Work on the environment community’s agenda for the special session resumes Tuesday.
The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee becomes the unofficial epicenter in the afternoon when it takes up two of the most important green bills of the session.
Starting with….
TUESDAY:
Ban The Bag
The Portland Chapter of Oregon Surfrider gets serious about a bill before the legislature to ban single use plastic bags in Oregon. Tonight’s meeting is about giving members the tools for activism, presenting, and engaging in the Ban the Bag Campaign. The chapter has previously supported a 20-cent per bag fee in Portland. But that campaign appears to be taking a back seat now that legislators are showing some interest in a statewide ban.
Details: 7:30pm, at the offices of WEND magazine, 2001 NW 19th, Suite 103 B, Portland.
The Metro regional government is “almost” at a decision on urban reserves.
The latest plan, as proposed by a committee called the Core 4, includes setting aside 27,000 acres for urban reserves and 270,000 acres for rural reserves. That leaves about 2300 acres in the “undecided” category.
Oregon’s environmental community just scored its first big win of the special session.
The House approved HB 3613, a bill that bans offshore oil and natural gas drilling in Oregon’s territorial waters.
Here’s a story they’ll be able to tell their grandchildren.
Last Thursday, folk singer Peter Yarrow sang a couple of Woody Guthrie tunes for kids at the headquarters of the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland. Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary) dropped by to see the agency’s memorial to Guthrie, who wrote more than two dozen songs for BPA back in 1941. Many of the songs have become classics, but the most famous of them all is “Roll On, Columbia.”
Yarrow was serenading children in the BPA’s day care program for employees.
Thanks to Notice Software of Portland, we’re now able to offer a free iPhone application for Natural Oregon.
To download it, follow this link or from the Follow Us section in the column to the right of this story.
The House is expected to vote this week on changes to Oregon’s Business Tax Credit. Better known as BETC (pronounced Betsy), the tax credits have played a huge role in boosting renewable energy in the state.
BETC has turned out to be so popular, that legislators are now worried the credits have become too expensive. Late Friday, the House Revenue Committee approved HB 3680, an updated version that’s designed to control costs and close some loopholes. And unlike a 2009 attempt that was vetoed by Governor Kulongoski, this time he’s okay with the changes.
