Utilities

Stop Global Warming Event Tonight In Salem

April 16, 2009
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Faced with strong opposition to climate change bills in Salem, a coalition of groups is trying to re-energize support with big rally tonight.

PGE and Pacific Power are fighting Senate Bill 80, which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon.  The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee wrapped up two days of hearings this week.  Now we’re hearing there are behind the scenes negotiations that could lead to new amendments to the bill.  A committee vote could come next week.

At tonight’s rally, speakers will give an update on SB 80 and other climate change legislation.  Former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury will be the main speaker.  Tresa Horney of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters says they want to make sure people realize the sense of urgency behind getting these bills passed.

The event starts at 6pm at the United First Methodist Church, 600 State Street, Salem.

PGE: We’re Number One In Renewable Energy

April 14, 2009
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Portland General Electric says it’s the #1 utility in the country for how much renewable energy it sells to residential customers.

PGE says it sold almost 530 million kilowatt hours of renewable power to residential customers in 2008, an 18% increase over 2007. According to Department of Energy statistics, that’s more than any other utility in the nation. PGE has held this top spot for four years running.

Here’s another milestone. The number of renewable energy customers, both residential and commercial, is closing in on 70,000. That’s up 12% from 2007 and puts PGE in the #2 spot on that list. Percentage wise, 9.7% of PGE customers are buying renewable power. That’s also up from 2007 and the 4th highest participation rate in the nation.

PGE and PacificCorp offer customers a renewable energy option. These programs can raise your bills, how much depends on how much renewable power you buy.

PGE Green Power Oregon

Pacific Power Blue Sky Program

Oregon Climate Change Debate: Leadership Vs. Going It Alone

April 10, 2009
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Depending on who you believe….

If Oregon moves ahead with greenhouse gas reductions, it will cement our role as a leader on green issues, grow our renewable energy businesses and create jobs, and helps Oregonians save money because we’ll learn to conserve energy.

Or… moving ahead before the rest of the country is risky, raising the cost of doing business and puts Oregon companies at a disadvantage, drives up the price of electricity and threatens jobs.

These are the central arguments before and against Senate Bill 80, legislation that sets in motion a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon. Members of the Senate Environmental and Natural Resources Committee listened to witnesses on both sides of the debate during Thursday’s hearing, but took no action. The hearing will continue next week.

SB 80 gives large utilities and transportation companies about 18 months to work with state agencies on plans to lower greenhouse gases. Heavy industry gets about five years to work on a voluntary plan. The goal is to reduce emissions 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, and 75% below 1990 levels by 2050.

The most dire warnings came from PGE and Pacific Power, who said the bill would cost them billions of dollars and dramatically raise power rates. Dave Robertson of PGE said to meet these goals they’d have to shut down some power plants and build new ones at cost of about $7 billion. He said customers would see their bill jump 75-100% by the year 2020.

Marcy Putnam with IBEW local 125 also argued against the bill. Her union has hundreds of members working at older power plants in economically depressed areas of the state. She’s worried that the bill will force these plants to close and jobs will be lost. She warned that if the state adopts such a plan before the rest of the country, “Oregon is on this path by itself.”

Many of the witnesses opposed to the bill said a national solution was the way to go and Oregon should wait for Congress to approve a greenhouse gas reduction law.

But environmentalists said it was time for Oregon to show leadership on global warming. Andrea Durbin of the Oregon Environmental Council praised the bill for its flexibility because it gives each major sector a chance to develop its own plan. “We’re not going to see action in Oregon until we have a process for moving forward,” she said.

Dennis Wilde of Gerding Edlen rejected the notion that helping the environment will hurt the economy. He said they are not competing goals and that the bill will focus investments in clean energy. “We believe this bill,” said Wilde, “will help push Oregon towards a strong renewable economy.”

Witnesses from renewable energy companies said the bill would help them grow their businesses and that as more clean energy sources become available, Oregon could meet those goals without economic hardship.

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Global Warming: No Vote Today

April 9, 2009
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There will be no action on Senate Bill 80 today. Chairman Dingfelder says the hearing will be held over until next week. Meanwhile today’s testimony is wrapping up.

Global Warming Hearing: Part One

April 9, 2009
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We’re watching today’s hearing on Senate Bill 80, legislation that will put Oregon on a path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

The bill tells agencies and industry to develop plans that will meet goals of reducing emissions at least 10% below 1990 levels by the year 2020, and at least 75% below 1990 levels by 2050.

Part of the discussion includes an ongoing argument over whether mandating these goals is a “hard cap” (a term used by opponents) or something else.

Here’s what witnesses are telling the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Andrea Durbin, Oregon Environmental Council, Supporter:

  • She says the greenhouse gas reduction goals established by the 2007 Legislature are a good first step but, “We’re not going to see action in Oregon until we have a process for moving forward.” She believes the bill will make sure Oregon industry will be more competitive in a “carbon restrained world.”

Dave Robertson, Portland General Electric, Opponent:

  • He says the bill will force PGE to close some power plants and build new ones, costing consumers $7 billion. Robertson says that could nearly double power bills by 2020. “A hard cap,” says Robertson, “is something we simply can’t accept.”

Tim Miller, Green Lite Motors, Supporter:

  • Miller’s company is a start up that builds electric vehicles. He says EVs will help Oregon meet these reduction goals, noting that the state already has some EV manufacturers and other big companies such as Nissan and Think may build factories here, “The demand is here and the products are coming.”

Jennifer Hudson, Ash Grove Cement, Opponent:

  • She says Ash Grove is the only cement manufacturer in Oregon. Located in Baker County, the plant employees more than 100 people and provides about 20% of the county’s tax base. She says if Oregon moves forward alone on global warming, it will put her plant and the state’s economy at a disadvantage. She says the state should wait for Congress to create a national plan.

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Anti-LNG Bill May Also Block NE Oregon Power Line

April 9, 2009
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Who says Oregonians from opposite sides of the state can’t find common ground?

People from Northwest and Northeast Oregon are coming to the state capitol today to show support for House Bill 3153. The bill’s purpose is to keep energy facilities, such as pipelines and powerlines, away from forests and farm land. Energy facilities would be banned from these rural areas if most of the power being generated goes to cities and towns.

The bill’s sponsors are from Northwest Oregon where people are worried about LNG plants and pipelines. But according to the Baker City Herald, the bill is also attracting a lot of interest in Northeast Oregon because it could be used to block a proposed high voltage transmission line.

Idaho Power is trying to build the line from Boardman, Oregon to a site south of Nampa, Idaho. The routes under consideration are roughly parallel to I-84 as it crosses the Northeast corner of the state.

The hearing before the House Sustainability and Economic Development Committee begins at 1pm in Hearing Room E.

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