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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2016 State lawmakers scrap proposal allowing local biotech restrictions By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Bureau SALEM — A proposal to give local governments in Ore- gon the power to regulate bio- tech crops has been scrapped in favor of a labeling requirement IRUJHQHWLFDOO\HQJLQHHUHG¿VK Lawmakers recently con- sidered overturning the state’s prohibition against local restrictions on genetically PRGL¿HG FURSV ZKLFK ZDV passed in 2013. Biotech critics claim that local ordinances are neces- sary to prevent cross-pollina- tion between transgenic, con- ventional and organic crops because the state and federal governments have failed to act on the issue. Opponents of the proposal, House Bill 4122, argued that it would complicate farming across county lines, reduce crop options and put a strain on local governments that would have to enforce such ordinances. The House Committee on Consumer Protection and Gov- ernment Effectiveness heard extensive testimony from both sides during a Tuesday hearing but ultimately decided to “gut and stuff” the bill with lan- guage that requires labeling for JHQHWLFDOO\HQJLQHHUHG¿VKVROG at retail. On Thursday, the amended bill was approved 5-3 and is KHDGHGWRWKH+RXVHÀRRUZLWK a “do pass” recommendation. Prior to the amendment’s approval, state Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Dallas, said it would be unfortunate if the cur- rent system of voluntary coop- eration among farmers were replaced with a “bureaucratic solution” for cross-pollination concerns. “They try to solve their problems by talking with each other and working with each other,” Nearman said. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Paul Holvey, D-Eugene, said he also wishes such problems could be worked out amicably, but farmers who fear cross-pol- lination from biotech crops don’t currently have a system to prevent economic losses. After the Legislature pre- empted local regulation of seeds — including biotech crops — in 2013, their concern hasn’t been addressed, he said. “I think they have a legit- imate issue that needs to be solved,” Holvey said. “I hope the Department of Agriculture solves it or the Legislature does in the future.” ‘There is some urgency to this issue.’ Rep. Shemia Fagan D-Clackamas Committee Chairwoman Shemia Fagan, D-Clackamas, said she hopes the recent dis- cussions in the Legislature will pressure the state Department of Agriculture to come up with a solution. Fagan noted that heir- loom crop varieties cannot be replaced once they’re lost, so she hopes to give farmers some method to protect such cultivars. “There is some urgency to this issue,” she said. A similar bill that would have more broadly reversed Oregon’s seed pre-emption law, House Bill 4041, recently failed to clear the committee. As for labeling of geneti- FDOO\ HQJLQHHUHG ¿VK +ROYH\ said the proposal will likely be subject to further revisions in the Senate if it’s approved in the House. Transgenic salmon received regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration last year but its sale is on hold until the agency devises possi- ble labeling rules. The Capital Bureau is a col- laboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Bill doubling renewable mandate, eliminating coal reaches House By HILLARY BORRUD Capital Bureau SALEM — A bill that would double Oregon’s renewable energy mandate and eliminate coal from the state’s power mix is headed WR WKH VWDWH +RXVH IRU D ÀRRU vote. “We are going in a really good direction with this,” state Rep. Jessica Vega Pederson, D-Portland, said of the bill. Vega Pederson is chairwoman of the House Committee on Energy and Environment, which voted 6-3 Thursday to pass the bill out of committee. Nonetheless, several law- makers on the committee said they had concerns about it and two Democrats who voted for the bill — Rep. Debo- rah Boone, D-Cannon Beach, and Rep. Paul Holvey, D-Eu- gene — said they voted “yes” as a courtesy to move the bill out of committee. Those law- makers might vote against the bill when it comes up for a full vote in the House. “I was always worried about not hearing enough from the Public Utility Com- mission on this process,” said Holvey, who added he hopes a Senate committee will thor- oughly scrutinize the bill and perhaps make changes. Boone also said she hoped more of the parties impacted by the bill would have a chance to shape it, as the leg- islation moves through the Legislature. ‘It will be as green as we can be at the end of the day. We simply can’t impose further cost drivers, be it cap and trade or a carbon tax.’ Rep. Mark Johnson R-Hood River 2040, up from the current state mandate of 25 percent renew- able energy by 2025. The bill would also require the investor-owned utilities to stop using coal to serve Ore- gon customers, but there are questions about whether the bill would actually do much to impact the phase-out of coal power in Oregon. Portland General Electric has already committed to close Oregon’s only coal plant, in Board- man, by 2020, and earlier this month the utility and an envi- ronmental group said the bill would have a greater impact on the types of power utilities use to replace coal. our electric grid,” Johnson said. “It will be as green as we can be at the end of the day. We simply can’t impose fur- ther cost drivers, be it cap and trade or a carbon tax.” Competing climate bill Earlier this week, a com- peting climate bill passed out of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Com- mittee and advanced to the budget writing Joint Commit- tee on Ways and Means. Sen- ate Bill 1574, drafted by state Sen. Chris Edwards, D-Eu- gene, and Sen. Lee Beyer, '6SULQJ¿HOG ZRXOG UHSODFH the existing renewable energy goals with a new cap on car- Avoid ballot measures bon emissions and a system to The utilities negotiated buy and sell carbon pollution the legislation in an effort to credits. The most forceful oppo- avoid ballot measures planned by the politically active non- nent of House Bill 4036 on SUR¿W 5HQHZ 2UHJRQ ZKLFK Thursday was Rep. Cliff represents a coalition of envi- Bentz, R-Ontario, who said ronmental groups, renew- the legislation would funda- able energy companies and mentally undercut the abil- other businesses. The envi- ity of the Public Utility Com- ronmental groups agreed to mission to thoroughly vet rate Double existing drop their efforts to get voters increase requests from Pacif- mandate House Bill 4036, which was to pass several new renewable iCorp and Portland General written by the state’s two larg- energy mandates in Novem- Electric, which are state-regu- est utilities and environmen- ber, including an initiative that lated monopolies. Bentz often speaks about tal groups along with the Cit- would eliminate coal power, if izens’ Utility Board of Oregon, lawmakers and the governor the need to combat climate change and voted last week would double Oregon’s exist- approve House Bill 4036. The “no” votes on Thurs- for a bill to subsidize solar ing mandate to increase renew- able energy. It would require day were all cast by Repub- projects. However, he said a Portland General Electric and licans, although Rep. Mark major problem with the coal 3DFL¿&RUS WR XVH UHQHZDEOH Johnson, R-Hood River, and renewables bill was that power sources such as wind voted to move the bill out of it would allow utilities to seek rate increases based solely and solar to serve at least 50 committee. “This is as far as we can on the cost of new renewable percent of their customers’ energy demand in Oregon by go, putting requirements on energy projects. Bentz’s con- cerns echoed those raised by the Public Utility Commis- sion in a public meeting last month. When investor owned util- ities make the case for the Public Utility Commission to approve a rate increase, Bentz said “they are generally required to bring in a complete picture of their business, not just a single issue.” “The only way the PUC can make heads or tails of what’s told to them is to see the complete picture,” Bentz said. Bentz, who works for a ODZ ¿UP WKDW KDV UHSUHVHQWHG Idaho Power, said when he asked “utility specialists” for their opinion of the bill, the “single issue ratemaking ele- PHQW´ZDVWKHELJJHVWUHGÀDJ “This is a commitment by our ratepayers to a lot of money over a lot of years,” Bentz said. Allows for rate increases Bob Jenks, executive director of the residential rate- payer advocacy group Citi- zens Utility Board, said the bill does allow utilities to ask the Public Utility Commission for rate increases to cover the cost of new facilities to meet the higher renewable energy mandate. However, Jenks said the utilities already have the ability to make these requests under the state’s existing, lower renewable energy requirements. Jenks, whose group is tasked with representing rate- payers under state law, said the Public Utility Commis- sion can still revisit the rate increases for renewables as part of the bigger picture when utilities return with requests for broader rate increases. “It’s a bridge to get them to the next general rate case and that scrutiny,” Jenks said. “It’s not a substitute for that.” The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Grant will fund career-technical training equipment coordinator, $15,000 to upgrade schools’ infrastructure when needed and $32,000 in train- Local educators and busi- ing for school staff over the nesses are preparing to put summer. more than $200,000 worth of After the initial expense, career-technical training equip- Linder said, the program should ment to work in schools next become relatively self-sus- taining, besides repairs to the fall. The consortium, which equipment. LQFOXGHV DOO ¿YH VFKRRO GLV- Adding more hands-on, tricts in Clatsop County, Clat- career-technical opportunities sop Community College and has been a hot topic at many a numerous local businesses, local school board meeting. According to the National recently secured a $305,469 grant funded by the state Legis- Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education lature last session. Melissa Linder, curric- Consortium, a career-techni- ulum director for the Asto- cal support group, 90 percent ria School District, is over- of students in a career-technical seeing the grant. She said the program graduate high school. equipment will likely take the “We will coordinate form of several work stations between superintendents where inside a mobile lab moving the equipment will go,” Astoria LQ EHWZHHQ WKH FRXQW\¶V ¿YH Superintendent Craig Hoppes school districts. The lab would said, adding the placement will include stations for students to depend on schools’ schedules. learn about pneumatics, circuit “It becomes the county’s equip- boards, saws, drill presses and ment, not just our equipment.” The consortium behind the other equipment used by local grant has 18 partners, including companies. letters of support from major county manufacturers, trades- Money for equipment Of the $305,000, $224,000 people and business groups. will be used to buy equipment Hoppes said many employers in the spring, $22,000 to hire a have told him how kids often By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian lack the technical skills for available positions. Many of the local employers who supported the grant will come in and talk to students about how the skills they learn on the equipment can be utilized on the job. Borrowed from Tillamook Many of the county con- sortium’s ideas are borrowed from Tillamook School Dis- trict, which already received a grant to create a career-techni- cal center. Hoppes met last spring with state Sen. Betsy John- son, D-Scappoose, and repre- sentatives from the governor’s RI¿FH FROOHJH DQG +DPS- WRQ $I¿OLDWHV 7KH\ WROG KLP about the program in Tilla- mook, where a grant-funded career-technical center trains students in robotics, electrical and other trades. Bruce Rhodes, a grant writer in Tillamook, said the district set up electives using the technology from the grant. This year, all sophomores at Tillamook High School take at least one technology course at the center, and the district is developing more advanced Submitted Photo A state grant received by a Clatsop County consortium will pay for training equipment for students to learn job skills. courses for students in the sec- possible,” Linder said, noting the challenge of trying to share a ond year. ³:H¶UH WU\LQJ WR ¿JXUH RXW a model that would allow as many students as possible to be exposed to as many skills as SEATTLE — The U.S. Coast Guard says crews res- cued six people in three dif- ferent search-and-rescue calls Saturday along the Washing- ton and Oregon Coast. The Coast Guard reported rescuing three people on Sat- urday morning near Coos Bay, Oregon, after their boat overturned. On Saturday evening, two kayakers, a male and female, capsized on the northeast side of Whidbey Island. The two swam to uninhabited Hope Island where a helicopter crew retrieved them. Also Saturday evening, the Coast Guard says a 58-year- old man fell from a dock at the Port of Ilwaco, Washington. A crew in a boat located the unconscious man wedged between a dock and a life raft. The crew pulled him from the water and success- fully revived him within a few minutes. He was taken to a hospital. W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Coast Guard crews rescue six along Oregon, Washington coast Associated Press PRELOHODEEHWZHHQ¿YHVFKRRO districts across the county. N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Pelican Brewing Company is coming to Cannon Beach and we want YOU on our TEAM! H IR I N G FA I R Feb 27th & March 12th 10:00am – 2:00pm 1371 SW Hemlock, Cannon Beach 97110 Fill out an application, interview with a manager, meet our Team Pelican! 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