Oregon
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In partnership with
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CONTACT
Barbara Byrd
Secretary-Treasurer
Oregon AFL-CIO
Phone: (503) 585-6320
Barbara(at)oraflcio.org
2110 State St.
Salem, OR 97301
Important and exciting meeting of the Oregon Apollo Alliance on Tuesday, February 24, 2009.
The Oregon Apollo Alliance rolled out its 2009 legislative agenda at a meeting Tuesday night, February 24, 2009 that was attended by over 70 enthusiastic members and their friends. The highlight of the meeting was the presence of Jerome Ringo, whose inspiring message of the urgency as well as the opportunities of the Economic Recovery and Investment Act stirred a lively discussion. President Ringo gave us a great orientation to the clean energy and good jobs opportunities in the stimulus package. He brought it home by talking about the plight of his home state of Louisiana and by urging us to include a more diverse cross section of our community.
The legislative agenda includes support for a number of energy efficiency bills that are currently being heard by the Oregon legislature. It also includes support for modifications to the state’s generous Business Energy Tax Credit, to make it more transparent and to assure that it delivers both clean energy AND good jobs. In addition, the Steering Committee announced a consensus on Oregon’s controversial Cap and Trade bill, emphasizing that support would not be given until the bill is modified to protect incumbent workers and low-income consumers.
MISSION
Members of the Oregon Apollo Alliance are working together for quality jobs and a clean and secure energy future for Oregon. We have pledged to build a strong coalition rooted in our joint goals, and to build a consensus around policy issues at the state and local level. Our vision for the state is that it will be a leader in encouraging clean and renewable energy, in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and in creating and maintaining green jobs that pay a family wage and provide training and benefits to our citizens.
OREGON POLICY LANDSCAPE
Oregon is a leader in environmental policy. Long known for being the first state in the U.S. with a bottle return bill, today Oregon has a strong Renewable Energy Standard that encourages the development of its abundant renewable energy resources. Recent legislative sessions have focused on energy efficient building practices, energy-saving appliances, and other energy conservation methods. And as a sign of its environmental consciousness, the Portland metro area leads the nation in per-capita ownership of energy-saving hybrid cars.
But in spite of these green initiatives, much work remains to be done to assure that green jobs advocates “walk the talk” of economic sustainability. Oregon Apollo is committed to assuring that “green jobs” are high-quality jobs with family-supporting wages, fair benefits, and career pathways. In the current debate over how to deal with the climate crisis, we work for measures that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions; grow our state’s manufacturing sector; prevent existing jobs from leaving the state; protect workers who may be dislocated in the transition away from fossil fuel reliance; and protect low-income electricity users. We support quality training for workers in clean energy occupations, especially registered union apprenticeship programs. And we advocate for “pathways out of poverty” and into green jobs for low-income Oregonians.
PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The Oregon Apollo Alliance was founded in 2006. During the 2007 legislative session we advocated successfully for the Renewable Energy Standard, the Renewable Fuel Standard, and enhanced tax credits for business and residents. In the 2008 session, we helped to pass the “Apollo bill,” which requires a reduction in energy usage in state buildings of 20% by 2015.
The Oregon Apollo Alliance participated in full force in the Green Jobs Now Day of Action on September 27, 2008.
The New Apollo Program participants and attendees braved rain and cold to rollout the policy agenda at a McKinstry facility in October 2008.
WHAT’S IN THE WORKS
The Oregon Apollo Alliance rolled out its 2009 legislative agenda at a meeting Tuesday night, Feb. 24, 2009. The legislative agenda includes: support for a number of energy efficiency bills and support for modifications to the state’s generous Business Energy Tax Credit to make it more transparent and assure clean energy AND good jobs.
We’re attempting to build a labor-business-environmental-low income community consensus around pending climate change legislation. This legislation will be a major focus of the 2009 legislative session in Oregon, and we intend to present a solid, coherent position on this important issue.
In the future, we hope to broaden our current focus on state policy issues to encompass work at the local level. In particular, a number of partners are interested in developing a “good jobs/green jobs” pilot project in the Portland metro area, and meetings have begun to explore the opportunities.
STEERING COMMITEE MEMBERS
Jeff Bissonnette, Citizens Utility Board of Oregon and Fair and Clean Energy Coalition
Dan Campbell, IBEW Local #280
Tom Chamberlain, President, Oregon AFL-CIO
Cameron Hamilton, McKinstry Essention, Inc.
Leslie Kochan, AFSCME #3336 and Portland Jobs with Justice
Mike Leachman, Oregon Center for Public Policy
Sallie Schullinger-Krause, Oregon Environmental Council
Bob Shiprack, President, Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council
Frank Wall, Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association
PARTNERS
Environment/Consumer Advocates
Citizens Utility Board
Environment Oregon
Fair and Clean Energy Coalition
Oregon Environmental Council
Renewable Northwest Project
Business
EC Company
McKinstry Essention, Inc.
Pacific Ethanol
Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association
Labor
AFSCME Council #75
AFSCME Local #88
AFSCME Local #328
AFSCME Local 3336
IBEW Local #280
Lane County Central Labor Council – (503) 915-3100
Oregon AFL-CIO
Oregon State Building & Construction Trades Council
National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 82 – (503) 493-5903
Community
Labor Education and Research Center, University of Oregon
National Policy Consensus Center, Portland State University
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.
Oregon Center For Public Policy
HOW YOU CAN HELP
For information about upcoming meetings, e-mail Barbara(at)oraflcio.org or call (503) 585-6320.
