This article was originally published March 31 in Sustainable Business Oregon, a digital newsletter by the Portland Business Journal. Oregon is the first state in the nation to have legislatively adopted and now defended a clean fuels program.
Even more exciting – Oregon is part of a west coast block stretching from California to British Columbia representing the 5th largest economy in the world. Our Pacific Coast region is creating a dynamic clean fuels corridor to challenge big oil’s monopoly and serve as a regional model for dramatically reducing climate pollution from the transportation sector. The end of big oil’s ballot measure pursuit signifies not only good things for Oregon, but for the entire Pacific Coast regional clean fuels movement.
“The oil industry has decided not to attack the state’s Clean Fuels Standard, according to information from a nonprofit in favor of the standard.
According to information from Renew Oregon, a clean power advocate, the Oregon Fuels Association announced to its members today it would not pursue a ballot measure to repeal or reduce the impact of the program.
The effort aims to reduce carbon from cars and other vehicles.
“The oil corporations are backing down because they know voters will always choose to protect clean air over out-of-state oil industry profits,” said Thomas Wheatley, Renew Oregon’s campaign director, in a statement.
The fuels association did not immediately return calls for comment.
“We know the out-of-state oil industry will continue to spend millions of dollars to influence our laws in Oregon, so we will remain vigilant and make the people’s voice heard,” Wheatley added.
The Clean Fuels Standard mandates fuel importers lower their product’s carbon levels by 10 percent over 10 years using whatever technologies necessary, by blending low-carbon alternative fuels or investing in electric vehicles, natural gas, propane or other clean fuel systems.
The fight may be over for now, but it will likely resurface in 2017, according to The Oregonian, which has more details on the situation.”
View the story at its original link here.