SalemWatch: Session ends
2009 Legislative Session Comes to a Close
Last night, at 9:45pm, the gavel fell, signifying the end of the 2009 Oregon Legislative Session.
It was a challenging session for many reasons, but at the end, over 30 pro-environment bills passed, and legislators passed 9 of the 13 Oregon Conservation Network priority bills. Unfortunately, they also passed a handful of anti-environment bills. We'll send out a full account later this week.
Thank you to all of you who helped advocate for Oregon's environmental legacy. OCN members contacted legislators more than 8,300 times this session, and often citizen voices made all the difference. Several key bills passed by merely one or two vote margins. Thank you!
HB 2940: Erosion of the Renewable Energy Standard
Status: On Governor's desk.
The Governor is considering whether to sign 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 Standard 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.
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OLCV Photo Contest
OLCV wants your photographs. We will select the best photo for the cover of OLCV's 2009 Legislative Scorecard, published in September.
Do you have photos of your favorite places in the state? Your kids on a riverside trail? Mountain views? Your sweetie playing in tide pools or strolling on a long, deserted beach? Sunset in Eastern Oregon?
We want to see your pics. Better yet, we want to use them. The winner gets the Scorecard cover, and runners up may be used inside the Scorecard, in the e-bulletin, or on our website.
Send your best shots (including ones that picture friends, family and pets) to Toby at
toby@olcv.org. Questions? Call 503-224-4011. DEADLINE: JULY17Meetings with Legislators Coming Up...
Representative Jules Kopel Bailey
Tuesday, July 7th
6:00 - 7:30 pm
SEIU Local 49
3536 SE 26th Ave
,
Portland
Representative Tina Kotek
Wednesday, July 15th
7:00 PM
Kenton Firehouse
8105 N Brandon Street, Portland