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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016 Renewable energy bill clears Senate, heads to governor By HILLARY BORRUD Capital Press SALEM — A controversial bill that requires Oregon’s two largest utilities to get 50 percent of their electricity from sources such as wind and solar by 2040 is on its way to Gov. Kate Brown’s desk for a signature, after the state Senate voted 17-12 to pass the measure Wednesday. Brown has suggested that she supports the bill, but has not said publicly whether she will sign it. The bill also requires Port- land General Electric and PaciiCorp to stop using coal power to serve their Oregon customers. Representatives of Portland General Electric and the advocacy group Renew- able Northwest told lawmak- ers last month the bill might actually have a greater impact on utilities’ decisions on whether to replace coal with natural gas, because Portland General Electric already plans to close Oregon’s only coal power plant in Boardman by 2020 and stop purchasing coal power from out of state. Biomass incentives At the same time, incen- tives added to the legisla- tion last week could ire up more power plants that burn wood and garbage. State Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springield, said Wednesday that the bio- mass incentives would lead to job creation in rural areas of the state. But researchers have also raised concerns that wood-burning power plants can generate more pollution than coal. They have ques- tioned the carbon reduction calculations underlying classi- ication of biomass as a source of renewable energy. Beyer, who previously served as an Oregon pub- lic utility commissioner, said he remembered the concerns raised in 2007 when the Leg- islature adopted the state’s irst renewable energy mandate. The bill that the Senate passed on Wednesday would double the existing mandate. “One of the things I heard a lot at that time was it was going to add signiicantly to ratepay- ers rates,” Beyer said. The leg- islation passed on Wednesday allows the utilities to seek rate increases to pay for renewable energy that is up to 4 percent more expensive than traditional sources such as natural gas. Utilities can request those rate increases, which are allowed under the current renewable energy mandate, in addition to broader periodic rate increases. “We’ve never gotten close to that cost cap, and it’s unlikely we will,” Beyer said. Republican opposition That did not quell opposi- tion by Republicans. The vote Wednesday after- noon followed more than two hours of Republican procedural moves that extended the debate but had little impact on the out- come. Democrats had identi- ied the bill as a top policy pri- ority from the start of the short session, and the utilities and environmental groups also lob- bied hard for the legislation. Much of the controversy around the bill stemmed from news reports that Brown’s administration had instructed the state Public Utility Com- mission not to go public with talking points it had drafted regarding concerns about the legislation. Public utility com- missioners raised concerns the measure would be expensive for ratepayers yet do little to reduce greenhouse gas emis- sions from coal plants. “What I do object to is shutting out people who ought to have a full franchise in the discussion about an energy policy like this one,” Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, said during a loor speech Wednesday. “The idea here would be, at least if it’s con- ducted in the Oregon way — the way I like to think of the Oregon way — would be to gather proponents and dissenters together, and hear the best from both of them.” The utilities, environmen- tal groups, renewable energy industry and Citizens’ Utility Board of Oregon drafted the original version of the legisla- tion behind closed doors start- ing late last year, and that pro- cess also fueled much of the criticism of the bill. After environmental groups failed to get a bill to end coal power passed during the ive- month legislative session in 2015, they began gathering sig- natures to place measures that would accomplish this and other policy goals on the ballot in November. The environmen- tal groups agreed to drop their efforts to get voters to pass sev- eral new renewable energy man- dates in November, including an initiative that would eliminate coal power, if lawmakers and the governor approve the legislation. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. College president candidate an experienced administrator Liss has experience in Ohio, New Mexico, Maryland By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Ron Liss, who has worked in community colleges around the country since 1982, said he has at least 10 more years in his career to give Clatsop Com- munity College, where he vis- ited Wednesday as one of four inalists for the presidency. Liss, 61, lew in from Cleve- land, where he was briely vice president and special adviser for workforce, community and economic development at Cuyahoga Community Col- lege, the largest community college in Ohio. “What doesn’t show on my resume, is I’m unemployed right now,” Liss said. Liss had served as president of Cuyahoga’s western cam- pus from 2013 to 2015, but was removed by the college’s top president. The change was not performance-based, Liss said, but rather part of a shuf- ling that included replacement of presidents at three out of the college’s four campuses over the past two years. The pres- ident told him his new posi- tion was temporary, Liss said, which got him thinking about the future. Liss said he learned about the post in Astoria through the Association of Commu- nity College Trustees, which conducted the search for can- didates. His wife, Anita, has been an adjunct instructor, along with a bereavement counselor at the Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland. The two have a daughter and a grandchild. “I’m looking for a smaller institution in a smaller com- munity I can have a personal connection with,” he said. As president, Liss said one of his biggest roles is to rep- resent the college not just on campus, but in the community as well at cultural events and as an advocate locally and at the state level. After starting his educa- tional career with ive years as a high school electronics teacher in Baltimore, Mary- land, Liss said he was told about a summer teaching opportunity at Community College of Baltimore County to retrain unemployed work- ers through the federal Com- prehensive Employment and Training Act and quickly became enamored. “What we do in commu- nity colleges is not a step down from anyone,” Liss said, adding community colleges are part transfer degrees, part career-technical training. Liss taught at the Baltimore college from 1982 to 1992 and served in its administration until 1997. He spent the next decade in various administrative posi- tions at Montgomery College, in Rockville, Maryland, ultimately becoming director of academic and student services. From 2007 to 2013, he was a vice pres- ident for academic affairs at Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico, before joining Cuyahoga Community College. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Liss said his father was a lawyer and his mother a teacher, adding his family wanted him to go directly to a four-year institution. He earned a bachelor’s of industrial sci- ences from State University of New York, a master’s in instruc- tional systems development from the University of Mary- land and a doctorate in educa- tional management and leader- ship from American University in Washington, D.C. Along with Liss, Glenn Smith, the executive vice pro- vost for student services and enrollment management at Con- cordia University in Portland, visited this week. The inal two of the four inalists for Clatsop Commu- nity College’s presidency visit next week. Christopher Breit- meyer, the vice president for academic and student affairs at St. Charles Community College in Missouri, will have a pub- lic meet-and-greet from 3 to 4 p.m. March 10 in Columbia Hall Room 221. Christopher Dyer, the CEO and president of the University of New Mexico-Gal- lup, visits with the public from 3 to 4 p.m. March 11 in Columbia Hall Room 219. Erick Bengel/The Daily Astorian Cannon Beach Municipal Court Judge Ronald Woltjer, left, swears in George Vetter as a new city councilor. Municipal judge iles for Circuit Court The Daily Astorian Ronald Woltjer, an attor- ney and Municipal Court judge, has iled to run for the Circuit Court judge position being vacated by Judge Philip Nelson, who will retire this year. Woltjer serves as the Municipal Court judge for Warrenton, Seaside, Cannon Beach and is a pro tem judge for Astoria. The longtime Clatsop County resident has experi- ence in general private law that involved domestic rela- tions, probate, bankruptcy Associated Press SALEM — The state Leg- islature has approved a conten- tious bill that would uphold last year’s decision to remove the gray wolf from the state’s endan- gered species list. The measure intends to block an ongoing law- suit iled by environmentalists. House Bill 4040 cleared the state Senate on Wednesday in a 17-11 vote, and now heads to Gov. Kate Brown, whose ofice has taken a neutral stance on the proposal. The Oregon Fish and Wild- life Commission delisted the species in November as part of its wolf management plan, and environmentalists sued, seek- ing to challenge the scientiic merits of that decision through judicial review. But by upholding the del- isting decision in state law, the judicial review being sought in the lawsuit would likely be rendered moot, subsequently thwarting the case. Astoria man sentenced for shooting deer inside city limits Olney Avenue early in the morning of Oct. 27 for a report of a gunshot in the area. Ofi- The 20-year-old Asto- cers found a Nissan truck with ria man who unlawfully shot a dead buck in the bed. and killed a deer within city Ogier approached the ofi- limits last fall was sentenced cers with blood on his hands and Wednesday in Clatsop County claimed he had struck the deer Circuit Court. with his vehicle. However, Ogier James Lee Ogier pleaded had shot the deer, gutted the ani- no contest to hunting in city mal and loaded it into his vehicle. limits and recklessly Oficers said the endangering another backdrop for the gun- person. A felony shot was the nearby charge of unlawful Bayshore Apart- use of a weapon was ments, and that Ogier dropped as part of the appeared to be intoxi- plea agreement. cated. At the time, he He was sentenced was arrested for driv- to 18 months proba- ing under the inluence James tion. He must also of intoxicants, but was Lee Ogier complete 80 hours of never charged. community service and forfeit His blood alcohol was mea- his gun and ammunition. His sured at .04 percent a couple of hunting license is suspended hours after the incident, accord- for three years. ing to the Clatsop County Dis- Astoria Police were dis- trict Attorney’s Ofice. patched to Sixth Street and “Intoxicated driving and the By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian use of a irearm inside the city limits are not only illegal, they are a recipe for tragedy,” Astoria Deputy Police Chief Eric Halver- son said at the time. The deer was donated to the local food bank. Spaghetti Dinner Friday March 4 th 4 pm ‘til gone $7 .00 6PM “Karaoke Dave” ASTORIA AMERICAN LEGION Cla t sop Post 12 1132 Exchange Street 325-5771 standards he established.” Woltjer and his wife are the parents of two col- lege-age children who both attended Astoria public schools. He is a former scout leader, community volunteer and is a member of the Ore- gon State Bar and the Ore- gon Municipal Court Judge Association. The other candidates in the May election are Dep- uty District Attorney David Goldthorpe and Dawn McIn- tosh, an attorney for a Gear- hart irm who used to work as a deputy district attorney in Clatsop County. County monitoring lu cases The Daily Astorian State Senate approves wolf delisting bill intended to block suit and criminal defense matters. He was also an attorney in the Clatsop County District Attorney’s Ofice, where we rose to senior deputy district attorney. “I believe I have the back- ground and judicial experi- ence to be an effective Circuit Court judge,” Woltjer said in a statement. “Judge Nel- son set the bar very high with his work ethic, his integrity, and his commitment to treat everyone who comes before the court fairly and with dig- nity. I understand and appre- ciate those values and will strive to maintain the high The Clatsop County Public Health Depart- ment is monitoring a large number of con- firmed influenza cases and as a result is urging the public to follow pre- ventative health steps. Inluenza is a highly contagious respiratory ill- ness that is most commonly spread through coughing and sneezing. While most people who contract it experi- ence no more than fever, chills, aches, cough and congestion, the county health department said inlu- enza causes 200,000 hospi- talizations and 36,000 deaths nationwide each year, mostly among people with other health issues. The public can prevent the spread of inluenza by simple steps such as hand-washing and getting a lu vaccine. Vaccines for children and adults are usually available at many locations around the county. The Clatsop County Public Health Department also offers vaccines during lu season, generally Septem- ber through March. To ind out where to get a lu vaccine, the public can contact their health provider or local pharmacy, or call Clatsop County Public Health at (503) 325-8500. W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber 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 THANK YOU to ALL of our friends & fans for helping make our fi rst year a success! Come Celebrate with US! March 7 th - 10 th PURCHASE A BIRTHDAY CUP FOR SPECIAL DEALS! 8 N. Columbia in Seaside • Open Daily Next door to Norma’s Seafood & Steak
