Page 4
The INDEPENDENT, April 4, 2012
Merkley jobs bill will create jobs and lower bills in small towns
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ore-
gon Senator Jeff Merkley and
Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)
introduced legislation, March
30, to create jobs and lower en-
ergy bills for families and small
businesses in rural communi-
ties by promoting energy-sav-
ing home renovations. The
Rural Energy Savings Program
would assist rural electric co-
ops in offering low-interest
loans to their customers, which
families and businesses can
repay through savings on their
monthly energy bills. Oregon
has 18 electric co-ops serving
communities across the state.
“This is a common sense,
bipartisan bill,” Merkley said.
Charging stations have now opened on I-5 corridor
From page 1
many new models coming to
market in 2012,” said Art
James, senior project execu-
tive with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation. “We
wanted to develop state-of-the-
art charging infrastructure to
support them, and AeroViron-
ment has helped us provide
Oregon EV owners the ability
to travel from community to
community”
Spaced at roughly 25 miles
apart along the southern Ore-
gon I-5, AeroVironment EV in-
stalled the charging stations at
convenient locations in Cottage
Grove, Rice Hill, Roseburg,
Canyonville,
Wolf
Creek,
Grants Pass, Central Point,
and Ashland. Each location has
two charging stations including
one DC “fast” charger. Plans
call for more than 40 additional
charging stations from AeroVi-
ronment to be operational in
Oregon and Washington by the
end of the year.
“With the price of gas in-
creasing, Oregon wants to pro-
vide more transportation alter-
natives,” said Oregon Depart-
ment of Energy Director Bob
Repine. “It’s important that
Oregonians have clean trans-
portation options.”
Electric vehicle drivers will
be able to activate access to
the charging stations by sign-
ing up for the AV Charging Net-
work at evsolutions.com/avnet-
work or by calling toll-free at
888-833-2148. Once enrolled,
EV drivers will receive an AV
Network key fob that will allow
access to all AeroVironment
chargers along the West Coast
Electric Highway. AeroViron-
ment is also providing free
charging for a limited time, giv-
ing EV drivers freedom and
convenience on the open road.
“Oregon has firmly estab-
lished itself as a leader in the
clean transportation move-
ment,” said Wahid Nawabi,
AeroVironment senior vice
president and general manager
of its Efficient Energy Systems
business segment. “Together,
AeroVironment, the Oregon
Department of Transportation
and the Oregon Department of
Energy are delivering on the
promise of transportation that
promotes energy independ-
ence and frees drivers from
fluctuating gas prices.”
“Energy-saving renovations
create essential construction
jobs and lower energy costs for
consumers. We can get people
back to work and put more
money in homeowners’ pock-
ets, and if that’s not common
sense, I don’t know what is.”
“Oregon’s electric coopera-
tives have an excellent record
on energy efficiency and Sena-
tor Merkley’s proposal is a
good option for our consumers.
We appreciate his leadership,”
said Ted Case, Executive Di-
rector of the Oregon Rural
Electric Cooperative Associa-
tion. ORECA represents 18
Oregon co-ops, serving over
200,000 members.
To borrow money to fund lo-
cal energy-efficiency programs,
individual co-ops or state-
based groups of co-ops will ap-
ply to the Rural Utilities Service
(RUS) within the U.S. Depart-
See Jobs on page 5
Community Calendar
VERNONIA
Alcoholics Anonymous
Mondays
6:30 p.m., 410 North Street
Alcoholics Anonymous
Thursdays (Big Book Study) 7:00 p.m., 410 North Street
American Legion Post #119
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., 627 Adams Avenue
Booster Club
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., VHS Library
Boy Scout Troop 201
Tuesdays
7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin
Boy Scout Troop 860
Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., LDS Church
Cemetery Beautification Comm.
2nd Thursday
6:30 p.m., Library
CERT
4th Wednesday
For Info Call 503-429-3018
Chamber of Commerce
2nd Wednesday
For Info Call 503-429-6081
Community Coalition
2nd Monday
12:30 p.m. School District Ofc.
Cub Scout Pack 201
Scout Cabin
For Info Call 503-429-4250
Emerg. Preparedness Comm.
4th Wednesday
6:30 p.m., WOEC
Friends of the Library
1st Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library
Girl Scouts, Neighborhood 4-2
For Info Call 503-819-0143
Izaak Walton League
3rd Thursday
For location call 503-429-7193
Kiwanis Club
2nd & 4th Tuesdays
6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong
Lions Club
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong
Municipal Airport Committee
1t Wednesday
6:30 p.m., City Hall
Pioneer Museum
For Info Call 503-429-3713
Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-0869 7:00 p.m.,Vernonia Grange
Public Works Committee
4th Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Cares Directors
For Info call 503-429-1414
Vernonia City Council
1st & 3rd Mondays
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Community PTA
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., WGS Library
Vernonia Garden Club
2nd Tuesday
1:30 p.m., Vernonia Library
Vernonia Grange
3rd Monday
7:00 p.m., Grange Hall
Vernonia Health Center
3rd Thursday
6:30 p.m., 510 Bridge St.
Vernonia Comm. Learning Center 1st Wednesday
5:00 p.m., VCLC
Vernonia Parks Committee
3rd Wednesday
6:30 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Planning Comm.
1st & 3rd Thursdays
6:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Ridge Riders
Last Thursday
7:00 p.m., Senior Center
Vernonia RFPD Board
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia School Board
2nd Thursday
6:00 p.m., District Office
Vernonia Sr. Center Board
2nd Friday
10:00 a.m., Senior Center
Vernonia Transfer Station
2nd & 4th Saturdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Behind VHS
Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters
2nd Monday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
WOEC Directors
3rd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., WOEC
MIST-BIRKENFELD
M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg.
2nd Tuesday
M-BRFPD Board Workshop
4th Tuesday
M-B Ambulance Drill
1st & 2nd Thursdays
M-B Fire Drill
1st & 2nd Wednesdays
M-B Helping Circle
2nd Monday
M-B SAR Drill
3rd Wednesday
M-B Volunteer Assoc.
1st Tuesday
Natal Grange
2nd Wednesday
T.O.P.S.
Mondays
BANKS
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
American Legion Post #90
Banks City Council
Banks Fire District #13
Banks Library Commission
Banks Planning Commission
Banks School Board
Banks Youth Group
Chamber of Commerce
CPO 14
Everybody’s Hometown Band
Friends of the Library
Lions Club
Sunset Park Assoc.
T.O.P.S.
Friday
Wednesday
2nd Tuesday
2nd Tuesday
2nd Wednesday
3rd Tuesday
Last Tuesday
2nd Monday
Sunday, Wednesday
1st Thursday
3rd Monday
Tuesdays
2nd Tuesday
1st & 3rd Mondays
3rd Wednesday
Wednesday
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall
9:00 a.m., Main Fire Station
7:30 p.m., Methodist Church
7:30 p.m., Methodist Church
7:00 p.m., Main Street Post
7:30 p.m., City Hall
7:00 p.m., Station 13
7:00 p.m., City Library
7:00 p.m., City Hall
7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library
7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg.
12:30 p.m., Fire District Office
7:00 p.m., City Library
7:00 p.m., BHS Music Room
7:00 p.m., City Library
7:00 p.m., Brown Derby
8:00 p.m., Gun Club
7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg.
COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.)
Board of Commissioners
Wednesday
10:00 a.m., Courthouse
Citizens for Senior Justice
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church
Columbia 9-1-1 Board
3rd Thursday
9:00 a.m., 9-1-1 meeting room
Columbia Comm Mental Health
1st Tuesday
5”30 p.m., 58646 McNulty Way
Columbia Soil & Water District
3rd Wednesday
7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes
County Fair Board
2nd Monday
6:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg.
County Parks Commission
2nd Thursday
4:00 p.m., 1054 Oregon St.
Mental Health Advisory Comm.
Quarterly
For Info call 503-397-7211
Comm. on Children & Families
3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 505 N. Hwy. 30
Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm.
Quarterly
For Info call 503-397-7211
Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410 or by mail to The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.