Now for some good news...
According to a recent Pew report, Oregon represents the nation’s largest and fastest-growing clean energy economy.
According to a recent Pew report, Oregon represents the nation’s largest and fastest-growing clean energy economy. With more than 19,000 jobs, the state’s clean energy economy comprised more than 1 percent of Oregon’s total jobs in 2007—the greatest share nationwide. Jobs in the state’s clean energy economy grew nearly seven times faster than total jobs between 1998 and 2007, and will continue to grow but only if the State Legislature doesn’t roll back key policies like the Renewable Energy Standard which have helped accelerate this transition to a green economy in Oregon.
The irony about the timing of the report is that the Legislature is now considering significantly weakening the key legislation that was passed in 2007 that has helped to accelerate this move towards a clean energy economy and created new jobs in an otherwise dire economy. If the legislature passes HB 2940 to incorporate biomass and hydro into the Renewable Energy Standard, the result will be nearly cutting in half the amount of renewables we will see in Oregon in the future. Futhermore, if the Legislature fails to pass HB 2186 to create lower carbon fuels, they will miss the same opportunity to create the jobs of the future and position Oregon as a leader in a less carbon intensive economy.
If the Legislature wants to invest in a jobs program, supporting the transition towards a clean energy, less carbon intensive economy is a job winning scenario. Just look at the numbers.
