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July 20, 2007

How many wizards does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

The rain has made a surprise reappearance here in Oregon, not our usual July forecast. Well, if you've got the time, you can curl up and read the seventh and final Harry Potter book, which comes out tonight at midnight! Just stay up late reading the grand finale under lights powered by a renewable portfolio option (if you are in PGE or Pacific Power service territory). Despite the fact that the Renewable Energy Standard passed by the Oregon Legislature will soon dramatically increase Oregon's clean energy portfolio, it's never too early to make a personal choice for your family that will reduce greenhouse gases.

Or walk, bicycle or take public transit to the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie, now showing in many Oregon theaters. (A few of us are headed to a 4:00 showing this afternoon -- hey, it's practically the weekend and half of us are on summer vacation already!)

Whatever you do this weekend, don't use energy you don't need, and choose the energy you do consume wisely (the Energy Trust of Oregon offers tips on how to conserve, and invest in energy efficiency or renewable resources). Because whether we cast spells under power of a lightning-shaped scar, or simply live and work keeping in mind the source of our electrical power and the natural world that is affected by it, we can all make a bit of a difference.

Posted by Oregon CUB at 12:04 PM | Comments (0)

July 12, 2007

Call Legislative Leadership for Action on OMSI Funding Mess

The firestorm continues regarding the Legislature's redirection of ratepayer energy efficiency monies (called public purpose funds and managed by the Energy Trust of Oregon) to pay off OMSI's 15-year-old rebuilding loan. The money swipe was part of an omnibus spending bill, SB 994, passed in late June without public input. Despite the fact that many large energy and environmental issues were decided during the 2007 Legislative Session, including the passage of a landmark Renewable Energy Standard, the OMSI issue has people unusually fired up. And now it's time to fire up Oregon's legislative leadership to clean up this mess (after all, they did create it).

Why are people reacting so strongly to this misuse of public purpose funds? Perhaps it is the understanding Oregonians have of how important energy efficiency and conservation are in protecting both our environment and ratepayers' pocketbooks. Perhaps it is the precedent that would be set if Energy Trust funds are siphoned off, allowing everyone and their brother to try for a shot at the money next session. Perhaps it is the blatant unfairness of using the money of a small subset of Oregonians to pay off a state debt. This is so unfair most people can't imagine that it could be legal, and CUB is inclined to agree.

Whatever the reason, no other recent energy issue has excited so much passion and so many phone calls and emails; thousands of emails have been sent to the Governor on this issue (from members of CUB, Northwest Energy Coalition, Onward Oregon, Interfaith Network for Earth Concerns, Oregon Apollo, and the Oregon Solar Energy Association, among other groups). And the media has been paying attention, as well. The Statesman Journal ran this
strongly worded opinion piece on July 2nd. The Governor has expressed doubt in the media about the legality of the money grab, and has requested an opinion from the Attorney General. And of course, the Oregonian editorialized against the move weeks ago.

CUB is hoping that the Governor will use his line-item veto to stop the raid on the public purpose funds. We sent
this letter outlining the legal and policy arguments for our veto request (thanks to those of you who also contacted him). Gov. Kulongoski has until August 9th to use his veto power in favor of protecting the public purpose funds. Legislative leadership still hasn't recognized the enormity of the problem, and we need them to help the Governor craft a solution to this mess (including OMSI's financial difficulty) that doesn't harm ratepayers or the environment.

In order to help ensure that the veto happens, and the mess is adequately cleaned up, we need your help again. Please contact legislative leadership with the following messages:

* The raid on ratepayer money designated for new energy efficiency and renewable resources to pay off OMSI's 15-year-old debt is unacceptable and probably unlawful;
* Legislative leaders should encourage the Governor to use his line-item veto to stop this misuse of public purpose funds;
* Legislative leadership should allocate General Fund money to help OMSI pay their debt, with the legislative Emergency Board providing some interim funding to OMSI quickly;
* Finally, ask them to pledge to take up the OMSI financial problem in the February 2008 Special Session of the Legislature, if it has not been resolved.

Please get those phone calls and emails rolling in to Senate President Peter Courtney at (503) 986-1600; and House Speaker Jeff Merkley at (503) 986-1200. If you have time, also contact the following leaders as well: Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin at (503) 986-1700; and House Majority Leader Dave Hunt at (503) 986-1900.

No one argues with the importance of OMSI and its programs, or the need to get this valued Oregon institution on a more stable financial footing. But meeting that need is a state responsibility, not the responsibility of a few utility ratepayers. The Legislature goofed badly by choosing an action that is unfair, probably unlawful, and will likely raise rates in the short term and the long term. Had those legislators consulted CUB and others before trying to divert this money, we would have alerted them to the problems and tried to help them find another solution. We certainly would have helped them to understand that utility customers' money is not theirs to spend at will.

There is still a big job ahead of us in the next few weeks. So please take just a few minutes out of the hot summer weather and heat up the phone and email lines. Let legislative leadership know they're not out of hot water yet.

Posted by Oregon CUB at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)

July 05, 2007

Doug Still

Today, we here at CUB wish to express our tremendous respect for Doug Still, a CUB Board member and long-time energy policy activist, until shortly before his death July 1st at the age of 83.

Doug sent us, along with several dozen other friends and allies, a letter in early June. In it, he described the downturn in multiple health conditions which he had experienced. Doug spoke about his expectation that his life would end soon, providing a chance to say goodbye.

The letter was not unhappy, however, ending with the request that friends and family "dance on my grave" and expressing gratitude: "My life has been a joy to me. I am so appreciative of the marvelous opportunities available and generously given me." Doug spoke of being blessed with a family whom he loved very much (he is survived by his sons Dean and Gregory and a daughter, Eleanor). Of special interest, perhaps, to CUB members was the final sentence of his farewell letter, in which Doug expressed "my future hope is in the people taking charge and turning this nation around..."

Doug served on the CUB board for 7 years, and on the Executive Board of the NW Energy Coalition for well over 10 years. In addition, he served in elected roles with the South Lane Mental Health Board, the Assembly of the Blue Mountain School, and with his church. He was a strong advocate for public power, helping to found and serving as an elected board member of Emerald PUD, which now serves thousands of Oregonians with low-cost, conservation-minded publicly-owned power. He also was active in the founding of the Oregon Solar Energy Association, now called Solar Oregon.

He earned a divinity degree from Union Seminary and utilized it to pursue multiple areas of social justice, keeping his faith in both humanity and divinity strong up to the very end. Living a full life, Doug created his own opportunities to contribute during decades of profound social and political change; among many other actions, he worked in community organizing with Saul Alinsky and Cesar Chavez and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (More information about Doug's work can be found on the Northwest Energy Coalition website.)

On June 13th, we spoke with Doug by phone from his Cottage Grove home where he spent his final weeks, receiving a steady stream of visitors and phone calls. His voice at first was weak but gradually strengthened and was still recognizably full of the spirit and intellect that we knew as Doug Still. He expressed happiness in the work he had done with CUB, and admiration for the teamwork of the group that exists within the organization. He said at one point that he had great faith that people could do anything, people could work miracles, as long as they worked together.

After speaking with Doug, we reminisced about the strength of character which allowed Doug to work effectively for so many years in the sometimes frustrating arena of energy policy, and never speak ill of anyone. Those of us on the phone with Doug that day came away with a stronger-than-ever respect for his life. And as a final gift, we also came away with a greater appreciation for our own opportunity to work for sustainable and affordable energy policy as a part of CUB.

Stan Padilla, descendant of a Yaqui tribal family, said this about the role and value of elders: "Within Native American culture, the elder has been recognized, respected and revered as the living embodiment of knowledge, skill and wisdom." (Lilipoh, Issue 47, vol. 12). Doug Still was our elder here at CUB, both by virtue of his years and his unique character. We celebrate his life, and feel the loss of his wisdom very keenly.

Thank you, Doug, and God speed.

Posted by Oregon CUB at 02:19 PM | Comments (2)