Now, here is movement!
Posted on December 14, 2006 by oregoncub
Tags, Climate and Conservation
This week we want to recognize and applaud PGE. Does that seem surprising? Well, credit should go where credit is due, and PGE has done a good thing. In fact, they’ve done exactly what we asked them to do, which is to take a leadership role on addressing global warming. Here’s how:
Yesterday CUB Staff Attorney Jason Eisdorfer spoke on a panel at the NW Energy Summit, a conference on energy issues generally throughout the region; the topic was regulation. He made the point that of the types of regulation possible (there are 4), the only one he wanted to talk about, the one that will be playing a dominant role in energy regulation for at least the next 100 years, is environmental regulation. Global warming has brought this particular issue to the forefront, and there it is likely to stay.
Peggy Fowler, chief executive of Portland General Electric, also spoke at the Energy Summit. She could have chosen a topic that didn’t touch on global warming. She could have hemmed and hawed around, as so many businesspeople have done for decades: the science isn’t certain; solutions would be too expensive; we don’t have the tools, etc. Peggy didn’t say any of that. Instead, she said, “Doing nothing is not an option.”
She said PGE would “work in the next legislative session to ensure that Oregon adopts a successful RPS.” Wow. She went on to say that “PGE is launching an effort to advocate adoption of a national policy to reduce climate change, including the enactment of mandatory federal limits on global warming pollution…” Finally, Peggy made the essential point that “The longer we do nothing, the more it will cost our region, and the nation, both environmentally and economically.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
These statements contrast very favorably with the statements of Oregon’s other large electric utility, PacifiCorp. PacifiCorp has questioned the science of global warming, and their actions show this attitude: PacifiCorp spent money trying to defeat Washington’s recent RPS (which won despite the opposition); and they continue to propose new coal plants as sensible resource choices. Which means that, on the PacifiCorp front anyway, we have a long way to go.
This week’s Energy Summit, though not labeled as “environmental,” was driven by topics such as energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and how to address global warming. Jason mentioned this to a longtime observer of state policy and the energy industry, who responded, “You’re mainstream now!” It’s true that we’ve been beating this drum for quite a while now, and we’re ecstatic to have been joined in the past few weeks by the Oregon Public Utility Commission (and the Commissions of Washington, California and New Mexico—see their Joint Statement pledging to find ways to address global warming), and now by Oregon’s largest electric utility provider. This creates a political environment that could result in real change, positive movement toward a sustainable energy policy.
CUB believes that, if federal regulation is not immediately forthcoming, then it is appropriate and necessary for Oregon and other states to take action, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and thereby minimizing the threats posed by global warming. We also believe that Oregon ratepayers are in agreement, that they understand the dangers of our current situation and want to help turn the tide. More than that, Oregonians love their particular place in the world and want to help preserve its health and beauty.
CUB is not automatically against every action of the big utilities. When they use their powers for good, we’re right there with them. And when they use their powers—well, you probably know what we often have to say about our largest energy producers. CUB will always focus on what will ultimately benefit the residential and small business utility consumer.
Those customers are facing rising seas and financial storms with the course as currently set. But we have the power to change course, and working together will help bring that about. With PGE and the PUC on board, along with CUB of course, this ship is going to turn.
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03/10/17 | 0 Comments | Now, here is movement!