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Energy:
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Pollution

Our Position: support
Bill Number: HB 3610
Sponsor: Rep. Jackie Dingfelder/House Energy & Environment Committee
Legislative Session: 2008

Would have required several state agencies to evaluate policies and practices that contribute to greenhouse gas pollution, and develop recommendations on how to meet Oregon's greenhouse gas reduction goals. Authorized the state Environmental Quality Commission by rule to require greenhouse gas emission registration or reporting from those in possession of air pollution permits, as well as those who generate, import, distrubute, or sell electricity or fuel for use in Oregon that produces greenhouse gases when used or consumed.

It was opposed by polluting industry and companies that use large amounts of energy who were concerned that greenhouse gas reporting would lead to further government action to reduce pollution.

Status

HB 3610 passed out of the House Energy & Environment Committee on Tuesday, February 12, and was referred to the Ways and Means Committee for further discussion. It ultimately stalled and died without further action. It was supported by a wide array of conservation groups and the Oregon Business Association, a leading voice for the private sector in Oregon.

It was actively opposed by a small group including the state's biggest industrial polluters and an array of timber companies and corporate agriculture interests. Many of these same interest groups, and some of their supporters in the Legislature, opposed legislation setting greenhouse gas reduction goals in 2007, and will likely continue to oppose making progress on global warming in 2009 as well.

More information

Background

In 2007, Oregon passed HB 3543 which established ambitious, but reachable, goals for the reduction of greenhouse gases - 75% of 1990 levels by 2050. Any serious proposal to meet these goals has to be predicated on good information on where and how greenhouse gases are being emitted in Oregon through our land use and transportation practices, and through our consumptive use of electricity and fuel. This is the purpose of HB 3610.

HB 3610 and its requirement to gather information and make recommendations on how greenhouse gases can be reduced across all sectors of the economy should be seen as a first step towards establishing well thought out policies that reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate global warming. Good information underlies good policy decisions. By beginning the work outlined in HB 3610, the state of Oregon will also put itself ahead of the curve in developing our own policy choices as regional 'cap and trade' or 'cap and auction' policies are established for greenhouse gas reductions through the Western Climate Initiative or other processes. 

The Sierra Club advocates a 2% reduction in greenhouse gas consumption annually in order to achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which leading scientists say is what it will take to curb global warming and its consequences.