Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2016)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A PUC recommends more taxpayer-funded solar incentives tax credit, according to the report. A joint interim legislative committee is currently conducting a review of the Oregon Department of Energy, which has faced intense scrutiny in the wake of the trou- bled Business Energy Tax Credit program. That program ended in 2014. In light of the Department of Energy review, the PUC did not offer speciic recommendations on what form taxpayer incentives should take, but that the Legislature should study continuing an exemption on property taxes for people who have their own solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays. An array or other renewable energy system can increase a home’s value, but since 2011, the state has allowed property tax assessments to leave out any increase in property value resulting from the installation of a solar PV system. Currently that exemption is scheduled to run out in 2018. The commission also recom- mended legislators look at creating taxpayer-supported programs that incentivize residential and small commercial solar developments. The second recommendation in the PUC’s report is tied into another piece of legislation that laid out requirements for how much of the state’s energy should come from small-scale solar energy projects. That legislation, Oregon SB 1547, also known as the coal-to- clean bill, required electric compa- nies credit owners or subscribers to so-called community solar projects in such a way that relects the value that solar energy provides the electricity grid, a concept called “resource value.” The PUC is in the process of determining that value. After that, the PUC plans to evaluate what the beneits and costs of using that resource value-driven methodology would be, according to the report. Finally, the PUC also recom- mended that the Energy Trust of Oregon, which administers a solar electricity program paid for by a portion of public purpose charges on Portland General Electric and Paciicorp bills, should modify its use of those funds to support high- value projects that provide “unique beneits” to the utility system. An example of a unique beneit would be a project that improves reliability, according to the report. By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Capital Bureau SALEM — The state’s public utility commission has recom- mended the Legislature consider adopting taxpayer-funded incentive programs for solar energy projects. The PUC spent the past few months evaluating and gathering input on the state’s solar incentive programs, and voted Tuesday to pass along the substance of its recommendations to the Legislature. The state already has several taxpayer-funded programs intended to encourage the development of solar energy projects. Some of those incentives are scheduled to sunset soon. Another handful of ratepay- er-funded programs are paid for only by customers of speciic utilities. The report states that if the Legislature “wants to capture the full social and economic devel- opment beneits” of systems that convert solar energy into electricity, that taxpayer-funded incentives — programs that all Oregonians, regardless of utility provider, pay for and reap the beneits of — are the way to go. The PUC released two prelimi- nary drafts of the report — required by legislation in 2015 — earlier this year. Solar companies had objected to the PUC’s initial description in an early draft of the solar energy landscape in Oregon as “robust.” Jeff Bissonnette, the executive director of the Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association, said in public comments Tuesday the inal draft was an improvement from initial drafts. He said that solar energy was still an emerging industry and that he hoped the demand for solar energy in Oregon would remain stable. He added that his group was preparing an Oregon-speciic solar business plan to evaluate the future potential of solar energy. The commission noted in its inal report that it’s dificult to calculate the beneits and costs of each incen- tive program designed to encourage solar energy development, as projects or individual customers are often eligible for more than one incentive program. Oregonians who beneit from any of the state’s incentives can still receive a federal solar investment TRIAL: Closing arguments for other defendants on Wednesday The exception was Bundy, who backed his chair away from the defense table, swiveled to the left and looked at Knight and the jury for two hours. Bundy’s attorney, Marcus Mumford, followed Knight, delivering a four-hour argument that included civics-related quotes from former president Woodrow Wilson, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart and other igures from the past. Mumford said Bundy and his fellow occupiers made a peaceful stand — but a determined one — against what they saw as federal government overreach in the pros- ecution of Harney County ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond. “The problem wasn’t with the employees,” Mumford said. “It was with their employer, the federal government. It won’t respect its limits.” Mumford reiterated many points that Bundy made when he testiied for three days earlier this month, including that the presence To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to www.eastoregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ East Oregonian (USPS 164-980) is published daily except Sunday, Monday and Dec. 25, by the EO Media Group, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, OR. Postmaster: send address changes to East Oregonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. EUGENE (AP) — Marijuana dispensaries have sold more than $160 million worth of recreational marijuana so far in 2016. The Register-Guard reports that according to sales tax igures released Monday by the state Department of Revenue, more than $160 million worth of pot was sold in the irst nine months of the year, bringing in $40.2 million in sales tax payments. State-regulated medical marijuana dispensaries charge a 25 percent sales tax to customers for recreational marijuana products. The igures come weeks after the Oregon Liquor Control Commission licensed the irst retailers in its recreational marijuana program. Those retailers charge a 17 percent state sales tax for all recreational marijuana products. Medical dispensaries must become licensed with the OLCC if they want to continue to sell recreational pot in 2017. Sunshine mixing with clouds Mostly cloudy with showers 63° 50° 67° 50° Partly sunny SATURDAY Intervals of clouds and sunshine 61° 46° More clouds than sun 62° 44° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 65° 50° 69° 51° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 56° 63° 85° (1940) 44° 39° 20° (1917) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date 0.04" 1.22" 0.59" 9.29" 5.89" 9.57" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 61° 64° 85° (1940) 40° 38° 23° (1976) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Trace 0.90" 0.33" 6.34" 3.71" 6.92" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today Last New Oct 22 Oct 30 7:17 a.m. 6:02 p.m. 9:12 p.m. 11:22 a.m. First Full Nov 7 64° 45° 65° 40° Seattle 58/51 ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records 64° 44° Nov 14 BEND (AP) — Wildlife groups are offering $20,000 for information about a female wolf found dead in Oregon. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service described the wolf’s death as an illegal killing of an animal from an endangered species. The agency is offering $5,000 for information. The Center for Biological Diversity is also offering $10,000 for information. The Humane Society of the United States is offering another $5,000. The 3-year-old gray wolf known as OR 28 was originally from the Mount Emily pack and was part of the newly forming Silver Lake pack. She gave birth to a pup earlier this year. Her body was found in northwest Lake County. USFWS would not reveal how the wolf died or other details. The agency is performing a necropsy on OR 28. RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — Some workers at a Hanford Nuclear Reservation tank farm have had their skin contaminated with low levels of radioactive waste. The incident occurred Tuesday morning. The Tri-City Herald reports the workers were in a pit at the AX Tank Farm when contamination was detected in the pit. They backed out of the area, but a survey found low levels of radioactive contamination on their skin. Equipment is being installed in the AX Tank Farm to allow waste to be emptied from leak-prone, underground nuclear waste storage tanks. Hanford for decades made plutonium for nuclear weapons and now is cleaning up a vast quantity of radioactive waste from that work. REGIONAL CITIES Today SUNDAY PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 60° 45° Some workers at Hanford exposed to radioactive waste Spokane Wenatchee 54/44 57/45 Tacoma Moses 58/50 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 59/47 55/45 54/51 56/50 59/46 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 56/52 62/51 Lewiston 65/51 Astoria 60/47 59/54 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 58/53 Pendleton 54/40 The Dalles 65/50 63/50 61/49 La Grande Salem 59/45 58/53 Albany Corvallis 58/52 58/52 John Day 59/46 Ontario Eugene Bend 61/37 59/52 60/46 Caldwell Burns 60/41 55/29 Astoria Baker City Bend Brookings Burns Enterprise Eugene Heppner Hermiston John Day Klamath Falls La Grande Meacham Medford Newport North Bend Ontario Pasco Pendleton Portland Redmond Salem Spokane Ukiah Vancouver Walla Walla Yakima Hi 59 55 60 62 55 54 59 62 65 59 60 59 56 66 57 63 61 63 63 58 61 58 54 58 57 62 59 Lo 54 38 46 52 29 40 52 48 50 46 30 45 44 45 53 56 37 47 50 53 42 53 44 43 53 51 46 W r pc pc pc pc pc r pc pc pc pc pc pc pc r c pc pc pc r pc r pc pc r pc pc Hi 63 55 64 63 62 55 63 65 69 65 65 59 57 71 59 64 63 66 67 63 66 63 53 61 64 62 63 Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Lo 53 77 58 46 50 32 44 60 54 58 65 W pc sh pc pc pc c pc pc s s pc Lo 48 34 46 53 30 40 51 47 51 44 33 44 43 50 50 53 39 46 50 49 42 50 43 43 50 50 40 W sh c sh pc pc sh r sh sh c pc sh sh pc sh r pc sh sh r sh r r sh r sh c Lo 49 78 59 45 54 31 44 56 56 60 60 W r pc s pc pc sf sh pc s sh pc WINDS Medford 66/45 Klamath Falls 60/30 (in mph) Today Thursday Boardman Pendleton ENE 3-6 SSE 4-8 SW 7-14 SSW 8-16 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: A shower in central parts today; rain across the north. Partly sunny in the south. Eastern and Central Oregon: Periods of clouds and sunshine today; warmer in central parts. Western Washington: Periods of rain today; any time at the coast, in the afternoon elsewhere. Eastern Washington: Partly sunny today. 0 1 2 2 1 0 8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m. Cascades: Some sunshine giving way to clouds today; warmer. Northern California: Mostly sunny today. Pleasant and warmer in central parts; pleas- ant at the coast. COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Manager: Mike Jensen 541-215-0824 • mjensen@eastoregonian.com Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. Thu. Hi 57 88 75 58 75 38 57 71 77 72 76 NEWS • To submit news tips and press releases: • call 541-966-0818 • fax 541-276-8314 • email news@eastoregonian.com • To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: email community@eastoregonian.com or call Tammy Malgesini at 541-564-4539 or Renee Struthers in at 541-966-0818. • To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: email rstruthers@eastoregonian.com or visit www.eastoregonian. com/community/announcements • To submit a Letter to the Editor: mail to Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com. • To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: 541-966-0838 • sports@eastoregonian.com NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Thu. WORLD CITIES Hi 73 85 75 58 76 39 58 70 74 72 73 Classiied & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classiieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com Advertising Director: Marissa Williams 541-278-2669 • addirector@eastoregonian.com Advertising Services: Laura Jensen 541-966-0806 • ljensen@eastoregonian.com Multimedia Consultants: • Terri Briggs 541-278-2678 • tbriggs@eastoregonian.com • Amanda Jacobs 541-278-2683 • ajacobs@eastoregonian.com • Jeanne Jewett 541-564-4531 • jjewett@eastoregonian.com • Chris McClellan 541-966-0827 • cmcclellan@eastoregonian.com • Stephanie Newsom 541-278-2687 • snewsom@eastoregonian.com • Dayle Stinson 541-278-2670 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com • Audra Workman 541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com Single copy price: $1 Tuesday through Friday, $1.50 Saturday FRIDAY Wildlife groups offer $20K for information on wolf’s death Corrections Forecast THURSDAY “Is it a conspiracy to clean up rat poop?” Mumford asked. “Or it is responsible.” Knight said in his argument that the plan to stake a claim through adverse possession proves there was a conspiracy. The prosecutor said the conspiracy started two months before the armed takeover, when Bundy and another out-of-state activist met with Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward and vowed there would be civil unrest if the sheriff didn’t protect the Hammonds from returning to prison. Lawyers for the other six defendants will present their closing arguments Wednesday. One defendant, Ammon Bundy’s older brother Ryan, is acting as his own attorney. He plans to address the jury for an hour. The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. Copyright © 2016, EO Media Group TODAY of irearms ensured the protest wouldn’t be immediately stormed by armed federal agents. The lawyer said the plan was to take ownership of the refuge by adverse possession, occupying it for years and then turning it over to local oficials. Mumford said Bundy expected government oficials to dispute the claim, and that would force them to prove in court they have proper title to the land. As part of that effort, Mumford said, the protesters made improve- ments to the refuge and didn’t trash the place as the government claims. He displayed a photo of an occupier with a broom, suppos- edly sweeping up rat feces that government workers had allowed to build over time. Recreational pot sales reach $160M in 2016 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Local home delivery Savings off cover price EZPay $14.50 41 percent 52 weeks $173.67 41 percent 26 weeks $91.86 38 percent 13 weeks $47.77 36 percent *EZ Pay = one-year rate with a monthly credit or debit card/check charge www.eastoregonian.com — Marcus Mumford, Ammon Bundy’s attorney BRIEFLY Didn’t receive your paper? Call 1-800-522-0255 before noon Tuesday through Friday or before 10 a.m. Saturday for same-day redelivery 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 Ofice hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed major holidays “The problem wasn’t with the employees. It was with their employer, the federal government. It won’t respect its limits.” Continued from 1A Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — Wednesday, October 19, 2016 0-2, Low 3-5, Moderate 6-7, High; 8-10, Very High; 11+, Extreme The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ num- ber, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016 -10s -0s showers t-storms 0s 10s rain 20s flurries 30s 40s snow ice 50s 60s cold front 70s 80s 90s 100s warm front stationary front 110s high low National Summary: Record warmth will continue in the East today. Rain and storms will expand across the mid-Mississippi and Ohio valleys. Hot Santa Ana winds will elevate the fire threat in Southern California. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 100° in McAllen, Texas Low 8° in Big Piney, Wyo. NATIONAL CITIES Today Albuquerque Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Billings Birmingham Boise Boston Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit El Paso Fairbanks Fargo Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Kansas City Las Vegas Little Rock Los Angeles Hi 74 89 78 82 55 90 59 77 86 82 69 71 89 58 71 86 31 52 86 91 73 84 69 82 88 94 Lo 44 67 63 61 35 67 43 55 63 62 51 55 64 30 52 56 13 31 75 72 54 63 48 59 63 64 W s s pc pc pc pc s pc s pc pc c pc pc pc s s pc sh pc t s pc s pc s Thur. Hi 68 87 73 77 60 87 65 61 85 82 58 65 75 63 59 74 25 49 85 85 59 84 62 82 74 99 Lo 43 58 63 61 43 53 44 55 64 52 41 49 53 37 45 49 12 34 74 59 46 63 39 60 48 65 W s pc pc pc pc pc pc sh pc c sh r pc s r s c pc pc t r pc s s c s Today Louisville Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York City Oklahoma City Omaha Philadelphia Phoenix Portland, ME Providence Raleigh Rapid City Reno Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco Seattle Tucson Washington, DC Wichita Hi 83 90 87 67 60 90 90 82 80 67 86 93 75 80 86 55 62 76 72 57 86 72 58 91 84 74 Lo 68 66 74 49 37 68 74 59 54 46 61 65 45 53 64 30 35 47 57 36 63 55 51 60 68 48 W pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc c pc s pc pc s sh s s t pc s s r s pc pc Thur. Hi 71 75 86 57 50 77 89 69 70 59 77 97 60 68 84 61 70 79 64 62 91 74 61 93 80 67 Lo 51 50 71 41 35 49 66 62 45 39 62 71 49 56 61 34 40 50 45 43 64 56 48 63 63 42 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W t sh pc pc pc t pc sh s s c s c c s s s s pc s s s sh s pc s
