Oregon Conservation Network's Legislature Wrap- up

Contact:
Toby Van Fleet, Communications Director, 503-224-4011, toby@olcv.org
Evan Manvel, Legislative Affairs Director, 503-515-8548, evan@olcv.org

More environmental wins in the session’s final days:
After the last gavel, the Oregon Conservation Network counts most priority bills as victories but asks the Governor for a veto on clean energy rollback 

SALEM, OR – Oregon’s families and future generations will reap the benefits of stronger environmental protections thanks to the work done in the 2009 Oregon legislative session. But while many victories were unequivocal, some victories were only partial. In particular, climate change legislation was scaled back so that bills did not live up to the gravity or urgency of the problem. In addition, conservation groups are asking the Governor to veto two bills that, if signed into law, would significantly roll back the state’s commitment to clean energy.

“Despite significant budget challenges, Oregon’s elected leaders answered the call of Oregonians around the state who believe that protecting our  unique natural legacy is a priority. We’re grateful for their work,” said Evan Manvel, Legislative Affairs Director for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and the Oregon Conservation Network. “But those same leaders also rolled back the state’s commitment to clean energy and missed opportunities to create local jobs at precisely the moment when the state really needs economic innovation. That’s been sobering.”

The Oregon Conservation Network is a coalition of 45 environmental groups from around the state collectively representing more than 100,000 Oregonians, who agree on a list of Priorities for a Healthy Oregon to focus on during each legislative session. This year, the groups tackled six priorities, pushing key associated bills as well as fighting six major threats to a healthy Oregon. (Please see a status summary of environmental bills attached.)

Clear victories on invasive species, preserving Oregon’s coastal legacy, and water conservation

Legislators moved forward on a variety of bills, from creating marine reserves and preventing invasive species to protecting the Metolius River basin. Legislators also passed landmark legislation on water management and sent a bill limiting pollution from fuel to the Governor.

Of the pro-environment bills passed, most had broad bipartisan support.

• Three bills will protect Oregon taxpayers and the state’s native ecosystems from the costly damage of invasive species with increased fines, mobile check stations and emergency response funds (SB 571, HB 2020, HB 2220).
• Another bill will designate and develop the first two pilot marine reserves and guide the study of four others along Oregon’s coast (HB 3013).
• A historic bill ensuring a more responsible approach to water management includes steps toward water conservation, protection of rivers, and comprehensive state water policy (HB 3369).

These successes were the direct result of building person-to-person partnerships and bringing together a broad range of Oregonians who want to make sure we leave a responsible environmental legacy for all Oregon families.

Climate and energy: Some successes, some losses and two veto requests

While a package of climate change-related bills offered to save families money and spur new jobs through truck retrofitting, weatherization of homes, and fuel development, legislators were pressured by corporate polluters and did not bring strong versions of most bills up for votes – despite the call from the scientific community to act decisively on climate change.

Of the OCN’s four priority climate bills (SB 79, SB 101, HB 2186 and SB 80), scaled-back versions of three passed, paving the way for more energy-efficient buildings and homes, tougher pollution standards on power plants, and a low-carbon fuel standard. But Senate Bill 80, the centerpiece of the climate package just a few months ago, was amended so significantly at the behest of the state’s largest polluters that the bill died.

Two of the OCN’s six Major Threats to a Healthy Oregon passed:

• The transportation package, which encourages costly sprawling development and does little to provide more transportation choices to Oregonians
• HB 2940, which counts biomass and waste burning as renewable and undermines Oregon’s efforts to transition to a clean energy future with its 25% by 2025 Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) just set in 2007

Conservation groups are requesting a veto on HB 2940, along with HB 2472, which reduces the Business Energy Tax Credit for renewable projects. Vetoes on both bills could at least partially repair the state’s rollback on its commitment to stable, clean energy jobs and energy independence.

Legislators also passed HB 3039, which undermines the RPS by double-counting solar projects. And they failed to set standards for dirty liquefied natural gas facilities (HB 2015).

Other victories: Metolius, toxics, environmental fines and phosphorus phase-out

Beyond the OCN’s Priority bills, conservation groups are celebrating other environmental victories. Earlier this week, a bill to protect the Metolius River from massive development was sent to the Governor. And the toxic, health-threatening flame retardant decaBDE will be phased out of household products like mattresses and computers. In addition, fines for environmental pollution were increased for the first time in more than 30 years, field burning will be scaled back, and phosphorous will be removed from automatic dishwasher soap, protecting Oregon’s rivers.

The Oregon League of Conservation Voters works to protect the environment by passing pro-environment laws, electing pro-environment candidates to office, and holding those officials accountable.

The Oregon Conservation Network is a coalition of 45 environmental organizations with collective membership of more than 100,000 Oregonians.

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Environment in the 2009 Legislative Session

Oregon Conservation Network
Priorities for a Healthy Oregon

The OCN’s Priority bills are selected by a coalition of 45 conservation groups
around the state, representing more than 100,000 Oregonians.
These are pro-environment bills OCN works to pass.
Environmental Victories (Passed by Legislature)

SB 34 – TriMet and Lane Transit funding authorization; minimal adjustment in payroll tax limits

SB 79 – Energy efficiency for residential and commercial buildings

SB 101 – Pollution limits on dirty new power plants

SB 571 – Increased penalties for transporting or releasing invasive live fish

HB 2020 – Emergency response fund for invasive species

HB 2186 – Low-polluting fuel standard and limits on ship idling

HB 2220 – Mobile check stations for invasive species

HB 3013 – Guidance and structure for marine reserves

HB 3369 – Water package includes standards for new storage projects, conservation efforts, and water planning (note: integrates standards from SB 788, previously a priority bill)

Funding for marine reserves (various budgets)
Environmental Losses (Priority bills legislators failed to pass)

SB 80 – Steps to scope and plan to meet Oregon’s statutory goals on climate change

SB 740 – Water rights fees to fund Water Resources Department

HB 2001 – Transportation package provisions on land-use planning and transportation choices

HB 2015 – Liquefied Natural Gas Public Protection Act

Major Threats to a Healthy Oregon

OCN Major Threats bills are unanimously agreed upon by a steering committee
representing the coalition of 45 conservation groups across the state.
They are anti-environment bills OCN actively works to defeat.
Environmental Losses (Passed by Legislature)

HB 2001 – Highways-heavy transportation package with little to improve transportation choices

HB 2940 – Undermining renewable energy standard by counting old biomass, trash burning (requesting veto from Governor)
Major Threat Bills Amended to No Longer Be Major Threats

HB 2229 – Changes in land-use planning from Big Look Task Force
HB 2472 – Limits on the Business Energy Tax Credit (House version)
Major Threat Bills Defeated

HB 3058 – Fast-tracking for liquefied natural gas

HB 3072 – Removes balance in management of state forests

Other Environmental Bills of Note
Environmental Victories (Passed by Legislature)

SB 38 – Reporting on global warming pollution

SB 102 – Phasing out high-polluting wood stoves
SB 105 – Partially adjusting environmental penalties for inflation

SB 528 – Scaling back field burning

SB 596 – Phasing out toxic flame retardant decaBDE

SB 631 – Phasing out phosphates in household dishwasher soap

SB 637 – Integrated pest management on school grounds

SB 788 – Increased cost recovery from water users to fund Water Resources work

HB 2080 – Allowing households to use gray-water systems

HB 2212 – Comprehensive approach to management of invasive weeds

HB 2221 – Limits on commercial feral swine hunt operations

HB 2544 – Structure for environmental education efforts

HB 2583 – Prohibition on launching boats infested with invasive species

HB 2626 – Funding structure for energy-efficiency loans

HB 2795 – Gradual replacement of high-polluting diesel school bus engines

HB 2999 – Improvements to pesticide use reporting system, (though program suspended)

HB 3037 – Paint stewardship program

HB 3089 – Increased penalties for killing wildlife

HB 3298 – Protections for the Metolius River basin
HB 3300 – Creating plan for green jobs development
Environmental Losses (Environmental bills legislators failed to pass)

SB 194 – Implementing water measurement plan (though parts are in HB 3369 and SB 5551)

SB 320 – Battery stewardship

SB 688 – Green cleaning products in schools

SB 742 – Stewardship for mercury-containing light bulbs

HB 2060 – Comprehensive product stewardship

HB 2184 – Updating Oregon’s Bottle Bill

HB 2227 – Reform of destination resort laws
HB 2367 – Ban on bisphenol A in baby bottles

HB 2388 – Studying economic impact of large big-box developments

HB 2792 – Allowing DHS to regulate toxins in childrens’ products
HB 3090 – Allowing homeowners to use clotheslines and solar panels

HB 3199 – Upgrading energy-efficiency of state buildings

HB 3249 – Natural resource conservation areas on state lands

HB 3357 – Green buildings for schools

HB 3465 – Recouping of, or reporting on, unredeemed bottle deposits

HJR 48 – Allowing gas tax revenues to go to climate-change solutions
Anti-Environment Bills Passed

HB 2472 – Limits on the Business Energy Tax Credit (Conference Committee version)

HB 3039 – Rollback of Renewable Portfolio Standard with solar 2:1 double-counting

HB 3112 – Tax breaks for outdated timber equipment