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THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2019
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
JIM VAN NOSTRAND
Editor
Founded in 1873
JEREMY FELDMAN
Circulation Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
OUR VIEW
Cap-and-trade bill would be disastrous
Northwest Oregon industries
affected by cap and trade
W
401
Facilities and 2017 emissions, in metric tons
4
101
Wash.
(Carbon dioxide equivalent emissions are anthropogenic.)
Astoria
1. Georgia-Pacific Wauna Mill
92326 Taylorville Road, Clatskanie
Emissions
257,824
Knappa
Warrenton
Ore.
30
2. Portland General Electric-Beaver Generating Plant
80997 Kallunki Road, Clatskanie
Emissions
1.01 million
Georgia-Pacific Wauna Mill
ia River
umb
C ol
1
2 3
Clatskanie
202
5
Longview
Area in
detail
4
30
Ore.
Rainier
Seaside
47
CLATSOP
3. Portland General Electric-Port Westward Unit 2
80997 Kallunki Road, Clatskanie
Emissions
104,700
COLUMBIA
26
Cannon
Beach
101
Deer Island
St. Helens
53
4. United States Gypsum Co.
29073 Dike Road, Rainier
Emissions 42,882
Ocean
47
6. Cascades Tissue Group
1300 Kaster Road, St. Helens
Emissions 52,141
6
across state borders to less-restric-
tive areas.
That would require wholesale
changes in the White House and
Congress, of course, but the fi ght
against climate change requires
thinking big, not small.
If this passes, Oregon would
join California as the only U.S.
states to implement cap-and-trade
systems. Unilateral, symbolic
actions are not the answer to the
climate threat.
Jobs in jeopardy
The proposed carbon fees will
cost jobs in this state, because
they will put our industries at
major competitive disadvantages
with other states.
It’s not hyperbole to say that
this bill directly threatens 750
well-paying jobs at the Wauna
Mill.
The mill’s operator, Georgia-
Pacifi c (owned by Koch Indus-
tries), has shown no compunction
in the past about closing down
operations to improve its bot-
tom line. It shut down most of its
plant in Camas, Washington, last
5
Vancouver
Portland General Electric- Beaver plant
6
WASHINGTON
26
Portland
Tillamook
Edward Stratton and Alan
Kenaga/EO Media Group
Source: Oregon Dept. of
Environmental Quality
6
TILLAMOOK
Pacific
5. Dyno Nobel Inc.
63149 Columbia River Hwy., Deer Island
Emissions
198,275
30
5
.
Wash
Ore.
e’ve taken a wait-and-
see attitude towards
Oregon’s carbon cap-
and-trade proposal, which has
been winding its way through the
state Legislature this session.
The so-called Clean Energy
Jobs Bill (House Bill 2020) would
set a 52 million metric ton cap on
greenhouse gas emissions. Com-
panies that produce at least 25,000
metric tons of emissions per year
would have to pay for every ton
they emit by buying allowances
through an auction. The proceeds
from those sales would go to high-
way projects, climate mitigation
projects, rural and minority com-
munities, and other programs.
We’ve listened to detailed argu-
ments on both sides — those who
say the bill would create more
clean energy jobs and fi ght cli-
mate change, and those who say
it will cost good-paying local jobs
and do nothing to prevent climate
change.
After careful consideration, we
believe this legislation would be
disastrous — both for Oregon as
a whole and Clatsop County in
particular.
Working-class Oregonians
would be particularly hard hit.
That message seems to be falling
on deaf ears in Salem.
State Sen. Betsy Johnson,
D-Scappoose, agrees.
“Any bill with upwards of 90
amendments sends a clear sig-
nal that the complicated concepts
are not fully developed,” Johnson
said. “This bill will not, in and of
itself, deliver a clean climate. It
could, however, create a real dis-
ruption to our economy and the
displacement of many established
jobs.”
Imperceptible impact
We aren’t a bunch of climate
deniers here at The Astorian. We
believe climate change is real and
America — indeed, the world —
needs to take action to combat it.
This legislation, however, is
not the answer. Even its propo-
nents acknowledge it will have an
imperceptible impact on global
warming.
To have a perceptible impact
on global warming, the entire
nation must take action. A unifi ed
national approach would prevent
industrial employers from simply
moving their operations and jobs
47
10 miles
101
year, resulting in hundreds of lay-
offs. And it recently announced
it will close its Coos Bay lum-
ber mill entirely, laying off all 111
workers.
Closure of the Wauna Mill
would create an asteroid-sized
hole in the county’s economy.
It pays an average hourly wage
of $26, or $54,000 per year. It
spends more than $375 million on
labor, goods and services, as well
as more than $2.6 million annu-
ally in Clatsop County property
taxes.
Bill Kerr, president of United
Steelworkers Local Union 1097
and a mill employee, said no
pulping mills operate in Califor-
nia since enactment of that state’s
cap-and-trade legislation.
“We applauded the leadership
of state Sen. Betsy Johnson and
state Rep. Brad Witt to protect
our jobs and oppose the cap-and-
trade proposal,” Kerr wrote in a
recent guest column in The Asto-
rian. “We urge Gov. Kate Brown
and Rep. Tiffi ny Mitchell, as well
as the 87 others representing com-
munities across Oregon, to follow
YAMHILL
18
205
5
their lead. As you fi nalize cap-
and-trade legislation, do what’s
right and protect our environment
and protect local jobs.”
Consumers will pay
The bill’s proponents expect
working-class Oregonians to eat
the costs of the legislation for the
greater good.
Carbon emitters will pass on
the proposed fees to consumers,
driving up gas and utility bills.
There has been heated debate over
exactly how much, but anyone
who thinks they won’t go up is
delusional.
The bill’s proponents chose not
to go the cap-and-dividend route,
which would have mitigated the
economic impact by returning the
fees to taxpayers, perhaps via the
“kicker” tax rebate. They have the
typical Oregon government mind-
set — they think they have better
ideas about what to do with our
money than we do.
Given those costs, and the lack
of a perceptible climate benefi t,
this bill just doesn’t make sense.
No on HB 2020.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Participate in democracy
e have a lot of amazing rights in this
country — freedom of speech, the
right to bear arms, the right to petition and
so on. With these rights comes a respon-
sibility of our own, and that responsibil-
ity is to participate in our communities and
democracy.
Volunteering is one of the things that
is sorely needed, and there are always
things that need to be done. It’s also
proven that volunteering makes you hap-
pier and more confi dent, so it’s great for
you and those around you.
Another thing is to vote. Many people
complain about politics, but a lot of the
people who complain the loudest don’t
actually participate in voting. Voting is
something that should be held sacred,
because it gives us the opportunity to
participate in what happens in our amaz-
ing country.
So I urge everyone reading this to both
vote in local, state and national elections,
and to volunteer your time to help others.
JOSH FULTON
Astoria
W
Thanks for your votes
huck and I appreciate your voting
for us to serve on the boards of Clat-
sop Community College and Clatsop Care
C
Health District.
Both organizations are important to
residents and visitors, and the positive
qualities of life they provide. Thank you.
SARA MEYER
CHUCK MEYER
Astoria
Need art education
’m a senior at Knappa High School, and
my senior project was a magazine to
share student artwork. During this time, I
learned some interesting things about our
schools.
Art education is frequently the fi rst
on the chopping block when there are
budget cuts in our schools. Part of this
is because between 2008-2009, during
our economic collapse, school sys-
tems had to make changes. Over 80 per-
cent of schools had their budgets cut,
and in 2010, Common Core was intro-
duced as the new standard for American
education.
Elective courses such as music, art and
drama were slashed, while college readi-
ness courses began to take root and fl our-
ish. Classes that prepare us for college
are important, but are they so important
that our students have no art education?
Electives are just as important as these
state-required courses — they allow stu-
dents to grow and expand, as well as
I
instilling respect. We live in a society
that tends to only values art if it’s made
by somebody with extensive amounts of
talent, when in reality, it shouldn’t be.
I feel that our students should still be
able to take art classes with the proper
supplies. Art classes can help encourage
students to stay in school, give them a
sense of accomplishment, and teach them
creative problem solving.
I would like to thank Knappa High
School for offering the courses that they
do, and I can only hope that these classes
will be provided in years to come.
EMERALD CARRIER-MASON
Astoria