Oregon is not unfamiliar with green initiatives. After all, Oregon is home to the Bonneville Dam, one of the largest sources of hydroelectric activity in the country, and even the University uses solar energy to fuel Lillis Business Complex. However, state legislators are trying to make green technology more of an integral part of Oregonians’ lives.
HOUSE BILL 3177
HB 3177 would maintain the state’s ethanol mandate but allow Oregonians to purchase premium gas without ethanol in it. The bill would allow service stations to sell premium gasoline without ethanol to protect small hand tools, antique cars, planes and motorcycles.
“After the 10 percent ethanol mandate was implemented last year, I began to hear from Oregonians throughout the state who were concerned that ethanol would damage their engines and equipment,” Rep. Bruce Hanna said in a statement.
HOUSE BILL 2184
HB 2184 expands the bottle bill to establish a goal for beverage container return rate to encourage more Oregonians to recycle. The bill changes the definition of “beverage” and authorizes the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to establish standards for redemption of beverage containers. The bill would also increase the refund value for already accepted beverage containers from 5 to 10 cents per container.
HOUSE BILL 2626
HB 2626 requires the state treasurer to solicit investors for the state Department of Energy program to install energy-efficient features and packages in residential homes. The bill would create an Energy Efficiency and Productivity Fund for the Department of Energy, which would be used to help low income Oregonians with weatherizing, which would include installing better insulation for homes. The bill would allow the state treasurer to exceed the limit for such programs for the purpose of attracting investors in energy efficiency programs.
“Portland, Ore. is the leader of green building throughout the country, but we have to stay on the cutting edge,” former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury said. “It starts at the local level, but government can really help citizens succeed at green building.”
HOUSE BILL 3300
HB 3300 instructs the state workforce investment board to develop a plan that would promote the growth of green jobs in Oregon and require the plan to identify green industries and work to infiltrate them into the state’s economy.
“There are so many possibilities for green industry. We could act on a vision of a national high speed rail network, create more green buildings or produce more street cars,” Congressman Peter DeFazio said Tuesday evening at the Lane County Bus Project’s Brewhaha forum.
SENATE BILL 79
SB 79 directs the Oregon Department of Energy to create an energy-efficiency rating system for nonresidential buildings. Jill Gray, Sen. Jackie Dingfelder’s chief-of-staff, said the bill was created to increase efficiency standards by allowing consumers to see how energy efficient their businesses are. She said it is was developed to mirror the way car dealers reveal energy efficiency by having mph information available to consumers.
HOUSE BILLS 2120 AND 2180
HB 2120 and HB 2180 would provide more transportation choices by expanding public transit services and would permit greater use of small and medium electric vehicles in Oregon. The bills would also help consumers in purchasing hybrid and all-electric vehicles.
SENATE BILL 80
SB 80 would place a yearly limit on greenhouse gas emissions businesses are allowed to produce. The bill would allow utility companies and industries to then buy and sell the amount of pollution they can emit under the cap, creating a market.
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