Power bill may short-circuit state wishes
By GREG WASSON
Of the Emerald
SALEM — Last fall, voters approved an
initiative measure that prohibits new
nuclear plants from being built until a
certified waste-disposal site exists.
Two years earlier they enacted a law
barring utilities from charging customers
for new plants until the plants actually
produce power.
But, according to Sen Ted Kulongos
ki, D-Junction City, the state’s voice has
been effectively muted — by the federal
government.
The problem, Kulongoski says, is the
Northwest Regional Power Bill.
‘ What they’ve done is basically said,
O K. Oregon, we’re going to allow you to
retain your local siting option, but if
Washington (state) wants to build
nuclear plants, Oregon consumers are
going to help pay for them anyway.' ”
Assistant public utility commissioner
Roy Hemmingway explains how the
regional bill will have that effect.
The legislation transforms the Bonne
ville Power Administration into the power
broker for the Northwest, he says. The
BPA supplements its hydroelectric
power with power generated by
Northwest utilities. It then resells the
power to all users in the region
Hemmingway describes the situation
this way: “Once the power is in the grid,
you can’t tell whether it’s atomic
kilowatts, coal kilowatts, or hydro
kilowatts — it’s all kilowatts.
“For instance, Portland General Elec
tric right now will buy power from Cal
ifornia during a time of shortage. The
fact that California may have a whole
bunch of things they include in the cost
of that power is irrelevant. The cost is still
the same, and it’s beyond PGE's con
trol.”
Hemmingway adds that nothing in the
fall moratorium initiative makes the
practice illegal.
“The nuclear moratorium says that the
commissioner is not to allow a utility to
issue stock to generate money for
participation in construction of a nuclear
plant. But, in the case of purchasing
power from California, or the BPA, there
is no issuance of stock."
And the prohibition against requiring
Oregonians to pay the cost of plants not
yet producing power will likely meet the
same fate.
"If the BPA agrees to buy the two
Washington nuclear plants on the
drawing boards,’’ says Rep. Wayne
Fawbush, D-Hood River, head of the
House Energy Committee, "Oregon’s
prohibition against putting construction
works in progress in the rate base seems
to say that Oregon ratepayers can't be
charged anything until those plants are
turned on."
But both Fawbush and Hemmingway
say it’s not that simple.
"The regional bill,” explains
Hemmingway, "allows the BPA to pur
chase power and add those costs into
the sale price for the rest of the region.”
IFC slashes 17 percent
from Native American union
By ANN PORTAL
Of the Emerald
After nearly two hours of discussion Tuesday,
the Incidental Fee Committee allocated the Native
American Student Union $8,285, about 17
percent less than the NASU had requested, but
$400 more than the ASUO had recommended.
The IFC cut $1,128 from the group’s stipend
expenses, but funded $1,815 for co-directors,
which director David West said were “more
efficient.”
Funding for two telephones, one in the
group’s EMU office and the other at its off-cam
pus longhouse, drew criticism from the com
mittee. Both eventually were funded.
The two phones are needed for communica
tion between the two offices, West said.
But the IFC balked at funding supplies for two
offices and cut NASU’s office supply request in
half.
The program was alloted $150 for reference
materials in spite of an ASUO recommendation
that it be cut 33 percent because only $8 of the
1980-81 reference fund was spent. The small
expenditure was due to an oversight, NASU
representatives told the committee, and soon will
be spent for magazine subscriptions.
The IFC funded $4,304 for the program’s
annual cultural symposium and powwow, but
questioned the need for 24 Pendleton blankets to
be used as honorarium for dancers at the pow
wow. An ASUO representative said the blankets
were a “fundamental part of the ceremony,” and
the committee approved the expense by a 6-1
vote.
However, the committee voted to put sympo
sium and powwow funds on reserve until a
detailed budget is shown to the committee.
Noting that funds for longhouse maintenance
had not been exhausted this year, the IFC cut $75
from next year’s maintenance request.
But West said the longhouse needs
maintenance. NASU members haven’t had time to
spend on repairs and receive no custodial sup
port, he said.
The committee attached a budget note
stipulating that requests for additional funds
would be considered next year if the $25 allocated
was spent.
The Philosophy Club, applying for its second
year of funding, received $141, which funded all
of the club’s requests but airplane fare for a
speaker.
"Airfare is something we can afford to scrimp
on,” said ASUO representative Alan Contreras.
Recreational folkdance, a program meant to
provide a "physical, non-competitive activity for
all students,” received unanimous budget
approval from the IFC, which cut only $3 from the
group’s request.
“We (the ASUO) think this program is totally
wonderful," Contreras said.
Representatives of the Chinese Student
Association did not attend the meeting.
/Backstage ******
SWIMWEAR.
the latest colors
and styles
» •
• Danskin
• Capezio
• Flexatard
943 Olive
Next to Atrium
Downtown
686-2671
J
OPEN 10:30 AM-3 AM
★ Late Nite Specials 10:30 PM-3 AM
★ Sunday Brunch 10:30 AM-1:30 PM
Giant Four-Egg Omelette with Great Fillings$2.25
★ Delicious Salads & Deli Items All the Time!
DAILY SPECIAL
Full Pint Bowl ot Flomemade Soup & Fresh Baked
Mini-Loaf of Honey Wheat Bread— S2.25
OPEN 10:30 AM-3 AM
669 E. 13th
Eugene
INDOOR a OUTDOOR SIRTINO
20% off on all
Laurel Earrings
Thursday & Friday
Tally's j
880 East 13th
(on campus)
342-2320
Live and lovin' it!
STORIES
Enjoy one of the Northwest’s hottest attractions
live. This six-piece rock band from Portland is
making its first Eugene appearance at O’Callahans
tomorrow night so be there and rock out with
STORIES.
Playin’ to Dance
Friday and Saturday
from 9 p.m.
w O’CALLAHAN’S w
\w^440 Coburg Road. Eugene Phone 343-1221J