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Renewable energy big issue in
Legislature for Central Oregon
At a legislative teleconference
call this morning with the Bend
Chamber and other groups, state
Rep. Chuck Burley (R-Bend)
talked about his efforts to
further renewable energy
projects in Central Oregon. The
area is one of the most
promising in the state for
renewable energy, with assets
such as ample sun for solar,
forest waste for a biomass
plant, and geothermal potential
in the Newberry Crater area.
Burley has introduced a bill,
HB2296, that would establish and
maintain a renewable energy
research center at Oregon State
University Cascades Campus in
Bend. Among other tasks, the
center would analyze the major
renewable energy issues facing
Oregon and educate the public
and private sectors about the
need to address such issues.
Burley said he and other
legislators plan to introduce “a
whole package of bills” on
renewable energy issues. The
teleconferences, which involve
our local legislators, will be
held regularly at the Bend-La
Pine Schools Administrative
Center. If you have any
questions about particular
legislation, e-mail me at
jeff@bendchamber.org and
we’ll bring up your question.
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They’ve been working on the
railroad
Another topic that came up in
the legislative call-in was a
variety of concerns involving
the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe
(BNSF) freight railroad line
through Central Oregon. At-grade
crossings throughout the area,
including the 11 in the Bend
area, are becoming an increasing
safety and traffic flow issue.
In addition, as BNSF’s business
continues to expand, more trains
will be using the tracks.
Finally, a representative from
the city of Prineville Railway
told legislators that BNSF is
focusing on the lucrative
business of transporting goods
between large cities and is not
taking on new business in rural
areas like Central Oregon. That
makes it difficult for local
businesses that depend on moving
loads by rail, or such
businesses that want to locate
here. Since railroads are
federally regulated, there’s
little that local or state
governments can do about these
issues. Bend City Councilor
Chris Telfer has asked state
officials to examine the
feasibility and costs of
relocating the railroad tracks
out of Bend’s center to east of
town.
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Program changes for Legislative
Council Breakfast
The February 9 program for the
Chamber’s Legislative Council
Breakfast has changed. It now
will feature Bend-La Pine
Schools Superintendent Doug
Nelson, who will talk about the
statewide Chalkboard Project and
proposed legislation the group
plans to introduce at the Oregon
Legislature to improve K-12
education in the state. The
March 9 breakfast speaker is
scheduled to be Rep. Burley, who
will update the group on what’s
happening in Salem. In April,
we’ll have city representatives
discuss the city’s proposed plan
to form a transit district.
May’s speaker will be Juniper
Ridge master developer Ray
Kurotek, who will talk about the
master plan being developed.
Join us for any of these
sessions, held at 7 a.m. the 2nd
Friday of each month at Bend
Golf & Country Club. For
reservations, contact Lindi at
the Chamber, 382-3221.
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Most businesses oppose mandatory
health insurance
Last week’s survey question was, “Should Oregon require
businesses to provide employees
with health insurance?” Most
respondents said “no,” but the
opinion wasn’t unanimous. Some
replies:
“Adequate health care should be a right, not a
privilege and not the
responsibility of private
business. Health care increases
are out of control and
continually exceed the core
inflation rate. It is not
realistic for private business
to fight this battle
individually. Unfortunately, the
process will require the
government to bring in all the
players and then force everyone
to accept a solution that may
not be perfect for all the
special interests but will be
satisfactory for the majority of
society.”
“I did not consent to give the government power to make
my business decisions. I provide
my employees with health
insurance at my cost, a
retirement plan at my cost and
lots of other perks at my cost …
That’s why I choose to run my
own business instead of work for
the feds.”
“Part of the responsibility of running a business is to
provide the opportunity for
employees to obtain group health
insurance. It doesn’t have to be
free for all employees; perhaps
a sliding scale approach would
be practical. Provide free
insurance for those below a
certain income level and up to
50 percent of the premium for
employees who make top
salaries.”
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City gets grant for solar energy
project at parking garage
Speaking of renewable energy
(see first item), Pacific Power
has awarded the city of Bend a
$400,000 grant to help install a
photovoltaic (PV) solar electric
system on the roof of the Bend
Centennial Parking Plaza.
SunEnergy of Bend will install
the system, which will be the
largest PV project in the
Pacific Northwest, by the end of
this year. The project is
expected to produce enough
energy to supply about 55
percent of the annual electric
power needs of the plaza,
including the automated
electrical ice-melting system
imbedded in the concrete ramps.
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This week’s survey question
A fun question this week for
football fans: Who is going to
win the Super Bowl? Please
e-mail your answers to:
jeff@bendchamber.org.
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