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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2010)
The INDEPENDENT, May 6, 2010 Page 15 Power of the People By W. Marc Farmer, General Manager, West Oregon Electric Cooperative The following article is from an organization that WOEC is a member of and supports their ef- forts to support reasonable, af- fordable, and scientific ap- proaches to renewable energy, our federal based dam system, and efforts to protect salmon. As part of their work, Northwest Riv- er Partners conduct periodic polls to make sure the true opinion of the people is known and represented in the decision making processes. The results of the latest poll has just been released and we would like to share those results with you. Northwest citizens support clean renewable hydropower; staunchly oppose destroying lower Snake River dams Northwest voters understand hydroelectric power is the region’s premier source of clean, renewable ener- gy and staunchly support keeping the lower Snake River dams. “Despite an ongoing campaign by a small group of anti-dam activists, public opposition to destroying the dams is unwavering,” said Terry Flores, executive di- rector of Northwest RiverPartners. Flores noted that more than 67 percent of the re- gion’s voters – including a striking 79 percent in Idaho – support the importance of the Snake River dams to the region’s power system – a view unchanged since polling began in 2005. “Voters in the Northwest clearly value dams and their contribution to our clean renewable power sys- tem and realize the Lower Snake River dams are vi- Flores also said the public’s endorsement of the re- tal,” Flores said. gion’s clean renewable hydropower emphasizes need Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, a Portland polling firm, to move ahead with the plan to help the Northwest’s conducted a public opinion poll in March for Northwest protected salmon and steelhead which has been stuck RiverPartners, which promotes policies to protect and in court for two years. restore healthy runs of salmon and the many benefits “The plan has been developed collaboratively by provided by the Columbia and Snake Rivers and hydro federal agencies, three states, Native American tribes system. and other stakeholders and includes the best science In the poll of 700 registered voters in Oregon, for protecting fish runs,” Flores said, “Under the 2008 Washington and Idaho, hydro power is viewed as plan, hydro and fish can co-exist and prosper which clean, renewable and climate friendly with 70 percent aligns with the public’s goals.” of respondents recognizing it does not contribute to Northwest RiverPartners is an alliance of farmers, global warming. utilities, ports and business that promote the econom- “Many are aware that the hydropower system is a ic and environmental benefits of the Columbia and vital link to bringing even more renewable energy Snake Rivers and salmon recovery policies based on sources on line in the Northwest,” Flores said. sound science. “Voters continue to see hydro, wind and solar as part of a renewable team to pro- vide energy to the Northwest and hydro continues to be seen as the most practical source of energy,” said pollster Tim Hib- bitts, citing a response in which 42 percent ™ identified hydroelectric power as the most practical energy source for the region with wind power a distant second at 26 percent. “Voters continue to care about salmon as they always have, but in these tough economic times, they are also very sensi- The name you tive to increased energy costs,” Hibbitts trust for: said. Nearly 70 percent of respondents say • Gasoline they would be concerned – 34 percent would be very concerned – if their electric- • Diesel Fuel ity rates increased five percent every cou- • Oils • Solvents ple of years solely to improve salmon runs. More than half were concerned or very • Additives • Greases concerned with even a 2.5 percent in- crease in their power bills. Run with Extra Confidence with Chevron DELO 400 PLUS MOTOR OIL Commissioners honor RSVP volunteers Volunteers from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) who serve at the Co- lumbia County Courthouse in various departments, were honored at the April 28 meeting of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. The Board noted that there had been a to- tal of 1,871 hours of volunteer service in the past year, that provided the county with $39,010 in savings. Visitors to the Courthouse are greeted by RSVP Volun- teers who assist them in finding the various departments. Site Supervisor Sally Norbom re- cruits, trains and schedules the volunteers. “The volunteers provide guidance and assist people when they don’t know where to go to complete county business”, Norbom said. “We get a lot of satisfaction from helping people, so the benefits of the RSVP program go both ways.” Other volunteers who are in- dispensible in helping the coun- ty are Linda Gaskill and Andrew Myers, both of whom volunteer in the District Attorney’s office. Gaskill has been working with the Victims Assistance Pro- gram since 2000 and is current- ly working with the Multi-Disci- plinary Team, giving an aver- age of 20 hours per week to the program. Her work helps keep vulnerable children from slip- ping through bureaucratic cracks. Myers volunteers as a Deputy District Attorney and has a long history of volunteer- ing that includes teaching, working with immigrant victims of domestic abuse, Legal Aid Services of Oregon and re- building neighborhoods. He be- gan in March and is putting his skills to good use while he searches for a permanent posi- tion. Myers assists with the misdemeanor caseload and justice court cases. Gina Harrington and Paul- ette Lichatowich, who are Com- munity Meal site volunteers, were also honored by the Board. Harrington and Licha- towich serve at the Community Meal site in the First Lutheran Parish Hall at 4th and Wyeth Streets in St. Helens, providing free meals to the community. The Community Meals pro- gram, a member of the Colum- bia Pacific Food Bank, oper- ates as a benevolent kitchen, and is the only program of its kind in Columbia County. The program serves a warm health free meal to an average of 90 guests per evening every Tues- day and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Board of County Com- missioners expressed appreci- ation to all of these volunteers. For additional information on how you can get involved in volunteer programs, contact Jan Kenna, Director of Children and Family Services at 503- 397-7211. See picture on page 9. S EE US FOR H EATING O IL D ECK & S HINGLE O IL A NTI F REEZE CALL (503) 429-6606 WILCOX & FLEGEL 720 Rose Avenue • Vernonia