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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 2019)
2A — THE OBSERVER D AILY P LANNER Designs for executive action to limit greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon have long been in the works, records show TODAY By Aubrey Wieber Today is Monday, Aug. 26, the 238th day of 2019. There are 127 days left in the year. Oregon Capital Bureau TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Consti- tution, guaranteeing American women’s right to vote, was certifi ed in effect by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby CORRECTION The Aug. 23 article, “Young ‘Iron Chefs’ show off new skills”, misstated the name of one of the students in a cutline on 2A. The correct name is Gage Mathson. LOTTERY Megabucks: $3.6 million 11-15-28-30-33-45 Mega Millions: $103 million 11-15-3754-68-21-x2 Powerball: $60 million 5-12-20-21-47-PB 1-x2 Win for Life: Aug. 24 4-7-13-17 Pick 4: Aug. 25 • 1 p.m.: 3-8-4-6 • 4 p.m.: 1-0-9-3 • 7 p.m.: 2-0-9-0 • 10 p.m.: 0-3-3-4 Pick 4: Aug. 24 • 1 p.m.: 2-9-4-3 • 4 p.m.: 2-2-1-3 • 7 p.m.: 6-7-4-5 • 10 p.m.: 2-6-7-8 Pick 4: Aug. 23 • 1 p.m.: 1-1-1-4 • 4 p.m.: 8-2-3-3 • 7 p.m.: 2-9-4-8 • 10 p.m.: 6-7-1-7 ROAD REPORT Numbers to call: • Inside Oregon: 800-977-6368. • Outside Oregon: 503-588-2941. NEWSPAPER LATE? Every effort is made to deliver your Observer in a timely man- ner. Occasionally conditions exist that make delivery more diffi cult. If you are not on a mo- tor route, delivery should be before 5:30 p.m. If you do not receive your paper please call 541-963-3161. MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2019 LOCAL For more than a year, Gov. Kate Brown’s environmental agency has been assessing how the governor could man- date lower greenhouse gas emissions without voter or legislative approval, accord- ing to interviews and public records. Brown has said she’s will- ing to act with her executive authority if lawmakers and industry don’t reach agree- ment on ways to limit green- house gas emissions over the next several decades. Her spokeswoman, Kate Kondayen, reiterated that point, saying that Brown would rather see legislative action. “The governor has been meeting with stakeholders from the agricultural sector, transportation sector, and wood products industries throughout the summer and will continue to do so into the fall to ensure that the policy benefits rural Oregon while allowing rural Oregon indus- tries to remain competitive,” Kondayen said in a state- ment. “In the meantime, she has instructed her team and agencies to explore all options to achieve Oregon’s emissions reduction goals.” Kondayen didn’t otherwise respond to written questions. Richard Whitman, director of the state Department of Environmental Quality, said his agency started talking with the governor’s staff a little more than a year ago, exploring what options were available. Those efforts were sidelined as momentum picked up ahead of the 2019 Legislature for a comprehen- sive carbon capping program. The costly and controversial legislation setting the program in place famously failed in the final week of the session. DEQ, responding a public records request, released 39 emails dating from October 2017 to last June document- ing communication between Brown’s office and DEQ regarding curbing emissions outside of legislative action. Much of the correspondence regarded suing the federal Environmental Protection Agency to ensure Oregon maintains the authority to use executive powers to regulate polluters. An outline of the potential executive actions available to the governor was sent by Whitman to Brown’s advisers and a state Justice Department fi ve days before the legislative session ended without a carbon emissions policy passing. Brown had no desire to let the work and momentum behind a carbon-capping program fi zzle. Less than 24 hours after the session closed, she called reporters into her offi ce and threat- ened to use her executive powers to lower carbon emissions. Immediately, DEQ re- sumed its work vetting those options. Whitman said his offi ce is in weekly, if not daily, com- munication with Brown’s staff on the effort. “We are on a pretty steady pace working on these issues at this point,” he said. The June 25 internal docu- ment outlines a gradually declining cap on industrial emissions and fossil fuel importers, strengthening Or- egon’s low-carbon fuel stan- dard and increasing access to public transit and promoting biking and walking. DEQ also outlined ways to strengthen regulations on landfi lls to lower methane emissions, more strictly regulating dairies, expanding vehicle inspection programs so that medium-duty trucks are inspected twice per year and requiring newly built buildings include electric vehicle charging stations. Whitman said the main focus of the agency’s pro- posal is on capping industrial emissions. And while execu- tive action can be extremely powerful, it lacks the nuance afforded by the legislative process, he said. Going the legislative route allows the state to be less restrictive of industry, giving it the best “bang for its buck,” Whitman said. In 2019, lawmakers devel- oped a policy were a cap on carbon came alongside “al- lowances” equal to one ton of pollution. Those allowances would have been purchased from the state at auction and then became a commodity for the holders, as they could be resold or traded. Lawmakers also designed a system to give free allow- ances to companies that would struggle to compete on a national or global scale under the new regulations. The policy would have also allowed companies to invest in “offsets” like preserving timber stands rather than buying allowances. Executive action does not afford that level of creativity. More or less, she is allowed to limit emissions, but is more handcuffed in helping industry make the transi- tion. Brown has not said how extreme the new emission regulations could be, but any change would likely impact business, and in turn could impact consumers and the overall economy. Whitman said executive orders might not result in the overall emissions reduc- tion being done in the most effi cient way. Brown’s potential execu- tive action is likely to draw political fi re. “I am severely disap- pointed with the governor wanting to move forward with executive action, when the Legislature clearly did not get the cap and trade program right,” said Rep. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford. Brock Smith served as co-vice chair of the joint committee that studied the issue and produced the cap-and-trade legislation – House Bill 2020. Brown has been quiet on the issue since holding her press conference in June. “The really major issue here is that if Oregon DEQ were to proceed with a pro- gram, particularly around capping industrial emissions or fuels … it likely would be kind of a blunt instrument, frankly,” Whitman said. Brad Reed, spokesman for environmental coalition Renew Oregon, said action is needed now. Renew was one of the chief proponents for the policy but Reed said executive action could be a start. “The governor should do everything she can to combat the climate crisis,” Reed said. Reed said after her an- nouncement, Brown met with Renew’s policy analysts to go over the most effective ways to use agency authority to cut down on emissions. Reducing pollution was only one part of the legisla- tive plan, though. The cap- and-trade program would have generated millions for climate projects around the state. That also becomes more diffi cult with executive ac- tion. DEQ could raise money through increased fees for things like industrial or ag- ricultural permits, but that would require legislative approval. “I think it’s highly unlikely that we would be able to operate a program that generates revenue for things that reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Whitman said. And while DEQ analysts have narrowed what options to consider, they continue to examine how best to implement new rules and regulations. Whitman said he’s work- ing under the directive from Brown to design the most workable program, and then let Brown and her team decide what to do with it. However, if the governor side steps lawmakers and imposes new regulations, she would likely face anger from some legislators. In two years, Whitman and DEQ will have to go through the ritual of getting legislative approval for a new budget. Brock Smith noted that he sits on a committee that considers DEQ’s budget. “DEQ did not get every- thing they wanted in their budget to fund existing programs at the levels they desired,” Brock Smith said of the current budget. “By adding programs that would implement portions of a cap-and-trade program that would be punitive to industry, especially in rural Oregon, it would be more dif- fi cult in my opinion to fund programs that are already underfunded, but also those that would be punitive to industry.” Whitman said any poten- tial retribution is far from his mind. “In terms of the politics of how it’s designed … I’m not going to lose a whole lot of sleep over that,” Whitman said. BUY ANY 5 participating items and receive a code to enter for a * WIN A AV4 2019 Toyota R XLE AWD *Open to legal U.S. residents, residing in Oregon or SW Washington, 18 years and older (must be 21+ to purchase alcohol). 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COUPON CANNOT BE DOUBLED or combined with digital coupon. Coupon valid 8/27/19 - 9/3/19. Prices in this ad are effective 6 AM Tuesday, August 27 thru Tuesday, September 3, 2019 (unless otherwise noted) in all Safeway or Albertsons stores in Oregon and S.W. Washington stores serving Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, Walla Walla and Klickitat Counties. Items offered for sale are not available to other dealers or wholesalers. Sales of products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine limited by law. Quantity rights reserved. SOME ADVERTISING ITEMS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN ALL STORES. Some advertised prices may be even lower in some stores. On Buy One, Get One Free (“BOGO”) offers, customer must purchase the first item to receive the second item free. BOGO offers are not 1/2 price sales. If only a single item purchased, the regular price applies. Manufacturers’ coupons may be used on purchased items only — not on free items. Limit one coupon per purchased item. Customer will be responsible for tax and deposits as required by law on the purchased and free items. No liquor sales in excess of 52 gallons. No liquor sales for resale. Liquor sales at licensed Safeway or Albertsons stores only. ©2019 Safeway Inc. or ©2019 Albertsons LLC. Availability of items may vary by store. Online and In-store prices, discounts and offers may differ. PG 1,Common 082819_POR_ROP_SA_10.5x10.5_LaGrandeObserver_V01_Common
