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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 2022)
A3 THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022 Washington state cap and trade cost estimates set to increase By DON JENKINS Capital Press The bill would add nearly 4,700 miles of rivers and streams in Oregon to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Dozens of Oregon groups sign letter supporting River Democracy Act Advocacy sent to Wyden, Merkley By MICHAEL KOHN The Bulletin A plan to protect thou- sands of miles of rivers and streams in Oregon received renewed attention last week when dozens of organiza- tions banded together to encourage politicians to speed up the passage of the bill. Seventy-fi ve organiza- tions across the state sent a joint letter to U.S. Sen . Ron Wyden and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley urging them to pass the River Democracy Act. The letter was signed mainly by conservation groups and outdoor sporting and fi shing organizations. If passed, the bill would add nearly 4,700 miles of rivers and streams in Ore- gon to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The federal designation, created in 1968, protects rivers and devel- ops them for tourism, just as national parks and national forests protect designated areas of land. Rivers can be listed as having wild, scenic or recreational value. Wyden and Merkley — Oregon Democrats — intro- duced the River Democracy Act in February 2021. More than 15,000 streams and riv- ers were nominated by Ore- gonians for inclusion in the act after Wyden called on state residents to suggest their favorite waterways in 2019. In Bend, one nomina- tion came from a group of sixth graders at Pacifi c Crest Middle School. But the bill has its detrac- tors, too. In January, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, an Ore- gon Republican , spoke out against the legislation on the fl oor of the U.S. House of Representatives, declar- ing that it will create a wild- fi re risk in Oregon’s water- sheds. Bentz argued that the bill would put forests at risk because it would allow pre- scribed burns without con- ducting thinning operations. The American Forest Resource Council, which represents logging interests, is among the groups that defend Bentz’s position. “We continue to oppose the River Democracy Act because it will increase the risk of severe wildfi res, threaten our communities, impede public access and impact multiple uses of pub- lic lands,” said Nick Smith, the council’s public aff airs director. “Catastrophic wild- fi res including subsequent erosion and sedimentation pose the greatest threat to watersheds and rivers, and water quantity and quality.” SOME DETRACTORS CLAIM THE BILL WILL CREATE A WILDFIRE RISK IN WATERSHEDS. Smith said more manage- ment of federal lands will help reduce wildfi re. “Rather than imposing more arbitrary designations and restrictions on federal lands, Oregon’s federal rep- resentatives should focus on giving public lands manag- ers more resources and tools to proactively reduce wild- fi re risks, maintain access and protect our forests, riv- ers and communities,” he said . Wyden’s offi ce has pushed back against the argument that forests will be at a greater risk for fi re, stat- ing that the bill would require agencies to implement a fi re risk-reduction plan across a half-mile corridor on either side of a river or stream. The letter sent last week was supported by river- keeper groups, guiding asso- ciations, watershed councils and paddling clubs, among others. “Although our groups represent a wide variety of interests, purposes and peo- ple across the state, we all have at least one thing in common — a love of Ore- gon’s rivers,” stated a por- tion of the letter. “They pro- vide us with clean drinking water, our favorite swim- ming holes and places to take our families fi shing and boating.” The designations would add protection for fi sh, wild- life, clean drinking water and recreation in watersheds, including the Deschutes, Metolius, McKenzie, and others. The next step for the bill is a vote by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Com- mittee, which is chaired by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat. Wyden told The Bulletin that public lands bills tend to get a close look at the end of the year, and he is pre- paring to have it voted on in the Senate by that time. His offi ce is in communication with Manchin specifi cally to seek the necessary votes to get the bill passed. “In terms of public lands, we’re going to fairly soon have some mark ups, where the legislation is formally considered and pulling out all the stops for it,” Wyden said. “We are getting all the small businesses from rural Oregon behind it and we are pleased about the coalition coming together.” th Happy 100 Birthday A Washington Depart- ment of Ecology consultant projects that cap-and-trade auctions next year will be more costly for fuel suppliers and manufacturers than orig- inally expected. Vivid Economics predicts that allowances will go for at least $41 each, nearly double the $22.78 state agencies esti- mated in 2021. An allowance will grant the right to emit 1 ton of car- bon dioxide. High auction prices will increase busi- ness costs while raising more money for state-funded cli- mate change reduction programs. Allowances could average $58 or $68 in 2023 under two other scenarios analyzed by Vivid. The fi rm did not proj- ect cap and trade’s impact on gasoline and diesel prices. The state in 2021 esti- mated auctions would raise $441 million in govern- ment revenue the fi rst year. The fi gure has not yet been updated based on Vivid’s forecast, Department of Ecology spokesman Andrew Wineke said Tuesday. NERA Economic Con- sulting, hired by the West- ern States Petroleum Asso- ciation, estimated Ecology’s proposed cap-and-trade rules will increase gas prices by 56 cents a gallon and diesel by 64 cents in 2024. Ecology maintains that its proposal will increase pump prices by less than 1%. Supply and demand and global events, such as COVID and Russia’s inva- sion of Ukraine, drive fuel prices, Wineke said. “Regu- lations play a very minor role in the price people pay at the pump,” he said. Whatever the additional cost, fuel suppliers prob- ably will pass them along to motorists, Washington Research Council economist Don Jenkins/Capital Press The Washington Department of Ecology is fi nalizing cap- and-trade rules. Kriss Sjoblom said Tuesday. The world market sets fuel prices and suppliers aren’t limited to serving Washing- ton, he said. The auctions also will be another reason for pump prices to fl uctuate, he said. “Because there is uncer- tainty about what allowance prices will be, it probably adds a bit to the volatility of gas prices,” Sjoblom said. The Legislature in 2021 passed cap and trade, the centerpiece of Gov. Jay Ins- lee’s climate agenda. To carry out the law, Ecology has proposed 138 pages of regulations. Auctions are at the heart of the rules. Beginning next year, large carbon-emitters will bid for allowances. The number of allowances auc- tioned off will decline each year. Allowances are expected to become increasingly expensive as the state moves closer to its goal of cutting emissions by 45% by 2030 and 95% by 2050. State agencies in 2021 projected the cost of alliances based on California’s experi- ence, which has been holding cap-and-trade auctions since 2014. For many years, allow- ances were going for near the minimum price, though they have been rising recently, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Vivid warned allowance prices were uncertain. Many factors will infl uence prices, including how fast drivers convert to electric vehicles, reducing demand from fuel suppliers for allowances. Merging Washington’s cap-and-trade auctions with those jointly held by Califor- nia and Quebec also would hold down allowance prices, according to Vivid. Presumably, a bigger pool of allowances will hold down bids. Ecology will start look- ing at linking up with Cali- fornia and Quebec once it’s fi nalized Washington’s cap- and-trade rules. “Given the benefi ts link- age could have for our mar- ket, Ecology has accelerated our timeline and will begin exploring the benefi ts of link- ing in the fall,” Wineke said. Food Northwest, a trade association of food proces- sors, says cap and trade will increase the cost of making food in Washington. If Ecology doesn’t hold down allowance costs, food makers may move to Idaho, the association said in com- ments sent to Ecology. J.R. Simplot Co. warned that rapid increases in gas prices will cause a consumer backlash and cause politi- cal pressure to revise cap and trade. August 2 ND - 6 TH , 2022 $5 Admission 10 AM - 10 PM Daily Fair Events 2022 Tuesday August 2 4pm - Pig Roast • 6pm - Stick Horse race 7pm - perry Gerber: country Wednesday August 3 Noon, 5pm - perry Gerber: country 7:30 - Memo: Mariachi band Thursday August 4 11am, 1:30pm, 4:30pm, 7:30pm - Louis fox: Magic show Noon, 3pm, 6pm - Briana renea Friday August 5 10am, 1:30pm, 8:30pm - Louis fox: magic show 11am, 4pm - Briana renea 1pm - arron crawford derby 7pm - Trace Adkins 11am-1pm Saturday august 6 auction 11am - Louis fox: magic show 11:30am - Fashion show 12:30pm, 4pm, 7pm - Joel Gibson 2pm start Everyday Vi Paulson July 22, 2022 You are such an Amazing Blessing! Love, Your Family Corn Pit • Magic Shows • Musical Performers straw tower • scavenger hunt • Monster truck Mini golf • mechanical bull • rc airshows lots of food 92937 Walluski Loop Astoria, Oregon • 503-325-4600 www.ClatsopCoFair.com
