CUB’s Spring Update!

At CUB, we strive to stay involved in the many great events happening here in Oregon! We’re lucky to have such dedicated and passionate staff reaching out into the community to engage with stakeholders, professional colleagues, and CUB members just like you. We hope to connect with folks as we’re out in the community—let us know if you’re in attendance!

This week, CUB Executive Director Bob Jenks is speaking at the 30th annual West Coast Energy Management Congress in Seattle, Washington. It’s the largest event of its kind on the West Coast, and Bob will be joining a panel to discuss energy efficiency programs. This is a subject near and dear to CUB’s heart—we believe that every kilowatt hour you don’t use is one you don’t have to pay for! We’ll have more on this topic in the near future, but in the mean time, check out Bob’s panel if you’re attending the Congress.

We’re excited to announce that, alongside Solar Oregon, we’re partnering with OMSI to put on a Science Pub all about electric vehicles and renewable energy! This event, presented by Cameron Coleman of InSpec, will take place during EV week here in Portland at the McMenamin’s Mission Theater in NW Portland. We’ll be there on June 19th at 7 PM with information on our EV program—we hope to see you there! We’ll also be attending the EV Drive event on June 23rd that is happening during the electric motorcycle race at the Portland race track and EV Roadmap 5 later on in June to keep in the mix of EV news, events and policy here in Oregon.

Earlier this month, the 2012 Living Future Conference, hosted by the Cascadia Green Building Council and the International Living Future Institute, brought together the environmental movement’s top innovators in sustainable architecture, food systems, and water issues. For two days, these inspiring leaders shared their insights and ideas to the hundreds of conference goers from all over the country. This year’s theme was the role of women in the environmental movement. Although the focus was on creating a “greener” world and how women do/must play a strong role, social justice and economic solutions were prevalent themes as well.

Emmaline, CUB’s Community Outreach Specialist, had the great opportunity to attend the opening keynote, given by food and social justice activist Vandana Shiva. Raised in India, a physicist by training, and now an internationally recognized leader in the food sustainability movement, Shiva delivered a passionate and beautiful speech exploring the roots of our world’s unsustainable practices and arguing for a shift in how we view our relationship with nature and each other. By respecting the knowledge and traditions from generations past, Shiva suggested, we can reclaim our connection to the land, break our society’s harmful habits, and create a more environmentally-friendly, socially-just, and truly prosperous world.

And back on electric vehicles: CUB partnered with the Oregon Electric Vehicles Association (OEVA) to participate in the 50th Annual St. John’s Parade. Held on May 12th, this event attracted thousands of residents from the St. John’s neighborhood and the rest of Portland. Nine OEVA members drove their electric vehicles in the parade, showcasing to the crowds that lined the streets a variety of vehicle models. An all-electric Tesla Roadster led our group, decked out with CUB and OEVA banners. The Tesla was followed by two Nissan LEAFs, two classic convertible conversions, one plug-in hybrid electric truck, an electrified riding lawn mower, a hand-built all-electric off-road vehicle, and a bright blue three-wheeled electric vehicle.

The crowd’s response was very supportive as our all-electric group cruised along with the parade. We got a few questions from about the technology of the cars along with many supportive shout-outs for gasoline-free vehicles. CUB looks forward to partnering with OEVA on future events, to showcase electric vehicles in Portland and across the state!

This past weekend, Gateway, a neighborhood in NE Portland, celebrated its close-knit community with a parade and festival this past Saturday. CUB joined in the celebration by participating in the Fun-O-Rama festival which featured businesses, non-profit organizations, and artists from the neighborhood and city. We used this opportunity to share information on electric vehicles with Gateway residents and, thanks to the generosity of one of CUB’s members, Lisa Adatto, we were able to have an all-electric Nissan LEAF on display. People of all ages stopped by to peer into the engine of the car, sit in the driver’s seat, and ask Lisa questions about her experiences using the car. The questions posed by individuals who visited our booth about the vehicle technology and the greater societal benefits electric vehicles can have – greenhouse gas reductions, independence from foreign oil, consumer savings on fuel costs – demonstrates the need for more educational outreach. CUB is excited to continue spreading the word about electric vehicles at upcoming neighborhood festivals and events.

Questions about electric vehicles or CUB’s electric vehicle program? Check out our Projects page at the CUB Policy Center website, or this previous blog post.

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