Governor Kate Brown Signs Clean Fuels Bill

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Annie Ellison, GoLocalPDX Reporter

On an unseasonably warm day, a controversial piece of environmental legislation that aims to reduce the amount of carbon in fuels was signed into law by Governor Kate Brown Thursday.

The Bill, SB 324, squeaked by in the House with a 31-29 vote, followed by calls from Republican electeds for Brown to veto the legislation. Oregon joins other west coast states and provinces including British Columbia, Washington and California in passing a clean fuels standard.

Brown had previously indicated her support for the clean fuels program, which would require importers of fuel to reduce the "carbon content" of their fuels by 10 percent by the year 2025.

“I strongly support SB 324’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Brown said in a statement issued Thursday. "It is difficult to deny that we are seeing the effects of a warming planet."

Brown wrote that the drought Oregon is experiencing has hit rural Oregonians the hardest. However, representatives from rural Oregon have spoken out about the challenges an increase in gas prices would cause for Oregonians living outside urban centers.

The bill drew further scrutiny with the resignation of John Kitzhaber, over allegations of influence-peddling by his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, who worked as an environmental consultant for groups that sought to influence the government, while holding the position of First Lady in the governor's office. Whether Hayes had any direct influence on the bill is unclear, although some state legislators argued the allegations against her were cause to put the bill on hold.

SB 324 made it through the House after more than five hours of debate.

“I appreciate the years of work by countless Oregonians who helped develop this law, and I applaud the Oregon Legislature for its thorough examination of these issues," Brown said. "The work begins now to ensure this program is well implemented and well managed.”

Governor Kate Brown Signs Clean Fuels Bill

Related Slideshow: 20 Oregon Facilities With The Most EPA Fines

#20

Jasper Wood Products LLC, Jasper

#19

RSC Dairy LLC, Tillamook

#18

Oak Lodge Sanitary District, Milwaukie

#17

Forrest Paint Co., Eugene

#16

East Side Plating Inc. Plants, Portland

#15

Darigold, Portland

#14

Owens-Brockway Glass, Portland

#13

Oregon Door Inc., Dillard

#12

Export Global Metals, Hillsboro

#11

Crop Production Services, Tangent

#10

Kanto Corporation, Portland

#9

Cascade Plating & Machine, Eugene

#8

Gunderson Inc., Portland

#7

U.S. Army Umatillla Chemical Depot, Hermiston

#6

RSG Forest Products, Molalla

#5

Johnson Crushers International, Eugene

#4

Jeld-Wen, Klamath Falls

#3

Ash Grove Cement Co., Durkee

#2

TDY Industries Inc., Albany

#1

ATI Allvac Albany Operations, Albany

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