Energy
The human demand for energy continues to grow. The burning of fossil fuels is an unsustainable option, both because oil reserves are rapidly dwindling (peak oil) and it impacts the catastrophe of runaway climate change. Action Items:
- Oregon will not permit any liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal or pipeline
- Oregon will not permit coal exports from any port nor permit coal transport through the state.
- Oregon will exercise its power to regulate greenhouse gas emission from cars, factories, and any other source
- In light of the March 11, 2011 earthquake near Honshu, Japan and the nuclear disaster that followed, Oregon will close the current nuclear reactors at Reed College, Oregon State University, and any other commercial or research reactor in Oregon, and Oregon will block any and all future nuclear energy research or development in the state.
- In light of countless oil spills including the May 3, 2010 Gulf Oil disaster, the Oregon coast will remain a drill-free zone.
- In light of the ongoing threat to the water supply, Oregon will ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in any natural gas exploration that may be occurring now or in the future.
In order to develop methods of using energy in an ecologically viable manner, We the People must:
- Establish carbon taxes to internalize the costs of fossil fuel use and accelerate the transition to alternative fuel sources.
- Adopt aggressive standards for automotive fuel efficiency.
- Promote mass transit and other alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles such as bicycling.
- Promote energy conservation through subsidizing LED bulbs instead of incandescent and “Compact Fluorescent” bulbs.
- Design efficient new buildings to reduce energy consumption during both construction and the life-time of the building. This includes co-generation and passive solar.
- Use and fund research into sustainable and minimally polluting alternative energies.
- Enforce environmental regulations rather than permitting pollution through the sale of credits.
