CUB says YES on Measure 26-201, Portland Clean Energy Initiative
Posted on October 31, 2018 by Janice Thompson
Tags, Energy
It’s Halloween and time to vote YES on the Portland Clean Energy Initiative. Don’t be scared off by misleading opposition arguments.
CUB supports the Portland Clean Energy Initiative, Measure 26-201 because it will benefit Portlanders and help address climate change. Measure 26-201 is an innovative vehicle to support new community based energy programs linked to public health, affordable housing, and other co-benefits. These programs complement utility funded efforts such as those run by the Energy Trust of Oregon.
CUB specifically rebuts misleading claims about the Energy Trust of Oregon. The fact is that every $1 invested by the Energy Trust in energy efficiency saves customers $3 because the utility doesn’t have to buy more expensive electricity. Changing the Energy Trust’s system benefit investment approach, which is essentially what Measure 26-201 opponents are suggesting, would increase electricity rates for everybody, to the particular detriment of low-income customers.
The opposition asserts that only Energy Trust reform is needed; what they are really saying is that only utility funded programs are needed, which just isn’t true. Even the Trump administration has retained several residential energy tax credits, but that type of incentive doesn’t help our low-income neighbors, especially renters. Our climate crisis can’t be addressed with a false either/or choice between the innovative new solutions created by Measure 26-201 and existing Energy Trust programs. Instead, we need a both/and solution that builds on the Energy Trust systems benefits, with more money for community based programs that save energy and provide green jobs training, fix leaky roofs, and provide other essential co-benefits.
These broad public benefits warrant funding through a small surcharge on large retail corporations, especially since many large industrial and commercial businesses enjoy a special exemption, in that they contribute only half as much as residential customers to Energy Trust efficiency programs. In other words, large industrial and commercial businesses are not paying their fair share compared to residential customers, even though they get the same system benefits provided by the Energy Trust. Measure 26-210 helps stop this trend and provides benefits for all Portlanders.
CUB strongly urges a YES vote on the Portland Clean Energy Initiative, Measure 26-201.
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11/05/18 | 0 Comments | CUB says YES on Measure 26-201, Portland Clean Energy Initiative