SalemWatch: The final days
Each week we will update you on any of OCN’s priorities when there is news to report. For the complete list and overview of the Priorities for a Healthy Oregon visit www.oregonpriorities.org
In its final days, the legislature is considering House Bill 3369, a historic water package that includes standards for new storage projects, conservation efforts, and water planning. (Note: this bill integrates key provisions from Senate Bill 788, previously an OCN priority bill). The bill requires the Oregon Water Resources Department to develop an integrated statewide water resources policy that recognizes impending climate-related challenges, creates a funding pool intended for loans on water resources projects, and provides funding to help reduce the conflict between fish and irrigation needs in the Umatilla River Basin. Contact your legislatosr today and urge them to vote YES on HB 3369.
Contact: Dave Moskowitz, Confluence Consulting, (971) 235-8953 Stop the Spread of Invasive Species  Invasive Species Bills on the Move House Bill 2220-B passed the house earlier this week. The bill allows for the creation of mobile boat check stations to allow boats to be inspected and cleaned if needed, to prevent the introduction of invasive snails and mussels into Oregon's waterways. HB 2220 also increases the penalties for intentionally introducing invasive species, something that can happen when fisherman stock a favorite non-native fish in the wrong lake. Such an action required a $6 million eradication effort in Southern Oregon's Diamond Lake just three years ago. The bill passed the House (44-15) and is now on its way to the Senate Floor! Read more on the OLCV blog.
House Bill 2020 would set up an earmarked fund to respond quickly to invasive species outbreaks. Quick response to eradicate invasive species can save Oregon taxpayers millions of dollars, and prevent expensive damages to key industries such as Oregon’s billion-dollar-a-year nursery industry. HB 2020 will be heard on the House floor soon.
Contact: Tom Wolf, Trout Unlimited, (503) 883-1102
Implement Global Warming Solutions VICTORY! To the Governor: Senate Bill 79, Energy Efficient Buildings Senate Bill 79, one of OCN’s four priority climate bills, will cut energy waste from buildings 10 to 25 percent by ensuring building codes are updated to increase energy efficiency. This will save Oregon families and businesses millions of dollars and increase Oregon’s energy independence. SB 79 directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services to update the state’s building code to improve energy efficiency from new nonresidential buildings by 15 to 25%, and improve the efficiency of residential buildings by 10 to 15%. The bill also directs DCBS to develop a “Reach Code” – a set of optional construction standards that go beyond the building code, and directs DCBS to create uniform energy conservation standards for new or retrofitted buildings.
The bill passed the House (38-20) yesterday and is now on its way to the Governor for a signature!
Contact: Evan Manvel, Oregon Conservation Network/OLCV, (503) 515-8548 VICTORY! House Bill 2186, Low-Hanging Climate Policies Bill, Dramatically Changed but Passed House Bill 2186, a common-sense bill to create jobs, increase energy independence and fight climate change, was significantly amended in the Senate Rules Committee last week, resulting in a scaled down version of the bill. The Committee removed key provisions on cutting energy waste from trucks and limiting high-polluting truck idling, as well as removing efforts to prevent the sales of cheap replacement tires that reduce gas mileage. The Committee also inserted a December 31, 2015 sunset to the law’s authorization to cut global-warming pollution from fuel by 10% by 2020, meaning that effort will need to be reauthorized by a future legislature.
On the positive side, the Committee added studies of truck efficiency and idling and a key task force to design legislation connecting land use, transportation, and global warming pollution in Oregon’s six largest metro areas. The policies in the bill have already been studied for years and would save consumers and businesses fuel and money. The Bill passed the Senate earlier this week, then repassed the House. The bill is on its way to the Governor. Congratulations to all who worked on this bill! Despite it not being as strong as it was, its passage signifies an environmental victory.
Contact: Evan Manvel, Oregon Conservation Network/OLCV, (503) 515-8548
Senate Bill 101, Avoiding Risky Investments in Coal Plants: Up in Senate this afternoon HB 2940: Erosion of the Renewable Energy Standard
Status: In Senate Rules Committee The Senate is considering House Bill 2940, which would cause damaging erosion to Oregon’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) by counting older biomass facilities and waste burning plants as renewable. Currently, the RES requires Oregon utilities to provide their customers with 25% new renewable energy by 2025. HB 2940 would cut the amount of new renewable energy required by the RES by about 26%. If HB 2940 passes, that means much less new renewable energy - and associated greenhouse-gas emissions reductions, jobs, property-tax income, landowner payments, and other economic benefits – would be serving Oregon families. The bill represents a giant step backward for clean energy in Oregon, and conservation groups around the state are opposed to it. Please contact Senate President Peter Courtney to express your opposition to HB 2940 and ask him to vote No, or follow this link to an email that is ready to send to your legislator today.
Contact: Suzanne Leta Liou, Renewable Northwest Project, (503) 223-4544
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1.Victory! Metolius Protection Act Passed!
On Monday, House Bill 3298, the Metolius Protection Act of 2009, passed the Oregon House of Representatives by a vote of 31-28. The bill had earlier passed the Senate on a 16-12 vote and now heads to Governor Kulongoski’s desk for a historic signing. The bill creates Oregon's first Area of Critical Concern, our state's equivalent to a "National Park". It will prevent large-scale development including destination resorts in and near the Metolius Basin and establishes a long-term management plan for the area. The ACSC covers more than 300,000 acres of land and includes the entire Metolius River from its fabled Headwaters to its terminus at Lake Billy Chinook. House Bill 3298 represents perhaps the most significant protection of one of Oregon’s special places since our public beaches were spared the impacts of private development nearly four decades ago. Thanks to everyone who helped support this historic bill! Read the exciting press release here. Contact: Erik Kancler, Central Oregon LandWatch, at 541 647 1567 This bill passed the House Floor 57-0 and should be up for a vote on the Senate Floor soon. 3. House Members Defeat Effort to Update Destination Resort Law
On a 28-32 vote, Oregon House members voted down House Bill 2227, a bill to update Oregon’s outdated laws on destination resorts. The bill would have helped ensure destination resorts in Oregon are resorts focused on appopriately sited rentals, rather than costly residential subdivisions masquerading as resorts. The bill was supported by conservation groups. The House had previously passed the bill 31-28, but had to repass it after the Senate made changes. It is unclear whether the bill will be revisited.
Contact: Danielle Welliever, 1000 Friends, (360) 259-8385
Coming Up... Representative Jules Kopel Bailey
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