Lawmakers in Washington should pay close attention to something that happened
this spring in Oregon as the Legislature debated the Renewable Energy Standard
to require that Oregon utilities generate 25 percent of our energy from new
renewable sources by 2025. This week, Congress is considering a proposed
national standard. They should take a lesson from the Beaver State and include
that policy in their energy bill.
In Oregon, renewable energy is uniting Oregonians across the urban-rural
divide. Oregon's Renewable Energy Standard - and the proposed national standard
- has the support of farmers and rural landowners from Hood River, Sherman,
Gilliam and Union counties, as well as environmentalists from Portland. Rural
county commissioners testified alongside the League of Oregon Cities. Religious
leaders, consumer advocates and business leaders all joined in support.
Urban Democratic legislators, including Brad Avakian (Washington County),
Jackie Dingfelder (Portland), and Ben Cannon (Portland), were joined by rural
Republican legislators, including Jason Atkinson (Grants Pass), Tom Butler
(Ontario), and Greg Smith (Heppner).
Renewable energy unites Oregonians from every corner of the state because
it is good news for Oregon and the world we live in. The good news for our
environment is a huge reduction in global warming pollution, which is good news
for our state's shrinking glaciers, rising sea levels and increasing wildfires.
The good news for rural economies is a new income source for farmers, who
can earn from $7,000 to $14,000 per year for a single wind turbine on land that
would generate $100 in wheat income. And renewable energy means new revenue for
counties hit hard by the loss of federal revenues. Union County can expect up to
$10 million in new revenue in the coming years from the Elk Horn wind project
alone.
The good news for consumers is that renewable energy stabilizes rates.
Unstable regimes that hate the U.S. can't manipulate prices for the sun and
wind, and once a renewable energy facility is built, the fuel is free. Renewable
energy is the only electricity currently available that comes with a 20-year
fixed rate. Utilities in Oregon, Washington and Colorado recently have found
wind energy to be cheaper than natural gas and cost-competitive with coal.
Fortunately, Oregonians know a good deal when they see one. And renewable
energy - and the economic, environmental and consumer benefits it brings - is a
good deal for all concerned. The Oregon House of Representatives passed the
Renewable Energy Standard with a bipartisan vote of 41-18.
Congress should follow Oregon's example and build on the progress we're
making in bridging the urban-rural divide by adopting a national Renewable
Energy Standard. A national Standard will provide even more benefits in addition
to those created by Oregon's Standard, as utilities in other states seek to use
renewable energy generated in Oregon to meet their goals.
Congressman Earl Blumenauer already is showing leadership, working to
build support for the national renewable energy standard. Congressman Greg
Walden and the rest of the delegation should do the same and bring a few lessons
from Oregon to our nation's capital.
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Jeremiah Baumann is an advocate for Environment Oregon, the new home of
OSPIRG's environmental work, and lives in Portland. John Lamoreau is a former
Union County commissioner who lives in La Grande. They worked together to
convince the Oregon legislature to craft and advocate for the State Renewable
Standard.
