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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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Calls to tax junk food gain ground
Los Angeles Times
08/23/2009
"Sin taxes" on cigarettes have turned out to be the most effective weapon in the campaign to reduce smoking. Why not try it on Flamin' Hot Cheetos, vanilla Coke and Twinkies? With increasing vigor, public health experts and think tanks are calling for extra taxes on foods and drinks that are heavy in calories and light on nutrition.
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Seattle bags shopping bag fee
Seattle Times
08/19/2009
Seattle voters firmly rejected Referendum 1, which would have made Seattle the first city in the nation to go after both plastic and paper shopping bags. The city hoped the 20-cent charge would encourage consumers to stop using throwaway shopping bags and instead take their purchases home in recycled bags or reusable totes, reducing waste.
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Views: A real bill for the climate
New York Times
08/10/2009
What the US needs is a climate bill, one committed to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in a way that engages the whole economy and forces major technological change. Yet there are disturbing signs that what this country might have to settle for is another energy bill. The atmosphere in the Senate is just short of mutinous.
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Seattleites slowly learn to BTOB (bring their own bags)
Seattle Times
08/07/2009
If Seattle voters pass Referendum 1 on Aug. 18, it will require a behavioral change not easily achieved en masse as many stores begin charging shoppers 20 cents for each disposable bag provided - the goal being to get consumers to switch to reusable bags. While not everyone likes the idea, others are already reprogramming themselves.
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Views: Cutting energy tax credit would cost jobs, hurt communities
Oregonian
08/07/2009
A rollback of the Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) sends the wrong message. It's a timeout that the Oregon economy and communities can't afford. We applaud the Governor's notice of intent to veto HB 2472 and urge him to take action to ensure this bill does not become law.
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Would Seattle bag charge be fee or tax?
Seattle Times
08/04/2009
Is Seattle's planned 20-cent charge on disposable shopping bags a fee - or a tax? The answer makes a difference for some voters.
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Views: How I learned to love the bag fee
Crosscut
08/04/2009
When you look into the oceans of problems plastic bags create, the case for Seattle's well-crafted grocery-bag fee becomes overwhelming. And the opponents' arguments are underwhelming.
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