OCN's 2012 Priorities for a Healthy Oregon

The historic 34-day Oregon State Legislative Session adjourned Monday, March 5. It was the first of Oregon's annual sessions. Starting this year, short legislative sessions will alternate with full legislative sessions.

The Oregon Conservation Network and conservationists throughout the state are pleased that the conservation community passed all of its priorities and was able to defeat each and every major threat. OCN was there every step of the way working to pass pro-environment legislation, holding the line on Oregon’s natural resource budget, and stopping major threats that would have rolled back our landmark environmental protections.

2012 Legislative Recap on Oregon's environment

• Read about Oregon's environmental victories.
   
• Learn more about the long list of bad bills we defeated.
   
• Read OCN's press release for a full recap on how the environment fared in the 2012 Legislative Session.

OCN's 2012 Priorities for a Healthy Oregon were unveiled at a news conference in Salem 1/19/12. Watch video of the news conference.

Preserving Oregon’s Renewable Energy Standard

Oregon’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) is critical in fighting climate change and driving the transition to our clean energy future. In addition, the RES and other renewable energy programs have attracted over $5.4 billion of renewable industry investments to Oregon, creating living-wage jobs and added opportunities in some of Oregon’s hardest hit communities. As Oregon navigates tough economic times, it is crucial that we preserve the RES as a proven way to protect our environment while encouraging economic development statewide.

Legislative contact: Margi Hoffmann, Renewable Northwest Project, 503-550-3556

Legislative contact: Jeff Bissonnette, Citizens’ Utility Board of Oregon, 503-516-1636

Press contact: Erin Greeson, Renewable Northwest Project, 503-223-2544

Marine Reserves

Oregon’s first system of marine reserves would safeguard some of the most ecologically important areas in the Greater California Current of the Pacific Ocean. Based on the work of coastal stakeholders, Oregon’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council recommended that three new marine reserve sites be designated at Cape Falcon, Cascade Head, and Cape Perpetua. The addition of these three sites to the marine reserves established in 2009 is an essential step in this decade-long process to conserving habitats and marine life for generations to come.

Legislative contact: Kristen Leonard, Our Ocean, 503-320-9427

Press contact: Susan Allen, Our Ocean, 503-477-2882

Reinvesting in Oregon’s Natural Resources

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is responsible for protecting natural resources that are critical to the state’s high quality of life and economic prosperity. The agency has recently endured a string of disproportionate cuts that has limited DEQ's effectiveness. It’s time to reinvest in Oregon’s air, water and land by restoring the DEQ budget back to healthy, functioning levels—starting with no additional cuts to the 2011- 2013 Legislatively Adopted Budget adjustments—for the future economic prosperity of our state and an environmental legacy for which we can all be proud.

Legislative contact: Andrea Salinas, Oregon Environmental Council, 971-221-2653

Press contact: Jared Ishkanian, Oregon Environmental Council, 503-222-1963 x111

OCN is coordinated by the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and powered by the tens of thousands of Oregonians who belong to OCN’s member organizations. 

Contact Meredith Shield at 503-224-4011 x208.