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April 19, 2005 |
"We have an opportunity this session to solidify Oregon's role as a
leader on the issues of renewable energy and biofuels production."
- Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski
Salem, Oregon [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Oregon is inching closer to a final strategy for combating global warming in the Northwest. Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced five new initiatives as part of a regional strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest, which included a campaign to increase renewable energy and biofuel production and use in the state.
Initiatives are based on the recommendations of the Governor's Advisory Group
on Global Warming, which developed a report called the Oregon Strategy for
Greenhouse Gas Reduction.
"The threats of global warming are real, and Oregon has an opportunity to
be a leader on the front end by developing new technologies, investing in
renewable energy, and practicing conservation - which will reduce greenhouse
emissions in our state," Kulongoski said. "These five steps will put
Oregon on the map as a national leader in the efforts to combat global warming
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
In addition to the announcement of the five initiatives, Kulongoski sent a
letter to Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Karen Minnis urging
the adoption of several bills that would expand renewable energy options for
Oregon residents, businesses and state government.
Bills before the Oregon Legislature are:
Biofuels (HB 3030-3034 and SB 736) The House Bills promote the expansion of the
ethanol and biodiesel markets in Oregon. The Senate Bill complements the House
Bills by accelerating the ability to site a biodiesel facility by exempting it
from the Energy Facility Siting Council Process.
Renewable Energy (SB 84, 733, 735, 834) These bills authorize the Public Utility
Commission to increase the amount of energy that can be net metered and adds
biomass to the list of qualifying energy generation; modify the residential
energy tax credit program to allow multiple year credits for solar installation
while not increasing the maximum amount of credits available; improve the small
energy loan program; and establish a fund to assist communities in completing
feasibility studies for renewable energy projects.
State Energy Use (SB 737 and HB 3001, 3034, 3328): The bills authorize state
agencies to develop renewable energy on state lands; require new public
buildings to integrate cost effective solar design and technology from
daylighting to solar panels; require the Department of Energy to develop a plan
to reduce energy use and increase onsite use of renewable energy technologies;
and require state agencies to increase their use of biofuels in state vehicles.
Energy Savings (HB 3363): This bill requires higher efficiency commercial
appliances in Oregon.
"We have an opportunity this session to solidify Oregon's role as a leader
on the issues of renewable energy and biofuels production," Kulongoski
wrote in the letter.
Passage of the bills would support the renewable energy initiatives proposed by
the Governor's Advisory Group on Global Warming. But supporting renewable energy
is only part of the solution to global warming.
The rest of the state initiatives included in the Oregon Strategy for Greenhouse
Gas Reduction are: establish new greenhouse gas reduction goals; appoint a task
force to develop a plan for how Oregon can implement stricter emission standards
for vehicles; appoint a workgroup to develop a carbon dioxide reduction schedule
for utilities and other large emitters of carbon dioxide; direct the Oregon
Department of Energy to create an energy-saving campaign to reduce state agency
energy use by at least 20 percent by 2015 and energy use statewide by at least
20 percent by 2025.
Governor Kulongoski created the Advisory Group on Global Warming in February
2004 and asked it to develop a statewide strategy to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions that would complement the regional work of the West Coast Governors
Global Warming Initiative.
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