Posts Tagged ‘ oregon league of conservation voters ’

Enviro Groups Score 3 Wins, 1 Loss Today At The Legislature

June 29, 2009
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Three more pieces of the environmental agenda received final passage today and are on their way to Governor Kulongoski.  Not a bad day considering the four victories racked up over the weekend.  Meanwhile, enviros took a big loss on a renewable energy bill.

So as we used to say in televsion, let’s go right to the highlights.

Field Burning Ban

Those late summer smoky skies over the Willamette Valley should pretty much disapear over the next few years thanks to Senate Bill 528.  The bill, passed today by the House, phases out most field burning by 2013.  Now it goes to Governor K.  The bill exempts about 15,000 acres of hilly terrain.

According to the Department of Environmental Quality, current law allows for about 65,000 acres of field burning, but over the past few years the actual number of acres burned is closer to 50,000.  But in the mid 1980s, as many as 250,000 acres were burned each year.

Invasive Species

The final passage of House Bill 2020 means state officials will be able to move faster against outbreaks of invasive species.  The bill sets aside $350,000 that can be tapped for such things as rapid response to outbreaks, inspections and eradication of invaders.  Today’s approval by the Senate puts this bill into the hands of the Governor.

Coal Burning Power Plants

Senate Bill 101 makes it harder for electric utilities to get power from coal burning power plants.  It says the coal burning plants have to meet certain standards for greenhouse gas emissions before utilities can enter into long term contracts for their power.  In addition, it says Oregon utilities can’t sign long term contracts with any kind of power plant, unless the plant’s emissions are as clean as ones that run on natural gas.  This bill goes to the Governor after getting final passage by the House.

Renewable Energy

This is one area where the environmental agenda has taken some hits, including today’s final passage of House Bill 2940.  The bill means utilities won’t have to work so hard to meet Oregon’s Renewable Energy Standard.  By law, utilities have to get 25% of their power from renewable sources by the year 2025.

Originally, the law said anything built before 1995 didn’t count towards meeting that standard.  But HB 2940 creates an exception for nine older biomass plants that were built before the 1995 deadline.  By letting utilities include them as renewable sources, enviros say it makes it too easy to meet the Renewable Energy Standards.

The renewable standard has been credited with helping create the boom in renewable energy projects around the state, especially wind and solar.  So if this bill becomes law, the fear is that it will slow the growth of renewable energy and the slow the growth of green jobs in the state.

The Oregon League of Conservation Voters is hoping Governor Kulongoski will veto the bill.  One of his spokesman told the Oregonian last week it would be hard for him to support it.

Thanks to Evan Manvel of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters for today’s updates.

OR Lawmakers Approve Three Environmental Bills

June 18, 2009
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With time running out on this year’s legislative session, work is accelerating on bills that are central to the environmental agenda in Oregon.  The Senate approved two bills and the House passed one.

Here’s a look at each of them:

Flame Retardant Ban

The House voted 39-19 to approve a bill that phases out Deca-PBDE, a flame retardant used in a variety of consumer products such as carpeting, furniture, mattresses, computers, and televisions. The ban takes effect January 1, 2011.  It’s similar to a ban passed by the Washington legislature earlier this year.

PBDEs have been in the news a lot, with growing evidence about the damage they do to the environment.  In January, the Environmental Protection Agency released a report that PBDE levels are increasing in the Columbia River Basin, especially in bass, trout and walleye.  In April, a report from NOAA says they’re increasing in coastal areas too, including six test locations along the Oregon Coast.

How do PBDEs harm wildlife? They accumulate over time in fish, birds and bird eggs.  A 2008 study found high levels of PBDEs in Peregrine Falcons.  PBDEs cause neurological and behavioral problems that can interfere with a bird’s ability to reproduce. In high doses, they can even lead to cancer in animals. The EPA says there’s no direct evidence, so far, that people can be affected in the same way.

Senate Bill 596-A now goes to Governor Kulongoski for his signature.


Marine Reserves

One of Governor K’s long sought environmental goals will become law thanks to today’s vote in the Senate.  On a 24-3 vote, Senators approved House Bill 3013A that establishes two marine reserves on the coast, one near Depoe Bay and the other near Port Orford.  It also creates four study areas where reserves could be established in the future.  Marine reserves are areas in the ocean where aquatic life is protected and where scientists can conduct research.  Commercial harvesting, such as fishing, would be banned in these areas.

Kulongoski originally wanted a much larger system.  But opposition led by commercial fishermen convinced the Ocean Policy Advisory Committee to propose this system of two reserves and four study areas.

The House has already approved the bill.


Greener Building Codes

New buildings in Oregon will have to be more energy efficient if Senate Bill 79A become law.  The bill tells the Department of Consumer and Business Services to write up new building codes that will increase energy efficiency by 10% – 15% for residences and 15% – 25% for other buildings.  The Oregon League of Conservation Voters says the new standards will have people and companies millions of dollars by spending less on energy to cool and heat buildings.

The bill now goes to the House.

Thanks to the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Oceana, and the Senate Democratic Caucus for updates on these bills.

OR House Approves More Money For Mass Transit

May 27, 2009
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The state’s two largest mass transit programs are getting some help from the Oregon House.

TriMet and Lane County Transit will get some additional money from an increase in payroll taxes in the areas they serve. The tax will increase from .7% to .8%. The Senate has already approved the bill, so it now goes to Governor Kulongoski for his signature.

Raising the tax was one of the priorities for several environmental groups in Oregon, who want to increase spending on mass transit. On the Oregon League of Conservation Voters blog, the group’s Evan Manvel writes, “Oregonians desperately need transportation choices, especially those one million Oregonians who are too young, old, poor or infirm to drive. This bill helps provide those choices.”

Climate Change Bill Approved By Oregon House

May 8, 2009
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The first major piece of climate change legislation passed the Oregon House today on a narrow, 32-28 vote.

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.

Oregon Senate Passes Transit Tax Bill

May 7, 2009
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The Oregon League of Conservation Voters tells us an important bill to support mass transit has been passed by the Senate.

Senate Bill 34 allows TriMet and Lane County Transit to increase payroll taxes once the economy improves.  Businesses in those areas pay a .7% payroll to support mass transit.  The bill nudges it up to .8% over a ten-year period.

Courtesy Metro

Courtesy Metro

It was approved on a 20-9 vote and now goes to the House.

The money raised by this tax goes for operations, such things as paying salaries and maintaining tracks, rail cars and buses

More for information see the OLCV blog.

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.