SalemWatch: Water Priority Bill Signed into Law!
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Governor Signs Water Bill; Vetoes Energy Rollback
For the complete list and overview of the Oregon Conservation Network's Priorities for a Healthy Oregon visit www.oregonpriorities.org
In the final days of session, the Oregon legislature passed House Bill 3369, a historic water package that includes standards for certain new storage projects, water conservation efforts, and increased planning for Oregon's water future. In early August, the Governor signed the bill into law.
An OCN Priority bill, HB 3369 will protect streamflows in the Columbia for migrating fish, help address water issues in the Umatilla Basin, require environmentally appropriate standards for the use of state monies on new water storage projects, launch a process to create an integrated water strategy for the state, and for the first time provide legal protections for peak and ecological flows on rivers. A huge congratulations to Rep. Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton) and Rep. Jefferson Smith (D-Portland), who championed the enormously complex effort, and to WaterWatch of Oregon, who spent countless hours making it the best bill possible. VICTORY! Governor Vetoes Clean Energy Rollback The Governor recently vetoed House Bill 2940, which would have undermined the law legislators passed in 2007 to create 25% of Oregon's energy by 2025 from new renewable sources. The bill would have counted old, pre-1995 biomass plants as new renewable energy. That would have meant less new clean energy, and rolling back Oregon's commitment to energy independence. We applaud the Governor's commitment to a clean energy future! Read more here, including our veto request letter. The Governor also vetoed a bill limiting Oregon's investment in clean energy projects, the Business Energy Tax Credit.
Changes in the Legislature Rep. Galizio, Sen. Carter, Sen. Walker Leave Legislature; Rep. Chris Edwards to Senate
Yesterday Sen. Margaret Carter joined Sen. Vicki Walker and Rep. Larry Galizio in resigning from the Legislature. All three were pro-environment legislators and will be missed. The process to replace legislators involves local party precinct persons and county commissioners. Senator Walker's seat will be filled by Rep. Chris Edwards, leaving Rep. Edwards' seat open for appointment. Read more on OLCV's blog.
Interim Legislative Information Committees Shift; Schedule |
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Casino developers are still pushing to build a massive casino resort in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. If built, the resort complex would cover the equivalent of 65 square blocks and would irreversibly damage the stunning landscapes of the Columbia Gorge.
The proposal is now in the hands of the US Bureau of Indian Affairs, led by Asst. Secretary of Interior Larry EchoHawk. Make YOUR voice heard by letting Asst. Secretary EchoHawk know you support protecting the Gorge from this threat!
Take action by visiting the Friends of Columbia Gorge's web site here. 2. Conservation Groups Fight Forest Plan A coalition of conservation groups are very concerned about recent actions by the state Board of Forestry, and are petitioning the Board to reconsider a controversial vote to expand logging in state forests. The board’s June vote to allow clearcutting on up to 70 percent of state-owned forests would endanger fish and wildlife habitat, and groups including the Wild Salmon Center and Sierra Club are fighting it. The board will decide on the petition in sixty days. Read more in the Forest Grove News-Times.
3. Grab Bag of Climate News
- The Northwest Power Planning Council recently published a report finding 85% of the Northwest's increased energy demand can be met with conservation, at half the cost of building new power plants. The Idaho and Montana representatives are resisting adopting a plan to do just that, while Oregon and Washington's representatives are supportive. Read more on OLCV's blog.
- The US Department of Defense recently found climate change is a major national security threat, "raising the prospect of military intervention to deal with the effects of violent storms, drought, mass migration and pandemics". Read more in The New York Times.
- Industry groups have flooded the climate change debate with lobbyists, outnumbering advocates of a clean energy future by 4 or 5 to 1. Now, fake lobbying letters are appearing, from the lobbying firm Bonner & Associates, who is representing the coal industry. Read more.
- In her recent newsletter, Rep. Sherrie Sprenger's decries low water levels at Detroit Lake and calls for immediate action. Ironically, Sprenger opposed the various legislative efforts to move Oregon forward in the fight against the climate crisis, even though scientists agree one of the major effects of climate change will be regional water shortages and changes in snow pack.
4. Electronic Recycling Program a Huge Success
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality recently announced it has collected 9.54 million pounds of electronic waste for recycling in its first six months, far exceeding projected rates. Of the 9.54 million pounds, 55% was televisions, 33% monitors, and 11% computers. Oregon E-Cycles is a statewide program of electronics recycling funded by manufacturers created by a 2007 law, HB 2626, which was an OCN Priority for a Healthy Oregon. Read more from DEQ.
Flotsametrics! Beachcoming, Science, and Marine Debris Event Aug 26 What: Talk and slide show When: August 26, 7pm Where: First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Grand Ave, Astoria.
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1.Take ACTION! Stop the 