One of the more important ways of knowing what’s going on in Salem is “SalemWatch,” [sic] produced by the Oregon Conservation Network and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. This week’s issue is a timely followup to my “What’s Next?” post, because it contains some important pieces of legislation I overlooked. I’m posting big hunks of this morning’s issue both to cover the subjects and to show you why you should subscribe.

Pay special attention to SB 375 (appliance efficiency standards) and HB 3543 (global “warming” ['heating and climate destabilization' is more like it] commission). Both of these are essential.

Here’s the free subscription link.
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May 7, 2007 Issue #19 -2007

Oregon Conservation Network

320 SW Stark St.,
Suite 530
Portland, OR 97204

(t) 503.227.8073
(f) 503.224.1548
ocn@olcv.org

Priorities for a Healthy Oregon

Expanding Oregon’s Electronic Recycling Program
HB 2626, the bill that will make Oregon a leader in recycling unwanted electronics, unanimously passed Ways and Means Friday and is expected to reach the House floor within the next couple of weeks!

…

Promoting Clean and Renewable Energy

Almost all pieces of the Clean Energy Package are moving, including SB 838 which establishes the Renewable Energy Standard. SB 838 passed out of the House Energy and Environment committee 4-3 on Monday with minor, non-material, amendments! It now moves to the House floor and may be up for a vote late next week.

SB 375 which establishes minimum efficiency standards for a number of home and commercial appliances easily passed the Senate Thursday and now moves to the House Energy and Environment committee for a hearing in the near future.

Another piece of the Clean Energy package, HB 2876, is scheduled for a vote on the House floor next Monday, May 7. HB 2876 requires the Department of Energy to reduce energy consumption in existing public buildings and that new building projects incorporate energy efficient design.

One of the green building proposals, SB 576, which requires that major facility projects be planned, designed, constructed and renovated to meet LEED Gold or Silver certification, was amended to remove the LEED requirement by name. SB 576 will hopefully be up for a vote on the Senate floor next week.

Helping promote renewable solar power, HB 2620 provides that public improvement contracts for construction or major renovations of public buildings appropriate at least 1.5 percent of the total contract price for solar energy technology. HB 2620 is scheduled for a vote on the House floor this Monday, May 7th.

Other Environmental Legislation

Improving Oregon’s Bottle Bill
Hearings were held Wednesday and Friday in the House Energy and Environment committee for SB 707 and a work session is expected next week.

Protecting Oregon’s Coastal Ecosystems

On Thursday the House passed an amended SB 432 which restricts shipbreaking of large vessels to dry dock only. This would prevent the release of hazardous materials and invasive species into Oregon waters while a vessel is being scrapped. SB 432 now moves to the Governor’s desk for signing.

An amended SB 790 passed the Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Ocean Policy on Tuesday. The amended version places a moratorium on offshore drilling for oil, gas or sulfur off of Oregon’s coast until 2010 and allows the Governor to rescind the moratorium if there is an oil embargo against the United States.

Global Warming

HB 3543 Establishes the Global Warming Commission and establishes greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. This bill directs the commission to coordinate local and state efforts to halt growth of greenhouse gas emissions, and directs the PUC to consider environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions when regulating electric utilities. On Monday HB 3543 was passed out of the House Energy and Environment committee 5-2 and will now move to the House floor for a vote.

HB 3545 sets carbon caps for major sources of greenhouse gases, and sets up a trading system to enable polluters to meet the requirements. HB 3545 had a hearing, but not a work session on Monday in the House Energy and Environment committee, which means it most likely is dead this session as the deadline to pass bills out of committee was Monday.

Improving Oregon’s Air Quality

HB 2172 promotes clean diesel and directs the Environmental Quality Commission to establish goals to reduce diesel emissions and will be up for a vote on the House floor either late next week or early the week after.

Protecting Oregon’s Water Quantity and Quality

HB 2564, which would expand measurement of water diversions across Oregon, passed the House Energy and Environment committee with a 4-3 vote Monday.

HB 2566 also passed the House Energy and Environment committee Monday on a 4-3 vote and now moves to the Ways and Means committee. HB 2566 would require the state to consider the water needs of neighbors, other users, fish and rivers before allowing certain new uses of groundwater.

Protecting Oregon’s Farmland and Special Places

SB 665 is a bad bill that will allow 15,000 acres of land (larger than the size of Manhattan) to be developed into houses around the controversial proposed Morrow County speedway adjacent to the Columbia River in Boardman. SB 665 is headed to the Senate floor for a vote possibly next week.

Protecting Oregon’s Citizens
SJM 8 asks Congress to enact legislation requiring testing, review and approval of ingredients in cosmetics, particularly dibutyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate. SJM 8 will be up on the Senate floor for a vote next week.

HB 3314, the ‘vulnerable roadway user bill’ creates increased penalties for an auto hitting a vulnerable user (bicyclists, wheelchair user, etc.), but the main thrust of the bill is to kick drivers into driver improvement programs which include community service. HB 3314 will likely be on the House floor for a vote next week.

Protecting Oregon’s Wildlife

HB 2971 will be up for a vote on the House floor on Monday. HB 2971 allows the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to appoint a person to act as agent for purpose of using one or more dogs to hunt or pursue black bear or cougar. Several groups are concerned with this bill and are watching it closely. For more information please contact Ivan Maluski of the Sierra Club at ivan.maluski@sierraclub.org

Events
Legislator Coffees and Town Halls
Coffee meetings and Town Halls are a great way to meet your legislator. These casual, personal meetings are a great opportunity to discuss environmental issues in a more personal setting. Don’t miss a chance to tell your legislator why protecting Oregon’s environment is important to you.

Representative Chuck Riley:
May 12, Saturday, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Location: Starbucks, 1882 Baseline St, Cornelius, OR
May 19, Saturday, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Location: BJ’s Coffee, 2834 Pacific Ave # C, Forest Grove, OR

Town Halls:
Representative Arnie Roblan
May 19, 10:30 AM
Location: TBA

Representative Chris Edwards
May 19, 1:00 PM
Location: TBA

Representative Dave Hunt
Maty 21, 8pm

Representative David Edwards and Representative Chuck Riley
May 24, 6:30 PM
Location: TBA

Representative Brian Clem and Representative Betty Komp
May 24, 7:00 PM
Location: TBA

To find out more information on coffee meetings or town halls near you, please contact Roy Sheer at Our Oregon, 503-239-8029 x 18, roy@ouroregon.org.

If you would like something published in SalemWatch, contact Katy at katy@olcv.org or (503) 227-8073.

Oregon Conservation Network, a project of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
320 SW Stark, Suite 530, Portland, OR 97204
phone:(503)227-8073, fax:503.224-1548 info@olcveducationfund.org

This entry was posted on Monday, May 7th, 2007 at 7:40 am and is filed under Economy, Energy Future, Environment, General, Livability, Take Action. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.