David Sarasohn of the Oregonian will be moderator. Four panelists will be asking the questions.

According to a press release from the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, they are…

• Andrea Durbin, Executive Director, Oregon Environmental Council
• Steve Law, Portland Tribune and Sustainable Life
• Catherine Thomasson, Oregon Medical Association Environmental Work Group Chair
• Bob Van Dyk, of Pacific University and Forest Policy Adviser for the Wild Salmon Center

The three candidates for Governor who say they’ll show up are Democrats John Kitzhaber, Bill Bradbury and Republican Allen Alley. So the debate will have some bipartisan appeal.

If you want to attend, you’ll have to register. There’s a link for that on the Oregon Sierra Club website.

And if you can’t make it, the Oregon Environmental Council will stream it live on this page.

The event starts at 6:00pm, Tuesday, March 30th. The location is Smith Memorial Student Union, at Portland State University, on the 3rd Floor Ballroom, 1825 SW Broadway Avenue, Portland.

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

SB 1032 will ban the sale and manufacture of baby bottles and cups that contain BPA. It’s been dubbed the “baby bottle and sippy cups” bill.

The bill moves to the Senate floor. Jeremy Graybill of the Oregon Environmental Council says a vote could come early next week.

While still a victory, the bill has been weakened some since it was introduced.

The original version included broader language that included metal food cans and also banned selling food or drinks that had been stored in BPA lined containers.

But with time running out in the special session, supporters felt it the changes were needed to get enough votes to move the bill quickly through the legislature.

Offshore Drilling Ban

The House Environment and Water Committee may be ready to vote on HB 3613, a bill to ban oil and gas drilling in Oregon’s territorial waters. It has scheduled a work session for the morning. Environment Oregon’s Brock Howell was one of the witnesses before the committee on Tuesday. He says the day was noteworthy because someone actually showed up to testify against the bill. The brave soul was a representative for the Western Petroleum Association. Offshore drilling bans have won broad bipartisan support in the past, but only because they’ve been temporary bans. This bill would make the prohibition permanent. It won’t prevent drilling in federal waters further off the coast.

Details:

• House Environment and Water
• Hearing Room F
• 8am
• Work session only, no testimony from the public

For background information see: New Report Documents The Threat Of Oil To Oregon’s Coast

BPA Ban

In the afternoon, the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee will hear testimony on a bill banning bisphenol A or BPA. This is a chemical that’s found in some plastic bottles and metal-lined food and beverage containers. SB 1032 bans the manufacture and sale of BPA in containers that are designed for children under three years old. It also bans the sale of food and liquid to children under the age of three, if it’s been stored in a BPA lined container.

New FDA guidelines on BPA raise questions about how the chemical will affect young children. The FDA says updated information has given the agency reason for “some concern” on that even low levels of exposure might effect the brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.

SB 1032 is a priority bill for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and the Oregon Environmental Council.

Details:

• Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee
• Hearing Room B
• 1pm
• Public Hearing and Possible Work Session

For background information see: Bill Will Protect Oregon Children From Exposure To BPA

Senate Bill 1032 aims to do this in two ways. First, it bans the sale and manufacture of BPA lined containers, if they’re designed primarily for use by children under three years old. It also bans the sale of food and liquid to children under the age of three, if it’s been stored in a BPA lined container.

BPA was in the news again last week when the Food and Drug Administration issued new guidelines about the chemical and its impacts on young children. The FDA says updated information has given the agency reason for “some concern” on that even low levels of exposure might effect the brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.

Jeremy Graybill of the Oregon Environmental Council says he’s confident the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee will approve the bill when holds a hearing on February 4.

State Senator Jackie Dingfelder of Portland chairs the committee and drafted the legislation. She says Oregon should act now and not wait for new federal regulation of BPA. “While these guidelines are helpful,” she says, “We all know that Federal action on these issues, even when the risk is clear, can take years, which is why we should seize this opportunity to close this product safety loophole here in Oregon during the upcoming legislative session.”

For more information:

Senate Bill 1032 text

Oregon Environmental Council: Protecting Children’s Health from Toxic BPA

FDA Guidelines on Bisphenol A

Health and Human Services: BPA Information For Parents

Joining the anti-Gore protests will be Americans For Prosperity, a group that opposes cap-and-trade legislation. In their view, it’s an unaffordable tax on energy. The group’s President Tim Phillips will be speaking at the Keller Fountain about 5:30pm.

That’s in addition to the protest already planned by MoveOnDotGore. This group will gather outside Keller about the same time and their agenda appears very similar to Americans For Prosperity, against cap-and-trade and doubters on climate change.

Plus, according to Willamette Week, PETA plans a third protest. They want Gore to stop eating meat and prove his “green” credentials.

The Oregonian reports this morning that someone vandalized Keller Auditorium with anti-Gore graffiti.

Meanwhile environmental groups are rallying supporters to put on a counter demonstration. Repower America, Climate Solutions and Oregon Environmental Council are all spreading the word to gather outside Keller starting about 5:30pm. Get more information here.

So, PETA is promising a “nearly” naked Mother Earth, and MoveOnDotGore is asking people to show up in polar bear costumes. Could be quite show. The best seats for tonight may be outside of Keller.

But on a serious note, no matter how you feel about Gore, climate change and cap-and-trade, this is an excellent opportunity to show up and be heard. With the United Nations Climate Change conference starting in less than three weeks, this issue will dominate the headlines for some time to come.

My how things have changed.

Late this week, those same groups say the bill has morphed into a money for roads bill that leaves little to spend on other forms of transportation. “What started as a balanced transportation package has become an $840 million highway funding bill that takes the state backward,” says Bob Stacey, with 1000 Friends of Oregon. “We can’t support the package in its current form.”

HB 2001 includes a list of 50 road building or road widening projects for Oregon.  But only 37 of them are funded in the bill.  The money would come from increased gas taxes and vehicle fees.

In a letter to Governor Kulongoski, the groups are calling for three major changes.

• Require plans for cutting global warming pollution from cars and trucks in the fastest growing areas of the state.  Right now, the bill only includes the Portland metro area.
• Increase spending on bicycle and pedestrian projects to a minimum of 1.5% of what’s spent for roads.  Or create a new funding source for these kinds projects.
• Have the Transportation Commission review the road projects in the bill and decide if they really are the best way to spend the money.  The current list has been criticized as pork because many of the projects have been submitted by individual lawmakers.

The letter was signed by 1000 Friends of Oregon, Oregon Environmental Council, Environment Oregon, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters.

For an interesting perspective on the issue, see this posting by former senatorial candidate Steve Novick on Blue Oregon.

The Special Joint Committee On Transportation held a hearing on HB 2001 Thursday night, and continues work on the bill starting at 1pm in Hearing Room F. If you can’t be there in person you can follow along via streaming video on the Oregon Channel website.

House Bill 2186 takes a number of steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including…

• Requires tire companies to start selling “low rolling resistance” tires that improve gas mileage and reduce pollution.  Supporters say tires cost about $7 – $12 more per set, but can save drivers anywhere from $50 – $150 in lower fuel costs.
• Allows Oregon DEQ to require long haul truckers to improve the aerodynamics of their rigs, giving them better fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  The Oregon League Of Conservation Voters says this could save truckers billions of dollars in annual fuel costs.
• Restricts unneeded idling for heavy trucks and ships at ports.  Allows the DEQ to set exemptions.
• Introduces a low carbon fuel standard.  Fuel suppliers will have to reduce the greenhouse emissions of the fuel they sell in Oregon10% by 2020.  Gives suppliers some flexibility in how they meet the standards.

Environmental groups were quick to praise the legislation.  Evan Manvel with the Oregon League of Conservation Voters calls HB 2186 a “no-brainer”, because it focuses on simple changes he says, “Will help pave the way to a green economy that will create local jobs and save precious dollars for Oregon’s working families.”

Other major supporters include the Healthy Climate Partnership and the Oregon Environmental Council.

But Oregonians for Food and Shelter, which represents agriculture interests, has criticized the bill saying it gives DEQ “loose reins” to bring Oregon in line with California’s greenhouse gas regulations.  The group says retrofitting trucks for better aerodynamics will cost $5,000 – $15,000 per rig and will cost drivers far more than what it will save them in fuel efficiency.

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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