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Senate to put off climate bill until spring
Wall Street Journal
11/17/2009
Senate Democratic leaders said Tuesday they would put off debate on a big climate-change bill until spring, in a sign of weakening political will to tackle a long-term environmental issue at a time of high unemployment and economic uncertainty.
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OR governor orders review of energy tax credits
Oregonian
11/17/2009
Gov. Ted Kulongoski ordered a hurry-up review Tuesday of Oregon's incentives for renewable energy companies in the face of ongoing criticism of the tax breaks, asking whether the increasingly expensive Business Energy Tax Credit is necessary for continued expansion of renewable and wind energy.
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Is 'cash for clunker appliances' coming to Seattle?
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
11/17/2009
If you were hoping to buy a new, energy-efficient dishwasher or fridge with a federal rebate by Christmas, you're out of luck.
Cash for clunker appliances - officially known as the US Department of Energy's state energy efficient appliance rebate program - won't be available in Washington until February of next year.
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Views: OR governor defends green tax breaks
Oregonian
11/15/2009
The growth in Oregon's renewable energy sector was not by accident - it was by design and the result of public policies that encourage new companies to move here and thrive here, writes OR governor Ted Kulongoski.
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Views: No such thing as free parking
Salem Statesman Journal
11/16/2009
Parking vexes more people than practically any other common issue. That's true around schools, businesses, neighborhoods and downtowns, evidenced by dozens of readers who weighed in on whehter Salem, OR should install parking meters downtown.
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Views: Political will needed for climate fix
New York Times
11/15/2009
Putting a price on carbon in the face of powerful opposing forces - from consumers who will always want their fuel, electricity, food and clothing to be cheaper than it is, to corporations driven by the bottom line - will ultimately be a matter of sheer political will.
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No clear map to new energy plan
New York Times
11/08/2009
Congress is unlikely, this year or next, to establish the "cap and trade" system for curbing carbon emissions that President Obama and Democratic party leaders seek. Nor are world leaders next month likely to strike a concrete deal to limit emissions. The Democrats' challenge is to make enough progress to avoid defeat in the near term and achieve their priorities in the long run.
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Green energy tax incentives cost Oregon more than predicted
Coos Bay World
11/02/2009
According to an investigation by the Oregonian, OR officials underestimated the cost of Gov. Ted Kulongoski's plan to lure green energy companies to Oregon with big subsidies, resulting in a program that cost far more than expected. Kulongoski's staff says that they had no idea the program would be this popular when they designed the policy.
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Thousands rally for action on climate
Vancouver Sun
10/25/2009
About 5,000 people, including a shouting, sign-waving group of secondary school students, demonstrated on Vancouver's Cambie Bridge as part of the International Day of Climate Change. They were among millions of people around the world who took part in weekend demonstrations demanding government action on climate change.
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Senate climate bill cushy on industry?
New York Times
10/25/2009
The Senate bill aimed at reducing global warming pollution will initially grant billions of dollars of free emissions permits to utilities and industry but will require the bulk of the money be returned to consumers and taxpayers, according to newly released details.
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Rallying for (climate) change
Oregonian
10/25/2009
Kayakers and canoeists formed a giant 350 in the Willamette River this weekend joining actions in 181 countries that urged world leaders to act quickly and aggressively to reduce carbon emissions that cause climate change. Many climate scientists say the Earth can remain healthy at a top limit of 350 parts per million of carbon in the atmosphere.
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Vancouver as world's greenest city?
Vancouver Sun
10/20/2009
Mayor Gregor Robertson announced an ambitious 10-year plan Tuesday to make Vancouver, BC, the world's greenest city by 2020. It would include creating a low-carbon economic development zone, reducing waste, requiring green building techniques and having more than 50 percent of residents walking, biking or using public transit to move around the city.
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Car tab fees may help keep WA state parks open
Everett Herald
10/19/2009
Early this year, the threat of closing the Wallace Falls trails near Gold Bar and other Washington state parks loomed as a possible way to deal with budget cuts. A new system for car tab renewals that took effect in September, which officials hope will generate $28 million over the net two years, appears to be making such temporary closures less likely.
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After the peak
San Francisco Bay Guardian
10/06/2009
To prepare for the inevitable decline in fossil fuel production, San Francisco's Peak Oil Preparedness Task Force recommends the city foster renewable energy projects, beef up "buy local" programs, convert unused land into public food gardens, and consider implementing city carbon, gas, vehicle, and fast food taxes.
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OR congressman wants $100 million for energy upgrades
Oregonian
09/29/2009
US Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., unveiled bills today that would provide $100 million in tax credits for energy efficient commercial buildings and allow residential fuel cells to get the same tax breaks as fuel cells used in businesses.
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CA polluters face greenhouse fees
San Francisco Chronicle
09/27/2009
California companies that produce large amounts of greenhouse gases will have to pay new state fees - a key step in the state's far-reaching program aimed at slowing global climate change.
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Paying more for Portland's peak power
Oregonian
09/22/2009
A Portland General Electric Co. pilot program will charge variable electricity rates to motivate residential customers to reduce consumption during periods of unusually high demand. The goal is to see how much the utility can reliably shave customer's consumption by sending real-time price signals and, in some cases, controlling energy use within customers' homes.
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Tolling roads to fund BC transit?
CBC BC
09/20/2009
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson says tolls on major highways and bridges in the Lower Mainland could be the key to TransLink's funding crunch and preserving regional public transit.
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California plans to levy greenhouse gas fees
San Francisco Chronicle
09/20/2009
More than a year after Bay Area air pollution regulators became the first in the nation to charge businesses for pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the program has raked in close to $1.7 million. As early as this week, the state may follow suit by imposing similar fees on large California polluters.
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MT Senator proposes fines for the uninsured
San Francisco Chronicle
09/08/2009
A top senator is calling for fines of up to $3,800 on families who fail to get medical insurance after a health care overhaul goes into effect. The plan from Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana would make health insurance mandatory, just like auto coverage, and provide tax credits to help cover the costs.
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Views: OR tax dollars blowin' in the wind
Oregonian
08/30/2009
As Oregon's tax subsidies for green energy projects, mainly wind turbines, climb higher and higher, and are now projected to increase by nearly $100 million over last biennium, Gov. Ted Kulongoski's veto of a bill reining in the credits seems ever more a costly mistake.
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Both sides in climate debate watching healthcare war
Los Angeles Times
08/30/2009
Obama's broad plan for new technology, efficiency and a 'cap and trade' system to curb greenhouse gas emissions may spark another nasty fight - so participants are learning from the attack ads, spin doctoring and town hall rhetoric being used in the healthcare debate.
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Salem considers option of a fuel tax
Salem Statesman Journal
08/31/2009
The city of Salem is moving quickly to preserve its right to impose a local fuel tax in the future if needed.
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OR renewable energy tax breaks booming
Oregonian
08/25/2009
So many businesses are getting tax subsidies under Oregon's effort to promote alternative energy that the state now estimates it will spend $167 million on them in the next two years, double the last budget cycle. Some lawmakers argue it's unacceptable to subsidize wind farms at the expense of education or public safety.
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Views: Don't get mad at Big Plastic, get even
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
08/23/2009
Don't get mad at chemical companies for killing Seattle's bag tax: Get even by using less of their product.
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