Governor defends regional power bill
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Emerald graphic
Society can change
says student activist
Students can change the
country if they can only get
together, according to an or
ganizer for Students United for
Political Action.
“There are over 100 student
groups on this campus, but
they're all focused on their in
dividual concerns," Brad
Passenger said at an organiza
tional meeting for the groups
Wednesday. He told the
11-person audience he hopes
SUPA will become a coalition of
student groups.
“If we can pick one issue
relevant to each of those
groups, bring those groups
together, they would have
tremendous power.”
United States involvement in
El Salvador is of particular in
terest, Passenger said. Uniting
groups like minority student un
ions to protest the issues can
change the course of events, he
said.
If Ronald Reagan receives
thousands of telegrams, he’ll
have to consider their message,
Passenger said.
"Although, he might not think
much about it if he knows it’s
from a group of students,” Pas
senger said. “He doesn't think
much of students.
“But we need to get students
working toward one goal. We’re
tempting fate with this El Sal
vador business.”
Students may be the only
people with the power to bring
about change, he said
“Once you get a job you’re
locked into the system. You’ve
bought into the economy.”
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By GREG WASSON
Of the Emerald
In 1978, Oregonians ap
proved the construction-works
in-progress initiative, prohibit
ing utilities from charging for
plants that aren’t yet producing
power.
Now, the regional energy act
seems to allow utilities to
charge Oregon consumers for
construction of generating
facilities in other states.
At a press conference Thurs
day, Gov. Vic Atiyeh was asked
if he would support a lawsuit
challenging the practice if
Oregon consumers are charged
for construction costs of plants
in other states.
"I’d have to look at it before I
answer your question, however,
the regional bill does give
additional Oregonians the ad
vantage of cheap hydro
power,” Atiyeh said. "The con
cept of the measure was a mat
ter of rates and the matter of
costs to us.”
Not so, says one anti-nuclear
lobbyist.
“The concept of the initiative
was that we no longer want
utilites to gamble with our mon
ey,” he explains. “If Washing
ton utilities are allowed to do
what we stopped Oregon com
panies from doing, doesn’t that
violate the spirit of the law?”
The governor doesn’t think
so.
“Oregon law has not been
subverted,” Atiyeh said. "Con
struction works in progress and
the measure banning nuclear
power in Oregon (approved in
November) are still premier.
Now, the fact that someone
somewhere else is going to
have a nuclear plant and send
that power to the line, I don't see
as muling Oregon's intention.”
At this, Atiyeh was asked how
siting decisions mean anything
if Oregon money is used else
where to finance nuclear power.
"I don’t agree with your conclu
sion, and I’m not going to argue
it here,” he said.
Rep. Wayne Fawbush, D
Hood River, head of the House
Energy Committee, said "If the
BPA agrees to buy the two nu
clear plants on the drawing
board in Washington, Oregon’s
prohibition against putting con
struction works in progress in
the rate base seems to say that
Oregon consumers couldn’t be
charged anything for those
plants until they are turned on.”
But, as Assistant Public Utility
Commissioner Roy Hemming
way explains, "The issue of
construction works in progress
is a two-fold question. First,
what happens to the interest
costs that are incurred during a
plant construction? And
second, what happens to so
called dry holes where a plant
never comes on line?
“Now, the Oregon law says
that both costs are to be ex
cluded from the rates. But, the
regional bill allows the BPA to
purchase power and put those
costs to the sale price for the
rest of the region.
“So, if Portand General Elec
tric and Pacific Power and Light
buy power from BPA, it’s possi
ble that some of the costs in
cluded in those power rates
would be cost prohibited by
Oregon law.’’
At that point, says Hemming
way, the commissioner can say
it’s not his job to look at the
costs that went into that power
and allow utilities to pay what
ever price BPA is asking.
“On the other hand, the
Oregon law says that if PGE
builds a plant, it would not be
able to recover those costs.”
CURRENT
Legislative Happenings
House Bill 2456 - Gives campus police officers the
authority of peace officers when on duty. (This
gives campus police the authority to carry guns
and make arrests.)
House Bill 2074 - Establishes state daycare
financial aid for low-income undergraduate student
parents with dependent children.
For further information on these and other student
related Bills, contact Rich Wilkins or Chuck Pfliiger
at the ASUO office, Suite 4, EMU. Ext. 3724 ‘
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