The Healthy Climate Partnership launches in Salem
Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, Treasurer Ben Westlund, legislators, business leaders, conservationists, and members of Oregon’s faith communities joined to announce their support for the Repower Oregon 2009 campaign.
On a rainy Tuesday in Salem, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, Treasurer Ben Westlund, legislators, business leaders, conservationists, and members of Oregon’s faith communities joined to announce their support for the Repower Oregon 2009 campaign. The campaign supports a comprehensive package of legislation introduced earlier this month to boost Oregon’s economy and create jobs through investments in clean energy technologies, while meeting state goals to reduce global warming pollution.
You can watch videos of the speakers here, as well as view photos of the event here.
There are several proposals currently before lawmakers. These proposals would:
- put a cap and trade system in place to reduce global warming pollution
- create new incentives for renewable energy development, like wind and solar power
- increase energy efficiency in commercial and residential building
- invest in low-income home weatherization for vulnerable Oregonians
- give the public better transportation choices through smart investments and efficient planning
Together, these policies would create new green collar jobs and accelerate Oregon’s transition to a clean energy economy. The RePower Oregon campaign, the focus of the newly formed Healthy Climate Partnership, seeks to continue Oregon’s proud tradition as a national leader in forward-looking policies that give the state an edge and preserve Oregon’s unique natural heritage.
The proposed cap to reduce Oregon’s global warming pollution is a market-based program with a track record of success. The cap and trade approach used for the U.S. Acid Rain program demonstrated that reducing pollution can be achieved alongside economic prosperity as business and industry adapted to change over time.
The RePower 2009 campaign brings together a wide cross-section of interests including consumer advocates like Citizens’ Utility Board; clean energy developers like the Renewable Northwest Project, Vestas, Tanner Creek Energy and Horizon; green builders like the Cascadia Region Green Building Council and SERA Architects; members of our communities of faith; conservationists like the Oregon Environmental Council, Environment Oregon and Climate Solutions; public health advocates like Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Oregon Center for Public Health and many others.
