Sustainability - - A Focus On Carbon

In a word, No. Governor Kate Brown did sign the The Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Plan (“the Plan”). While news reports heralded it as the first of its kind in the nation, those reports were wrong. For example, Oregon Public Radio (OPB) ran a story with a narrative that reflected the environmental community’s pitch. OPB’s report noted that the Plan “... put an expiration date of 2025 on all coal-fired power coming into the state and. . . require[s] utilities to replace electricity from coal with power that is 90% cleaner.” Other examples include the following headlines: “Oregon Passes Historic Bill to Phase Out Coal and Double Down on Renewables (NRDC)”; “Oregon Set To Become First Coal-Free State (Huffington Post”); “Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed one of the nation’s most aggressive pieces of pro-climate legislation into state law Friday (U.S. News and World Report)”; and “How Oregon plans to quit coal (CS Monitor).” PAC’s press release correctly stated its first key ...

Coal is a major source of carbon emissions.  According to the Energy Information Agency (EIA), coal has a higher carbon content than other fossil fues typically employed to generate electricity. Pounds of CO2 emitted per million British thermal units (Btu) of energy for various fuels: Coal (anthracite) 228.6; Coal (bituminous) 205.7\; Coal (lignite) 215.4 Coal (subbituminous) 214.3; Diesel fuel and heating oil 161.3; Propane 139.0; Natural gas 117.0 See : https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=73&t=11 How much carbon is burned per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity depends on the efficiency of the electric generator, called the heat rate, measured in but/kWh.

Image courtesy of Portland ClipArt Festival The City of Portland and Multnomah County will soon jointly adtop a resolution to use 100% renewables by 2050.  A draft of that Resolution l apply to both city and county facilities and operations.  A version of the motion did appear on the City Council Agenda for thursday, April, 27th, but was removed prior to the Council meeting. In light of the limits on City authority, what the City can control is the use of carbon emitting fuels in CIty operations - trucks, cars, mowers and other gardening tools, any fossil fuel based generators under control of the City. Beyond the CIty's limited range of authority, the only tool available is promotion, promoting, and encouraging homeowners, landlords and business owners to shift out of the use of fossil fuels. Here is something you can do: As you go about your day examine what items you use that 1. Require fossil fuels to manufacture; 2. Contain fossil fuels; 3. Require fossil fue...