Receiving electricity from “clean” energy sources such as solar and wind power may still be a pipe dream, but an Oregon research group is taking the issue to the streets this summer.
The Oregon State Public Interest Research Group launched its statewide campaign to urge Oregon lawmakers to pass legislation that would require utility companies to derive 25 percent of their electric power from clean sources.
“We can see that Oregon is especially vulnerable to global warming,” said Timothy States, OSPIRG’s citizen outreach director. “We need to get the citizens together on this to show that we do want to change it.”
According to documents released by OSPIRG, global warming has affected Oregon in two significant ways: Snow pack in the Cascade mountains has decreased by 50 percent since 1950, and sea levels on some of Oregon’s most prominent coastal communities have risen four inches since 1930.
The documents also said only 1 percent of Oregon’s power currently comes from wind, solar or geothermal energy.
Less snow pack could threaten the state’s water supply and cause drought, hurting Oregon’s farmers, States said. Additionally, rising sea levels might increase flooding and lead to more severe coastal storms, he said.
For these reasons, States said, Oregon is at a distinct disadvantage.
“We’re uniquely vulnerable at both ends,” he said.
Rachel Shimshak, director of the Renewable Northwest Project, said the door is wide open in Oregon to implement the clean power sources OSPIRG is suggesting.
“Oregon and the Northwest in general is blessed with a tremendous endowment with wind and solar and geothermal potential,” she said. “We always say, ‘There is no bad solar site.’”
Utility companies who capitalize on these opportunities will be more competitive as well as more environmentally friendly, Shimshak said.
“Our view is that having a diverse and clean energy portfolio is the smartest way for utilities to go,” she said. “It’s very cost competitive today and stable in price over the long term.”
OSPIRG plans to gather support for the campaign this summer using grassroots techniques, such as going door to door.
“We are going to be talking to citizens all over Oregon about this issue,” said Colin McKellips, OSPIRG’s canvas director. “We’re going to be canvassing in 27 of the 30 senate districts and 52 of the 60 house districts.”
McKellips said OSPIRG will also be holding press conferences, handing out brochures, distributing petitions and forming coalitions of like-minded businesses.
He said approximately 30 University students would be participating in the campaign’s grassroots movement.
All told, OSPIRG is looking to gather 32,000 signatures to take the Oregon legislature during the spring 2007 legislative session, he said.
“We just really want to make sure that they make it their top priority coming into this legislative session,” States said. “Most citizens want this type of power … there’s just special interests in their way. We’re bringing it directly to them with the voice of the people.”
The campaign also calls for an “aggressive” plan to begin implementing solar power across the state, McKellips said.
He said the rainiest portions of Oregon receive more sunshine than Japan and Germany, the two countries who lead the world in
solar power.
“It’s definitely doable,” States said. “We have enough sun here to power the whole state.”
“I think it’s good for the economy in Oregon, I think it’s good for the environment in Oregon and I think it’s good for customers in Oregon,” Shimshak said.
Though OSPIRG may not see results until the end of next spring’s legislative session, States is confident the campaign would bring real change to Oregon’s power supply.
“It’s going to be very effective because we’re doing it aggressively, just from the sheer number of people we’re going to talk to and the amount of people we’re going to get involved,” he said. “This is definitely going to happen.”
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