Kulongoski and Gregoire say they’re forming an outside panel to review the project – better known as the Columbia River Crossing. The panel’s job will be to make sure the work can be done on time and on budget.

The eight people who were appointed are described as “national and international” experts in transportation, construction and environmental issues. They’ll meet for the first time in late May and are expected to deliver their report to Kulongoski and Gregoire by the end of July.

The Governors clearly want to see this project move forward. But their influence over events may be running out. The Crossing has become an issue in race to replace Kulongoski as Governor. The two top Democrats, Kitzhaber and Bradbury, both say they don’t support the current plans. In the race for Metro Council President, candidate Bob Stacey is a big critic. Any of these men, if they’re elected, could change the outcome.

There’s also a growing backlash among some of the current local officials. Earlier this year, four of them sent a letter to Kulongoski and Gregoire saying the project, “as proposed still imposes unacceptable impacts on our communities.” The group is made up of Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Metro President David Bragdon, Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart and Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt.

The plans for the Columbia River Crossing call for tearing down the two bridges between Portland and Vancouver and replacing them with a new 10 to 12 lane bridge that includes room for light rail and bicycle/pedestrian traffic. The idea has never sat well with environmental groups who say it will only encourage sprawl in Clark County and increase traffic and pollution in nearby neighborhoods on both sides of the river. There’s also a lot of concern in Clark County about tolls.

The most recent price tag puts the costs at about $3.2 billion. Just planning for the Columbia River Crossing runs about $1 million per month.

That sums up the reaction from Oregon’s political and environmental leaders to the news that the feds will start regulating greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and trucks.

They also say it’s a reminder that if not for California, Oregon, Washington and 12 other states – the feds might still be delaying instead of taking action.

Earlier today, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation announced new rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from car and light trucks, starting with the 2012 model year. Over a four year period, new vehicles sold in the U.S. will have to meet increasingly higher standards for fuel efficiency. By 2016, the average vehicle is supposed to get about 34-miles per gallon. Cars that use less fuel also emit less pollution, including greenhouse gases.

In effect, the feds are saying that the rest of the country needs to catch up with Oregon.

To be fair about it, California is the state that’s been leading the way on higher fuel standards since 2002. Oregon jumped on board in 2005, and our state laws are designed to follow what California is doing. Over the years, 12 other states also joined the effort.

What the feds are doing is to apply the California standards nationwide.

“This would never have happened,” says Brock Howell of Environment Oregon, “without states like Oregon adopting clean car standards.” Howell also praised Governor Kulongoski for his leadership on the issue.

As for the Governor, he released a statement saying, “The nationwide adoption of these standards clearly shows that enacting good clean energy policy doesn’t mean “going alone” or jeopardizing our state economy. Today Oregonians along with citizens from the 13 other states can stand proudly as champions for clean air and reduced dependence on fossil fuels.”

Chris Hagerbaumer with the Oregon Environmental Council took part in the discussions that led to Oregon adopting the tougher standards in 2005. That was a time when Hummer sales were peaking and a representative for Oregon auto dealers boldly predicted that Smart cars would never sell in the U.S. “I’m glad to say he was proven wrong,” she says. “Oregon really paid attention to the future.”

The higher fuel standards are the first steps the federal government has taken to reduce greenhouse gases. Because they only apply to passenger vehicles, they don’t include freight shippers such as large trucks, ships and trains. Nor does it include stationary sources of greenhouse gas pollution such as factories and power plants.

Because of that, Dan Galpern of the Western Environmental Law Center call this a “modest step” in the right direction. He says it paves the way for regulating these other sources of greenhouse gases. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says stationary sources won’t have to worry about Clean Air permits for at least another year, and then only the largest polluters.

Threats remain. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski wants to limit EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases. Galpern says that would be a “mistake of historic proportions. We can’t win this battle with our hands tied behind our back.”

Howell says environmentalists are also monitoring efforts in the House to weaken the new rules.

But for today, environmentalists are pleased to see that Oregon and the 13 other states played a role in bringing about improvements at the federal level. “State action matter,”says Howell. “In fact we are leading, putting our markets in the right place and getting a national standard passed.”

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The EPA wants to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Photo from ODOT.

The Obama Administration is taking the federal government’s first steps to reduce greenhouse gases – and it’s starting with cars and trucks.

It’s doing this by requiring new passenger vehicles to get better gas mileage. Cars that burn less fuel also produce less pollution, including greenhouse gases.

The new rules kick in for the 2012 model year and get increasingly tough over a four year period.

Here’s where were headed.

By 2016 new cars and trucks sold in the United States must, on average, emit no more than 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile. That’s roughly the same as getting 35.5 miles per gallon of fuel.  There is some wiggle room in the regulations, and the actual average fuel efficiency might actually be closer to 34 mpg.

The announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation says…

• The vehicles covered by the new rules will produce nearly a billion fewer tons of greenhouse gases.
• They’ll also consume about 1.8 billion fewer barrels of oil.
• The rules will add, on average, $950 to the cost of a new car or truck in 2016. Those costs will be offset by better fuel efficiency. The feds predict the average new car buyer will actually save about $3,000 over the life of the vehicle.

While the new rules are clearly designed to encourage automakers to produce more electric vehicles and hybrids, the feds say these tougher regulations can also be met with existing technology applied to cars and trucks running on gasoline.

At a press conference, administration officials stressed that all types of passenger cars and trucks can get better gas mileage. They say there’s no reason why consumers will be limited in their choice of vehicle, including pick-up trucks and SUVs.

The EPA came under criticism earlier this week when it said it would give stationary sources of greenhouse gases at least another year before requiring them to get Clean Air permits. Administrator Lisa Jackson says that was done in anticipation of today’s announcement. She says the agency is moving deliberately to phase in greenhouse gas controls so that people, industry and Congress have time to adjust.

Jackson says she hopes Congress will soon pass greenhouse gas legislation. But until then she says, “This shows it can be done in a thoughtful way that doesn’t hurt the economy, and doesn’t cause the sky to fall.”

Stop The Columbia River Crossing and the Coalition For A Livable Future are asking people to show up at 9:30am outside ODOT’s offices at 123 NW Flanders in Portland. That’s where the Project’s Sponsor Council will be meeting at 10am.

Another new development, a large coalition of environmental and other activists are taking on the Governors of Oregon and Washington for their support of the project.

In the letter, the groups say the current $3 billion plus plan has “serious flaws.” Instead of reducing traffic jams, the groups believe the current design will only make things worse. They say it will also encourage sprawl and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

What’s happened in the last several weeks is sort of a “letter war” between local leaders who want more control over the project, and state leaders who want to move ahead. The environmental coalition is getting behind the local guys, including Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Metro President David Bragdon, Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt, and Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart.

In the last days of the special session, one more victory notch in the belt of Oregon’s environmental community.

This afternoon, the House approved SB 1059, a bill that lowers greenhouse gas emissions from car and light trucks. The Oregon Environmental Council says the vote was 32-26. The Senate approved the bill yesterday, all that’s left is getting the Governor’s signature.

Here’s a brief rundown of what’s in the bill:

State agencies develop a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in Oregon.

Working with metro area governments, the agencies develop guidelines on how to reduce emissions. This includes looking at land use policy to and mass transit options. Supporters hope this will lead to less sprawl and make it easier to people to get around without driving.

The next step is creating a “toolkit” for local governments to use. This may include information about the options local governments have to reduce emissions, which methods are most effective, and the costs and benefits.

The five metro areas of Salem-Keizer, Eugene-Springfield, Medford, Bend and Corvallis will get specific targets to hit for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. A separate law covers the Portland metro area.

Finally, the agencies report back to the legislature on how much all of this is going to cost.

1000 Friends of Oregon and the Oregon Environmental Council released a joint statement praising the bill.

Mary Kyle McCurdy, 1000 Friends of Oregon Policy Director says, “This victory will help create healthier, sustainable communities across Oregon. And it’s a major step for giving Oregonians better transportation choices.”

“SB 1059 is a win-win for cities and towns across Oregon,” says Chris Hagerbaumer, Deputy Director of the Oregon Environmental Council. “The bill will help create the tools and resources local governments need to make cost effective decisions on planning future growth while also improving air quality and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Cities and towns of all sizes will be able to use the tools that the agencies develop.”

The bill doesn’t just set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in metro areas, but according to the statement also…

• Directs state agencies to develop a statewide transportation strategy on greenhouse gases.
• To craft a toolkit to assist local governments and metro areas in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
• To develop guidelines for scenario planning – used by communities across the country to consider alternative choices of land use patterns and transportation options to reduce emissions.
• To work with the Oregon University System to educate the public about the costs and benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Report back to the 2011 Legislature with an estimate of how much it will cost local governments to prepare and select a land use and transportation scenario that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and potential sources of funding.
• And then report back to the 2013 Legislative Assembly with an assessment of how the agencies are doing on these tasks.

SB 1059 is based on recommendations from 2009 Metropolitan Planning Organization Greenhouse Gas Emissions Task Force.

Earlier:

Within the past half hour, the Oregon Senate approved a bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.

The vote was 17 to 13. It now goes to the House for a vote, possibly as soon as tomorrow.

SB 1059 calls for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in five of the state’s metro areas including; Eugene-Springfield, Salem-Keizer, Medford, Corvallis and Bend. Supporters hope it will lead to these area’s expanding their mass transit systems and finding ways to control sprawl. The Portland metro area is covered by another law regulating greenhouse gases.

This is the second big win of the session for Oregon’s environmental community and my Twitter and Facebook accounts are going a little crazy with messages. That’s not a complaint, by the way.

The other important victory of the session is a ten-year ban on offshore oil and gas drilling along Oregon’s coastline. That bill has passed both houses and will likely be signed by Governor Kulongoski, if he hasn’t signed it already.

Another priority bill for the session, a ban on bisphenol A, lost momentum when it hit the Senate floor. A 15-15 tie vote killed the legislation and attempts to revive it through the House Rules Committee failed.

The Oregon Environmental Council has a webpage explaining more about how SB 1059 works.

See: SB 1059: Creating Climate-Friendly Communities

Under the bill, state agencies will set greenhouse gas reduction targets for five metro areas in the state, Salem-Keizer, Eugene-Springfield, Bend, Medford and Corvallis. The Portland metro area is already covered by a similar law.

The bill also calls for the state to help the metro areas by giving them help with planning and ideas on the best ways to reach the goals.

Supporters are hoping this will encourage more metro areas in the state to expand their mass transit options, and look for ways to control sprawl.

The Senate convenes this afternoon starting at 1pm. Brock Howell of Environment Oregon says if the bill passes, the House could vote on as soon as tomorrow.

This is what the bill does.

• Requires ODOT and the Department of Land Conservation to set overall state strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
• Sets emissions targets that the state’s largest metro areas have to reach by 2035. This includes Salem-Keizer, Eugene-Springfield, Bend, Medford and Corvallis. It doesn’t include Portland because that metro area is covered by separate legislation.
• Provides the metro areas with ideas, strategies and plans to help them achieve the new goals.

Supporters hope this will lead to more mass transit in the regions covered by the bill, and help prevent sprawl.

Thanks to 1000 Friends of Oregon for the tip!

But rather than going straight to the Senate floor, SB 1059 will be taking an unexpected detour.

Eric Stachon of 1000 Friends of Oregon says the bill was forwarded to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Stachon says that’s because the bill requires some federal funds to be moved from one account to another, something that Ways and Means has to approve.

It’s not clear if this helps or hurts the bill’s prospects. But if Ways and Means goes along, the bill can move to the floor of both houses without any more hearings.

Here’s what’s in SB 1059 in its current form.

• Requires ODOT and the Department of Land Conservation to set overall state strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
• Requires emissions targets that the state’s largest metro areas have to reach by 2035. This includes Salem-Keizer, Eugene-Springfield, Bend, Medford and Corvallis. It doesn’t include Portland because that metro area is covered by separate legislation.
• Provides the metro areas with ideas, strategies and plans to help them achieve the new goals.

Supporters hope this will lead to more mass transit in the regions covered by the bill, and help prevent sprawl.

Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030

City Commissioners take another stab at trying to pass a 20-year bicycle plan for Portland. It calls for spending about $600 million to add another 700 miles of bike paths in the city. The goal is to get Portlanders to take 25% of their daily trips on their bicycles by 2030. The plan hit a snag last week when questions were raised about where the money would come from. A report in the Oregonian says the current thinking is to pass the plan now, and figure out later where to find the money.

The meeting at City Hall starts at 3pm.

Solar Powered State Fair

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission could be voting this afternoon on an $8 million plan for solar power at the State Fairgrounds in Salem. It’s considering an offer from Solar City of California to install some 5,400 solar panels at various locations around the fairgrounds. A report from the staff says that would produce about half of the power needed to run the facility every year, and save the state $200,000 – $400,000 over two decades.

The meeting starts at 3:30pm. It will be conducted via telephone.