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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 all of the Priorities for a Healthy Oregon visit www.oregonpriorities.org.
Implement Global Warming Solutions
Like Oregon's sesquicentennial, climate continues to be a hot topic, with bills having been heard this week and grassroots action taking hold. RePower Oregon, the grassroots campaign supporting Healthy Climate Partnership (HCP), held a lobby day in Salem this past Tuesday. Activists of all ages gathered for a morning rally session from Steve Novick and a campaign update from Sallie Schullinger-Krause of Oregon Environmental Council before breaking into senate district groups to discuss lobbying strategies over lunch. Groups then marched over to the capitol and held lobby meetings with their respective representatives and senators. Hats off to the organizers for a successful show of force.
HCP Campaign Director, Jake Weigler, was interviewed by radio station KPOJ - check out his interview.
One of the bills advocated for by the Healthy Climate Partnership is House Bill 2186. This bill empowers the Environmental Quality Commission to develop strategies to help the state achieve its goals in reducing global warming pollution. The bill is focused on motor vehicles and outlines several tools the commission can use, including a low carbon fuel standard and limits on the unnecessary idling of trucks and commercial vehicles.
You can help!
Please ask your legislator to support HB 2186 - do it today by clicking here!
Increase Transportation Options
Advocates are working diligently to ensure key environmental provisions are retained in the Jobs and Transportation Act. The first round of public hearings on a transportation package are expected to happen the first week of March - stay tuned.
Stop the Spread of Invasive Species
First Invasive Species Bill Moves to the House Floor
There was little opposition to House Bill 2213 this past Tuesday, as both Oregon conservation and pesticide groups testified at the House Agriculture, Natural Resource, and Rural Communities Committee. HB 2213 would place the Oregon Invasive Species Council within the Department of Agriculture and give it the power to enter into contracts and other agreements. The bill would also allow the Department of Agriculture to enter into interagency agreements with the Department of Environmental Quality. Conservation groups support the bill, as it would help ensure Oregon’s coordination of our efforts to fight invasive species that can harm our economy and environment. After the hearing, committee members voted unanimously to support the bill and move it to the House floor, where it will be voted on soon.
Hot Topics
1. Representatives Read and Bailey Kickoff Energy Efficiency Plan - February 18th
On Wednesday, February 18th, Rep. Tobias Read (D-Beaverton) and Rep. Jules Bailey (D-Portland) will kick off their energy efficiency plan, the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technology Act, which will help homeowners and small businesses make energy efficient and renewable energy upgrades. They will be joined by Rep. Chris Edwards (D-Eugene), Rep. Tim Freeman (R-Roseburg) and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). The Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technology Act of 2009 (EEAST) is a bipartisan effort to foster large-scale energy efficient and renewable energy upgrades in existing homes and buildings. The plan would help meet Oregon's energy challenges while creating jobs.
February 18, 2009
11:30 AM
Capitol Press Room, #43, Salem
rep.juleskopelbailey@state.or.us, 503-986-1442
rep.tobiasread@state.or.us, 503-986-1427
2. Metolius River Protection Update
On Wednesday, commissioners from the Land Conservation and Development Commission traveled to Sisters to hold the first of several public hearings to begin a process of designating the Metolius Basin as an Area of Critical State Concern. Some 250 people attended and the overwhelming majority of people who testified did so in opposition to the siting of destination resorts in or near the Basin. The draft management plan currently proposed by the Department would not prevent large scale development such as a proposed 2500 residential unit, 2 golf course destination resort from being located within 3-4 miles of the Metolius Headwaters. This resort seeks to use 2.5 million gallons of groundwater per day, roughly 40% of what the entire city of Redmond uses. Legislative counsel is putting the finishing touches on an Area of Critical State Concern bill to protect both the Basin and the critical groundwater buffer area that falls outside the Basin.
Upcoming hearings: February 26th.
3. E-Cycles Program a Success!
Oregonians are embracing the new process of recycling electronics, and have already dropped off an astounding 1.5 million pounds of TV's, computers, and monitors within the first month of the e-cycles program. It is premised by the 2007 electronic waste law, championed by Senator Jackie Dingfelder and a 2007 Priority for a Healthy Oregon, and is good news all around.
Read more about it in the Statesman Journal
4. Public Hearing for Bottle Bill Expansion Legislation
The House Environment and Water Committee will be hearing HB 2184, which further expands Oregon’s iconic Bottle Bill. HB 2184 expands the list of covered beverages in 2013 to include wine, liquor, sports drinks, coffee, tea, juice and similar noncarbonated drinks, covering almost all beverages. This would enable the instant addition of most new beverages to the list of covered beverages and prevents the need to predict what drinks consumers will be offered in the future, one of the biggest problems with the original Bottle Bill. HB 2184 also increases the deposit on containers from five cents to 10 cents in 2011.
In addition to this expansion of coverage, the bill establishes a minimum recycling rate of 80% for all covered containers by 2015, and it gives Oregon Liquor Control Commission the authority to adopt standards regulating the bottle bill collection sites, hopefully designed to improve customer service, lighting, safety and cleanliness issues that may hinder the return of containers. The hearing is next Thursday, February 19 in the House Environment and Water Committee, 3pm in HR D.
Contacts: Katy Daily, Recycling Advocates, (503) 515-3474
Kristen Leonard, Association of Oregon Recyclers, (503) 320-9427
5. Jeremiah Baumann Recruited by Merkley
US Senator Jeff Merkley has hired Environment Oregon's Jeremiah Baumann as his advisor on energy and environmental issues. Merkley was recently assigned to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and turned his eye back to Oregon to hire an expert that Salem has come to rely on for clean energy policy. Baumann is set to head to DC in two weeks to join Merkley's team.
Read more in Willamette Week.
6. Northwest Gets Failing Grade on Energy
In a report released on Wednesday, Sightline Institute announced the overall energy consumption for Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Among the three states, a record $29.5 billion was spent on fossil fuel imports in 2008, averaging out to $2500 per individual.
Sightline research director and lead author of the Cascadia Scorecard reports: "We made significant improvements in health and modest headway in smart growth in recent years, but our progress on economic security and ecosystem health is mixed at best, and we're lagging way behind world leaders in energy efficiency"
Read more about the key findings.
Get Involved
Our Oceans: Common Ground III Premier
February 18th, join Our Oceans for a movie showing! The premiere of Common Ground III will be shown in Salem. Following the brief movie showing, there will be a panel discussion mediated by a legislative champion in Coastal Legacy Protection.
Micah Building, 680 State Street, Salem
5:30 pm
Contact Erin Anderson at 503-221-7922 x 12 for more information.
Children and the Environment: Join a Seminar
On Tuesday, March 3, join experts for a seminar on how we can help protect children from exposure to environmental toxins. It is being sponsored by Rachel's Friends Breast Cancer Coalition.
Speakers:
Lisa Arkin, Oregon Toxics Alliance:
Reducing pesticides in schools
Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, Oregon Environmental Council:
Safe toys and choosing safe products for children
Joanne Rogovoy, March of Dimes Greater Oregon Chapter:
Oregon registry for birth anomalies
Oregon State Senator Suzanne Bonamici (invited)
Tuesday, March 3
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital Office Bldg. Auditorium
1040 NW 22nd Ave., first floor
www.rachelsfriends.org
rachelsfriendsbcc@gmail.com
Legislative Town Halls
Over the course of the session, legislators, senators, and their staff make concerted efforts to hold public town halls and coffee chats. Usually held on a weekday evening or weekend morning, it's a great opportunity to learn your elected officials' stances on issues, voice your opinions, and get to know your community. To find out about these, sign up for your legislator's newsletter updates online.
Here are a few that we know about:
Town hall on the State Budget Crisis
Senators Prozanski, Morrisette, and Walker, and Representatives Barnhart, Beyer, and Holvey
Saturday, February 21st
8:30 am - 10:30 am
Willamalane Adult Activity Center
215 West C Street, Springfield OR
sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us, 503-986-1704
sen.billmorrisette@state.or.us, 503-986-1706
sen.vickiwalker@state.or.us, 503-986-1707
rep.philbarnhart@state.or.us, 503-986-1411
rep.elizabethbeyer@state.or.us, 503-986-1412
rep.paulholvey@state.or.us, 503-986-1408
Representative Tobias Read
Saturday, February 21st
8:30 - 10:00 am
Ava Roasteria
4655 SW Hall Blvd, Beaverton
rep.tobiasread@state.or.us, 503-986-1427
Representative Nancy Nathanson
Saturday, February 21st
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Brewed Awakening
2532 Willakenzie Rd, Eugene.
rep.nancynathanson@state.or.us, 503-986-1413
Representative Michael Dembrow
Saturday, February 28th
9:30 - 11:00 am
Location, TBA
rep.michaeldembrow@state.or.us, 503-986-1445
Representative Jules Bailey
Saturday, February 28th
9:00 - 11:00 am
Muddy Waters
2908 SE Belmont Ave, Portland
Rep.JulesKopelBailey@state.or.us, 503-986-1442
Representative Kevin Cameron
Saturday, February 28th
9:00 - 10:00 am
Neufeldt's Restaurant
190 Main Street, Aumsville
rep.kevincameron@state.or.us, 503-986-1419
Senator Frank Morse, Representative Sara Gelser, and Representative Andy Olson
March 7th, April 4th, May 2nd, and June 6th
Corvallis Public Library
645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis
10 am - noon
sen.frankmorse@state.or.us, 503-986-1708
rep.saragelser@state.or.us, 503-986-1416
rep.andyolson@state.or.us, 503-986-1415
Representative Greenlick and Senator Bonamici
Saturday, March 7th
11:00 am
Good Samaritan Hospital Auditorium
NW 22nd (between NE Lovejoy and Marshall)
rep.mitchgreenlick@state.or.us, 503-986-1433
sen.suzannebonamici@state.or.us, 503-986-1717
Videos
Some legislators are working to help citizens understand legislative processes - via some great short videos.
Watch Representative Ben Cannon talk about Committee Hearings.
Watch Representative Michael Dembrow talk about the Economic Stimulus.
Watch Representative Ben Cannon talk about the State Budget Cuts.
Want a quick run-down of conservation bill updates? OCN Lobbyist Evan Manvel works diligently in Salem to keep the public abreast - check out his blog posts here.
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