determined to site their dirty LNG facilities in
our beautiful state. The House passed HB 3058, and it now sits in the Senate. A story in Monday’s Oregonian highlights the battle
of grassroots organizations fighting the deep-pocketed fossil fuels
energy industry.
The session isn't over yet. There's still time for
significant progress on climate, water, marine reserves, and invasive species this session. There’s still time to stop major threats and
pass key bills that will protect the Oregon
we love. That’s what we’re fighting for… Stay tuned.
Note: the below was written by Phaedra Booth, our Policy Fellow this session... I was able to attend a press conference last Friday with Sen. Merkley and Rep. Blumenauer, and Reps. Bailey and Read, where they visited a home in Southeast Portland that would benefit from the Act - Evan
What Creates Jobs,
Reduces Energy Consumption, and Fights Global Warming?
Answer: the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technology Act
of 2009 (EEAST), otherwise known as House Bill 2626-A.
The idea is simple: energy efficiency is the fastest and
cheapest way to create jobs and create energy sovereignty.
Sustainable energy solutions for businesses and homeowners
like solar panels, solar hot water, and geothermal heat pumps not only make
sense, they save money, and often put clean energy back onto the grid. In
addition to immediate tangible benefits resulting from projects like as these,
such as making utility bills cheaper, promoting green industry is a cost
effective and efficient way to stimulate local economies and create jobs for
professionals who are currently out of work.
House Bill 2626-A, spear-headed by Rep. Jules Bailey
(D-Portland - at microphone) and Rep. Tobias Read (D-Beaverton - behind) does this by creating new,
low-interest loans, structured so monthly payments are lower than the amount of
money saved each month from the energy savings from the new energy-efficiency
projects. This allows the upfront cost of the project to be spread over the
life of the loan and allow building owners to see the immediate financial
benefits of making clean energy investments. Because the building owners have
lower total energy costs—even with the loan payment—the loan is an amazingly
secure investment and will attract keen investors.
The bill was moved out of the Oregon House Revenue Committee today, and heads to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.
This is an idea so bold and forward thinking it is currently
being considered in Washington, DC, where Congressman Blumenauer (at top, with Rep. Bailey) and Senator
Merkley (at left) plan to introduce similar legislation in the U.S. House of
Representatives and Senate, respectively.The Oregon duo are working to make this concept materialize in Congress
this year.
Oregon once again finds herself a ripe proving ground for
innovative ideas and where the rubber of smart leadership hits the road.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that analysts at the financial institution Raymond James are finding we reached, and passed, peak oil production last year.
"Raymond James’s notes that non-OPEC oil production apparently peaked
in the first quarter of 2007, and given precipitous falls in oil output
from Russia to Mexico, there’s not much hope for a recovery. OPEC
production—and thus global output—peaked a little later, in the first
quarter of 2008, Raymond James says.
The contention rests on a simple argument: OPEC oil production
actually fell even as oil prices were above $100 a barrel, a sign of
the “tyranny of geology” that limits the easy production of ever-more
crude."
Sadly, many Oregon legislators are still wringing their hands about whether to support bills that reduce our dependence on dirty fossil fuels of the past like House Bill 2186. Hopefully they'll act to protect consumers and build Oregon's future economy and vote to support it.
From an airplane at night, it's easy to see city lights. While showing us the outlines of cities, they also show us wasting energy to light the sky.
Outdoor lights are meant to help people see the ground and things moving near the ground, yet a significant amount of light heads upwards, to be seen by no one and to have no use. We spend energy, burn coal, and create global warming pollution, only to project the light upwards where it's wasted. If only there were a smarter way to build light fixtures, so that we used our energy to project light where we wanted it... Enter Rep. Mitch Greenlick, stage left. Today the Oregon House passed Greenlick's House Bill 3367, the Shielded Outdoor Lighting Act (SOLA), by a 44-2 vote.
The bill does three things. It requires utilities to give consumers the choice of a shielded/Dark Sky fixture, outlaws inefficient mercury vapor lighting fixtures, and makes Dark Sky lights the preferred alternative for public buildings unless another option would be cheaper over the lifetime of the fixtures.
The bill, which now moves to the Senate, not only helps reduce wasted energy and reduce pollution from mercury lights, it helps us appreciate the beauty of the nighttime skies.
As a kid, I remember seeing the Milky Way. But living in the city means that's a treat reserved for backpacking. Astronomers from around the world are increasingly worried about light pollution interfering with our ability to see and understand the heavens. The dark sky movement has a simple aim: making sure we can connect with the universe. Here's to hoping the Senate helps us do so and moves the bill forward.
Join us for a special presentation on the benefits of taking
responsible, immediate action in the fight against global warming vs.
the high cost of doing nothing.
WHEN: 6- 8 PM, Thursday, April 16, 2009 WHERE: United First Methodist Chuch, in the Carrier Room, 600 State Street (down the street from the Capitol in Salem)
Speakers:
Bill Bradbury, Former Secretary of State Bill served in the Oregon legislature for 14 years
representing portions of Oregon's south coast as a State Representative
and as a State Senator. He also held the positions of Senate Majority
Leader and Senate President.
Bill sits as a member of Oregon’s Global Warming
Advisory Commission, a group tasked with making recommendations to the
legislature on how Oregon will meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals
and tackle the adaptation challenges created by the impacts of climate
change. He was one of the
first 50 participants in Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Change
training sessions and has given over 110 presentations.
Representative Jules Bailey, Senior Policy Analyst at ECONorthwest Jules works at the intersection of economics, public policy, the
environment, and urban development. As a Senior Policy Analyst at
ECONorthwest, one of Oregon's oldest and most respected economics
consulting firms, Jules has worked on several economic analysis and
development projects, including managing the economic analysis for the
Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement project, conducting an
economic impact projection for the Portland High Performance Green
Building Policy, analyzing a state system of carbon taxes for Oregon,
and writing a literature review of smart growth policies.
Bob Stacey, Exective Director at 1000 Friends of Oregon Bob
has a long history with 1000 Friends and with land use and growth
management. He was one of 1000 Friends’ first staff attorneys (1975 -
1986), and served on the board of directors (1996 – 2000). His
professional career includes work as Director of the City of Portland
Planning Bureau; Senior Policy Advisor on Urban Growth Management to
Governor Barbara Roberts; attorney in private practice; Executive
Director of Policy and Planning at TriMet; and Chief of Staff to
Congressman Earl Blumenauer. He is a graduate of Reed College and the
University of Oregon, and was a Loeb Fellow at the Harvard Graduate
School of Design for the 2000-2001 academic year. In 2008, he became a
Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He is a native
Oregonian.
Catherine Thommason, MD, President of Physicians for Social Responsibility Dr.
Catherine Thomasson is a Staff Physician and Resident Educator at
Portland State University. She was elected President of National
Physicians for Social Responsibility's Board of Directors for 2007 and
was PSR Oregon Board President for 5 years. She has been a national
spokesperson educating on issues of health effects of Global Warming
and its solutions as well as working to build coalitions to encourage
better legislation within Oregon to address greenhouse gas emissions.
In Oregon, she also worked on advisory panels including
Portland-Multnomah Climate Plan, Multnomah County West Nile Prevention
Task Force and Portland, Oregon Water Treatment Policy decisions. Dr.
Thomasson received a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and her Medical
Degree from Wayne State University. She did her residency in Internal
Medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University.
A quick squib - which many of Oregon's fantastic leading green builders may quibble over.
Someone testifying this morning in favor of retaining Oregon's Business Energy Tax Credit cited his project to build "The World's Greenest Building" - as determined by its LEED score - in Independence, Oregon (Rep. Vicki Berger's district). The project is slated to include office, retail, and residential space.
As we look to making the US energy independent, and have Oregon play a leading role in reaching that goal, it's good to have people pushing to be the best in the world.
Today's Portland Business Journal reports on a study released yesterday by the University of Oregon that found the costs of inaction on climate is projected to cost Oregonians $3.3 billion a year by 2020.
The author of the report, Ernie Niemi VicePresident at ECONorthwest, said the costs were purposely understated, and only covered some of the costs. Health costs and wasted energy consumption were the largest costs.
Rep. Tobias Read, chair of the House Sustainability and Economic Development Committee, and Tom Kelly, owner of Neil Kelly, Inc. wrote a piece in The Oregonian calling for leadership on climate change, instead of waiting for someone else to dictate our terms, or failing to embrace new ways, like Detroit. An excerpt:
The first settlers from the East came here by clearing the path that
carries our state name. Our professional basketball team proudly bears
that identity on the front of its jerseys. Oregonians always have been,
and must continue to be, trailblazers.
We must embrace that identity when it comes to combating climate
change. We have the opportunity to meet the state's environmental and
energy challenges and take full advantage of the significant economic
opportunities they present.
Fortunately, the beginning of that discussion is taking place in
Oregon's Capitol. Our task is to reduce greenhouse gas pollution in
ways that work for Oregon and put us in the best competitive position.
We want Oregon businesses to compete and win - to develop new
industries and go after new markets, new products and new technologies
- and we believe that a limit on greenhouse gas emissions offers real
promise.
Four weeks into the 2009 Legislative session, we've seen legislators introduce 1,185 bills. We're currently tracking 244 of them as having potential impacts on the environment. We'll probably see another 2,000 to 2,500 bills, bringing the total somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 bills.
If you're concerned about reducing global warming pollution, there will probably be two to three dozen bills this session. How do they all fit together? Luckily, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality did an excellent overview of climate bills
proposed by Governor Kulongoski, and how they are tied into each of Oregon's main sources of global warming pollution. (Download the overview of the Governor's bills.)
Bill numbers in the presentation are HB XXXX, or SB XXXX (House Bill and Senate Bill, respectively). To read the bills, visit the Legislature's web site and look them up by bill number.
At yesterday's hearing on climate change legislation to help the economy and environment, Governor Kulongoski led with electrifying testimony, where he criticized "Salem Beltway naysayers". An excerpt:
Over the last year I have – like you – been listening to those still in
denial who argue that SB 80 is not the right approach to address the
issues around CO2 emissions.
Their answer to the climate change debate has been to promote fear and
confusion about what SB 80 and the other bills would actually do. They
argue against a cap and trade and other parts of this proposed package
by claiming now is not the time to make significant changes with a
fragile economy, or let the federal government deal with this issue,
or, even more ominously, that cap and trade is this “big thing” that is
scary, unknown, complex, and risky.
You may recall that the same coalition of Salem Beltway naysayers made
similar arguments about the Renewable Portfolio Standard bill in the
2007 session. Despite economic data that supported the benefits of an
RPS, they predicted rising energy rates and economic costs that have
not materialized. In reality, two years later, our utilities are
reporting they are ahead of the required timeline for integrating
renewable energy with no increase to rates over what would have
occurred with fossil fuel options.
Countdown to the 2009 Legislative Session that is...
The first day of session is January 12 and we can't wait to get to work.
We'll be working on critical environmental legislation as a member of the Oregon Conservation Network (OCN), a coalition of fifty of Oregon’s leading environmental groups.
Implement Global Warming Solutions We
must take action to reduce global warming pollution, which if left
unchecked will lead to increased forest fires, water shortages, and
major disruptions to our economy. The Legislature should place a
mandatory, declining cap on global warming pollution.
Promote Water Conservation Farmers,
fishermen, cities, businesses and local communities all need adequate
water supplies to thrive. It’s our responsibility to ensure a legacy of
healthy rivers for everyone and everything that depends on them
Preserve Oregon’s Coastal Legacy Global
warming, pollution, increasing population, and coastal development are
taking a toll – and our ocean’s future health is at risk. The
Legislature should create a system of marine protected areas and
reserves in Oregon’s Territorial Sea.
Increase Transportation Options As
the Oregon Legislature considers new transportation investments, we
must make sure to use more efficient land use planning and invest in
transportation options. This will reduce the amount of time Oregonians
spend in traffic, improve our health, and reduce the amount we spend on
gas.
Ensure New Energy Supplies are Responsible Liquefied
natural gas (LNG) emits 20-30% more global warming pollution than
domestic natural gas. LNG terminals planned for Oregon would mainly
send gas to California, which has rejected LNG because of safety and
environmental concerns.
Stop the Spread of Invasive Species Oregon
must take action to stop the spread of invasive plant, animal, and
aquatic species. The Legislature should require boats entering the
state be cleaned, to prevent the introduction of invasive snails and
mussels into Oregon’s waterways.
In case people didn't catch Sunday's Steve Duin article about the Energy Efficiency and Productivity Initiative, read it here.
In short, it's an effort from Representative Jules Bailey (D-Portland) to help people retrofit their homes with energy efficiency improvements and have those retrofits paid back over time with saved energy costs.
The effort could provide green jobs, reduce climate change, and improve infrastructure, at no cost to the state's general fund. We'll be working with Rep. Bailey's office, including his chief of staff, former OLCV Field Organizer Meredith Shield, to keep folks up to date as EEPI moves forward.
To stay up to date about EEPI and other environmental bills during the session, sign up for SalemWatch, our e-newsletter.
As Oregon leaders including the Governor's Task Force on Global Warming look for global warming solutions, one of the places they're looking is green building. Buildings are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, as the energy used to power, heat, and cool them needs to come from somewhere.
Two recent articles talk about green buildings, this one in the Portland Tribune about Portland's Grey to Green eco-roof grants, and this overview article from The Economist's technology quarterly, which focuses especially on window technology and LED lighting.
The Salem-Keizer Transit District has placed a local option levy on the November ballot to sustain existing service and add buses to overcrowded routes. Without passage of the levy, the Cherriots bus system will cut all Saturday service (including the CherriotLift paratransit service for people with qualified disabilities) and reduce some week-day service.
Passage of this levy is crucial for Salem-Keizer to develop into the urban environment we need to accommodate our recent growth. Road congestion, the price of fuel, and parking conflicts downtown and in our neighborhoods are all evidence of the need for a public transit system to serve ALL Salem residents as efficiently as possible. Cutting service at this time would be a step backward and drastically
reduce our quality of life.
The levy is modest, requesting $30.7 million for 5 years. This equates to 49 cents per $1,000 in
assessed property values. A home with an average assessed value of $132,000 would cost a household $6.50 per month.
People need transit.
For the past five years Cherriots has provided over 5 million rides a year and the CherryLift paratransit service has grown to over 127,000 rides per year. Numbers in 2008 are increasing. Many of our citizens depend on Cherriots for their only form of transportation. Studies have shown one of the biggest barriers to moving people out of poverty is lack of reliable transportation. New riders, in response to the fuel crises, are trying Cherriots for the first time. Let’s not discourage them.
The economy needs transit:
First, companies who might locate in Salem-Keizer want a transit system
that will provide a way to get their employees to work and/or their customers to their door.
Second, by taking cars off the road, businesses have less congested roads to move their goods or deliver their services.
Third, Cherriots purchases $3 to $4 million in goods and services each year from local
businesses. Finally, the district contributes permanent family wage jobs to the local economy.
The planet needs transit.
The fastest way to improve air quality and fight global warming is to invest in public transit.
By taking existing public transportation to work rather than driving, the average person
saves 4,800 pounds of CO2 per year. Cherriots entire fleet is fueled by either compressed natural gas or 20% biodiesel. The new buses are equipped with clean diesel engines that are more efficient than older versions.
Now is the time to pass this levy. But we need your help.
The awareness of our dwindling fuel supply and
cost to the planet has never been higher. We believe we can pass this measure with an extensive public awareness campaign. To accomplish our goals we will need volunteers and money to reach just under 100,000 in the district.
If you’d like to learn more about the campaign and how you can help contact: info@yesforcherriots.com
or 503.581.8384.
To send a contribution, make out your check
to Yes for Cherriots, indicate your telephone number, occupation and employer
and mail it to:
Yes for Cherriots PO BOX 2774
Salem, OR 97308-2774
Lizzie Grossman has a really great post on her blog Eco-Compass. Grossman asks voters to consider what McCain's VP pick says about his environmental policy.
Read Lizzie's post to gain insight on how Palin has governed on environmental issues in Alaska and the values she would likely bring to the White House.
Lizzie Grossman is a resident of Portland, Oregon. Her writing has appeared in The Nation, Orion, The Seattle Times, The Washington Post and other publications. She is a member of Multnomah County OLCV .
Recycling
Advocates' much anticipated recycling event of the summer has been rescheduled
and relocated to accommodate the anticipated large turnout for this important
and topical meeting. The meeting will focus on the debate raging around the
use, recycling, and banning of plastic and paper bags.
If you
have already sent us an RSVP for September 15th, please take a moment
to reconfirm your RSVP for the new date of September 22nd. . .Thank you
Solving the Plastic Bag Dilemma: Is Oregon Ready?
A forum
hosted by Recycling Advocates
When: September 22, 2008
6:30
pm - Reception
7-9
pm - Annual Member Meeting & Public forum
Where:
Portland City Hall, Council Chambers, 1221 Southwest Fourth
Avenue
Countries as diverse as Ireland, China, Bangladesh, Uganda and
South Africa have all passed laws that in some way restrict the free
distribution of plastic check-out bags and many more are currently considering
it.
Last year San Francisco became the first major US city to
pass a bill that will eventually ban all plastic bags from grocery stores and
pharmacies. Los Angeles followed suit and Seattle's City Council voted to
implement a 20-cent fee for plastic and paper bags at grocery, drug and
convenience stores.
Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams recently announced his plans
to bring a resolution forward before the end of 2008 that will impose a fee on
both paper and plastic check-out bags.
What are the implications of the massive and widespread use of
plastic and paper bags?
How does Commissioner Adams' proposal compare to Seattle's or San
Francisco's?
How will
grocery stores and consumers handle the fee?
Where do compostable bags fit into
the equation?
Now that Portland is considering a solution, when can the
rest of Oregon expect the same?
As many outside companies are pushing to get dirty natural gas into Oregon via liquefied natural gas terminals, others are looking to domestic natural gas as the responsible, much cleaner alternative.
Domestic natural gas reserves, once uneconomical to tap, are expanding significantly. While gas is not the long term solution to our energy needs, efforts to expand are getting support from Congressional Democrats as it is much cleaner than coal or LNG (which emits 20-30% more global warming gases due to liquefication and transportation processes).
Andrew Revkin has a sobering post over at The New York Times Dot Earth blog today, struggling with whether we can overcome human nature and act on the future of climate change without first suffering directly and personally from it.
While local governments continue to sign off on putting a huge new I-5 bridge between Vancouver and Portland on their credit cards, there's a glaring problem: the money to pay the bill.
With a currently estimated $4.2 billion cost, the bridge is the most expensive public works project in the region's history. Tolls can only pay a portion of the cost, and the rest will have to be covered by federal, state, and local sources.
But Washington lawmakers are saying the project isn't at the top of their priority list. As the project mainly benefits Washington-based commuters, that's a major problem.
Leaders of Washington's House Transportation Committee are focused instead on two other projects - an expansion of SR520, and a replacement of Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct. From the Portland Business Journal article:
"The bottom line is there are no funds available for construction of
the Columbia River Crossing," said [Vancouver, WA Senator Don] Benton, a project opponent. "We've
almost completely tapped out our resources just on the project studies
alone." ... Oregon lawmakers have generally supported the bridge, although they've broached few concrete funding solutions.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finds that [Columbia River] bridge
planners did not adequately examine the potential for a
[new I-5] bridge to induce sprawl, increase pollution and contaminate
an aquifer that supplies Vancouver and Clark County's
drinking water.
Bridge planners also didn't look at air pollution impacts throughout North Portland, especially the impacts on elderly and poor and racial minorities who live nearby.
Despite the lack of credible data on the impacts of a 12-lane bridge, the Portland City Council voted to support the project on Wednesday, over the objections of environmental leaders from Environment Oregon, 1000 Friends of Oregon, Audubon Society of Portland, and the Coalition for a Livable Future, as well as over 1000 local residents who submitted testimony against the bridge.
I raised concerns about the lack of data in a piece I wrote for the BlueOregon blog on Tuesday.
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.
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).
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!
Truck owners are feeling the squeeze with gas prices still on the rise.
According to a recent NY Times article the cost of owning a pick-up truck will run you about $100,000 these days.
"The F-250 is part of the first generation of mass-market vehicles — along with the Lincoln Navigator,
Lexus LX 570 and a few others — to approach the six-figure mark. Now,
if you walked into a showroom today and asked to see one of these
trucks, the price tag wouldn’t be anywhere near $100,000. It would be
much closer to $50,000."
A Brown-Bag Presentation by photojournalist Gary Braasch. WHEN: Monday, June 9, Noon - 1 PM
WHERE: Portland Building, 1120 SW Fifth Avenue
Auditorium, 2nd floor
Braasch will share his extraordinary eight-year photo documentation of climate change featured in his new book, Earth Under Fire: How Global Warming is Changing the World.
Braasch is known for assignments for Smithsonian, Audubon, Discover, Scientific
American, and Natural History magazines. He was awarded the Ansel Adams Award for conservation photography in 2006, and named Outstanding Nature Photographer in 2003. He is a "Legend Behind the Lens," an honor given by the Nikon Corporation.
Overall the exciting and historic 2008 Primary Election was a success. OLCV targeted eight races -- races we invested volunteer resources into and we had positive results in all but two.
We are celebrating huge victories three hotly contested Democratic primaries for the Legislature and three local races where our candidates are heading into run-offs in November with the lead.
We waged tough fights in two local races but lost. Both were up-hill battles to begin with against candidates with far greater name recognition. But we are pleased with the energy and excitement of voters and volunteers despite the outcome.
The victory of Jules Kopel-Bailey in southeast Portland was a
particularly sweet victory for voters as well as the environmental community.
This was a tough 4 way primary, with two other strong candidates.
Jules distinguished himself as an environmental leader, which helped
carry him to victory. OLCV and
Climate PAC were by far the largest supporters of Jules and his efforts to win and OLCV
provided a huge portion of the grassroots contact in the campaign.
Eugene looks like it will have two high-profile local government
races this fall, with both the Mayor's race and Lane County Commission
race heading to run-offs. In both cases, it will feel like a do-over.
Both of our candidates (Kitty Piercy and Rob Handy) are ahead slightly,
but not enough to overcome the fact that in both races there were third
and fourth candidates filed who didn't campaign, but garnered just
enough of the vote to prevent either of the two main candidates from
getting beyond 50%.
Keep track of what's going on in Oregon environmental politics, sign up for OLCV's e-bulletin, a twice per month email newsletter.
OLCV's Election break-down:
House District 38 D Primary Chris
Garrett Winner 53%-47%
House District 42 D Primary Jules
Kopel-Bailey Winner 41%-30%-27%
House District 49 D Primary Nick
Kahl Winner 53%-47%
Portland City Council Pos. 2 Jim Middaugh Losing
62%-22% to Nick Fish, with three other candidates getting the remaining
vote. Fish wins it outright in the primary.
Multnomah County Commission # 4: Carla Piluso Winning with 48%-28% in a 4-way non-partisan primary. Headed to run-off.
Salem Mayor Lloyd
Chapman Losing 45%-55% to incumbent mayor Janet Taylor in a two-way
non-partisan primary. Taylor wins it outright in the primary.
Eugene Mayor Kitty
Piercy Leading 48.3%-47.8% in a 4-way non-partisan primary. Heading to a run-off.
Lane County Comm.
(North) Rob Handy Leading 48.7%-44.9% in a 4-way non-partisan primary. Heading to run-off.
Global warming is happening and we're seeing the effects in our own communities. We need action from our leaders in Congress.
Speakers will talk about the local benefits of renewable energy and how Greenpeace is working to get Congress committed to stopping global warming. Local writer Geronimo Tagatac will read a story by a local student about how U.S will overcome global warming.
Activity centers will be set-up for children and adults to take immediate actions by making drawing, taking photos, picking up yard-signs etc. Refreshments and snacks will also be served.
WHEN: Saturday, May 31st at 4pm
WHERE: The Salem Public Library, Anderson Room
Parking is available at the Library, which is located at 585 Liberty St. SE Salem, OR 97301.
Free and open to the public
To find out more and to RSVP please contact Sofia Gidlund at (619) 315 8764 or email Sofia.Gidlund@greenpeace.org
The Alliance for Climate Protection, founded by Al Gore - to spearhead
efforts to combat climate change at a global level, has launched a a multi-year, multi-faceted campaign that according to their press release is "designed to engage the American public and ignite a movement to address one of the most important issues facing civilization: solving the climate crisis."
“There is no problem that can’t be solved when Americans unite behind a
shared commitment,” said CathyZoi,
the CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection. “Solving the climate crisis is a moral
question that transcends who we vote for, which house we worship in or
who signs our paychecks. It is past time for us to come together on
this issue.”
If her name sounds familiar it could be because last year, Cathy Zoi addressed local, national,
and international efforts to combat global warming here in Portland at OLCV's 10th Annual Dinner for the Environment. Zoi
spoke to nearly 800 people, including more than 50 elected officials,
about the critical role local leadership plays in the international
campaign against global warming.
If you haven't caught the ad on tv yet, why not watch it here?
Climate change is affecting all of us and will especially affect our children. But there are many things we can do to limit our impact on the Earth today. From supporting incentives for more energy efficient buildings to electing pro-environment candidates that will protect our air and water and lead the fight against global warming; there is a lot of work to be done.
You can learn more about what you can do with 850 other like minds. Join us at OLCV's 11th Annual Dinner, April 25. Our keynote speaker is Christine Ervin, a leader and spokesperson on green building, green business and climate change. Christine was the first President and CEO of the US Green Building Council and former Director of the Oregon Department of Energy.
The Oregonian just posted an article announcing PacifiCorps' plans to shut down
the hydropower turbines at Upper Klamath Lake's Link River Dam for four
months each year to help endangered fish.
According to the Oregonian:
PacifiCorp will turn off the turbines in late summer through early fall so
Lost River and Shortnose suckers can more successfully migrate to the southern
part of the lake to spawn. The suckers are listed as a threatened species under
the federal Endangered
Species Act.
The conservation group Oregon Wild
signed onto the agreement after pressuring PacifiCorp to enhance its restoration
efforts.
The deal is not part of the long-running and more comprehensive negotiations
that have tried to settle differences among the Klamath River Basin's disparate
interests, which include power generators, environmentalists, tribes and
farmers. Still, PacifiCorp and Oregon Wild say the settlement offers a model for
balancing the concerns of traditionally warring factions.
With
the February 5th primary election approaching rapidly, in which voters
in California and 21 other states will pick which presidential
candidates represent each party, we have a rare opportunity to make a
monumental decision.
For the first time in years, we have an opportunity to elect a
president who will give the global climate crisis the level of
attention that is required to tackle it.
But how are we to know where the candidates stand on global warming, if reporters simply refuse to ask the right questions? Of the 2,938 questions asked of the presidential candidates since January 2007, just 6 mentioned global warming (source: League of Conservation Voters).
The
California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) has asked presidential
candidates four critical questions about global warming, in short:
If elected, will you allow states to lead on global warming, in the way that California has?
Will you support a cap on greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2020 and an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050?
Will you support an all-out federal/state cooperative effort to
rapidly expand investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy?
Will you support a federal program to impose maximum
technologically feasible, cost-effective controls on ships, trains, and
trucks to reduce air pollution that causes global warming and
accelerates melting of polar ice caps?
California's voters, and those throughout the nation, need as much
information as possible when deciding which presidential candidate to
support. That's why we're asking candidates these tough questions.
We've asked the presidential candidates to provide their answers by Friday. We'll let you know before Tuesday what happens.
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