Last Wednesday, roughly 300 men and women from rural Oregon missed a day’s work to travel to the Oregon Capitol to make their voices heard. Loggers, truck drivers and their families showed up to peacefully protest pending cap and trade legislation. Since then, many have returned to Salem each day to continue the protest. These men and women are our friends, neighbors and colleagues. They are critical to our work– ensuring products get from the forest, to the mill, to the consumer–and they are concerned and, quite frankly, insulted by this bill.
Most concern about the cap and trade legislation centers around the resulting increase in fuel prices and the overall cost of doing business in Oregon – a situation many fear will drive manufacturers and supporting businesses to relocate to other states or shutter entirely. Supporters claim this bill targets the 100 largest polluters in Oregon, but the subsequent increase in energy costs will be passed down to the rural family-owned small businesses that were present at the Capitol last week. These businesses are greatly affected by volatile global markets and already operate within tight profit margins.
Supporters of the bill claim a cap and trade program in Oregon is needed to reduce state-wide emissions. However, the focus on Oregon emissions is misplaced. If passed, part of the achieved emissions reductions in Oregon will likely be the result of businesses moving to other states, which neither reduces global emissions nor helps Oregon’s economy. Proponents also claim cap and trade is needed to protect people from the impacts of climate change. In practice, this bill is likely to do the opposite by negatively affecting those most vulnerable to climate change in Oregon—people who live in places where drought, flooding, and wildfire affect not only infrastructure and vacation plans but life, livelihoods, and family legacies—making it prohibitively expensive for them to grow and transport their products to market.
For these reasons alone, this bill is difficult to swallow. Adding insult to injury, even proponents of the cap and trade program admit it will do little to actually alleviate global climate change. As a state, Oregon is only responsible for 0.12% of global emissions. Oregon Climate Change Research Institute Director, Philip Mote has acknowledged that this bill would have an “imperceptible” impact on global climate change. Regardless, supporters hope the bill will create new jobs in renewable energy sectors. Perhaps the money this bill raises will create some opportunities–the question is where? Will turbine and solar panel manufacturers relocate to Knappa, Oregon to replace the forest sector jobs that are lost? To Coos Bay? To Vernonia? While increases in the renewable energy sector would no doubt be positive for the state overall, those increases should not come at the expense of our existing renewable industries – forestry, wood products manufacturing, food production, and fishing.
Despite its limitations, supporters still think implementing a cap and trade program similar to the one in California is needed to “send a message”. Well, message received, and the social and economic chasm between Oregon’s rural and urban communities grows larger. To the super majority in Salem I say, just because you can pass a piece of legislation doesn’t mean that you should. This bill, while undoubtedly well-intentioned, is not a good fit for Oregon.
So what should be done instead? Climate change is a global problem that requires large-scale action—larger than Oregon is capable of influencing on its own—but we could be a leader in showing other states how to bridge divides and bring people together to find practicable and sustainable solutions. We should craft strategies that recognize the challenges rural residents are facing and take into account the complicated and unique realities of producing basic needs—food and shelter—in this state. Start these discussions in Klamath Falls, La Grande, and Warrenton not Salem and Portland. Learn about the needs and existing vulnerabilities of rural businesses. Get buy-in from the people who will be most affected. Rural communities and the people who grow our food, produce our renewable wood products, and keep our forests forested decade after decade deserve respect and a voice in this process. They don’t deserve to have major legislation crammed down their throats.
Thank you
The cap and trade program is a bad idea. It will do very little (if any ) to help the environment and will certainly cause the loss of jobs for families in Oregon. Please do not cram this down the throats of The people we love Oregon and would like to continue to live here.
Steve Zika, your message is important. As I type this, a self-loading log truck (the owner of V&S is from Banks) is throwing the chains on the first of three loads of bug-killed, salvaged Douglas-fir. The logger who skidded these logs to the landing is also from Banks. Both companies have older model diesel powered trucks and skidders. If the cap and trade bill passes, these machines would eventually not be permitted, even though the engines are well maintained. The cost of new equipment would do two things: 1.) It will threaten the livelihoods of the owners (who can afford a new $250,000 truck or skidder?) and 2.) I will not be able to afford to hire these small operators if they are forced to buy new equipment. If I can’t salvage the logs I’ll be forced to cut them down, pile them and set them on fire in the winter. I prefer selling them.
In closing, our logs are going to your mill in Banks, You have men and women whose jobs depend on family woodland owners like us. We are lucky to have a sawmill so close to our family woodland.
Why have you conceded that man-made carbon emissions are going to be responsible for the warming climate? Historically in the medieval warming period, prior to the little ice age (900-1300AD) temperatures were 4 to 7° warmer than today.
Alarmist try to scare us with 100% increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. While true that percentage is infinitesimal. It amounts to 200 ppm.
Don’t cower before their numbers and volume, confront them with facts. .
Thank you Hampton Lumber,
I wish more people understood this, actually I think a lot of Oregonian’s do.
Thank you well said and as a business manager this bill will impact all manufacturing in the state in a negative way.
Well said , Oregon companies and for that matter US companies (that don’t leave the country) are at the forefront of clean busniss practices . Looking forward to the future . This isn’t the real issue, control is . If I were wrong then this issue would not be set upon the people in this tyrannical fashion . Cap and trade is not about fixing the climate issues . It is all about runaway government spending. They always say “give use more money and we can fix it”, then nothing changes except your ability to take care of yourself and your family.
All of the global warming hysteria is directed at the very country who has done an amazing job at cleaning up our industries and living styles over the decades. We need to buy American instead of supporting countries who have zero environmental concerns, like China.
Well I find it very hard to swallow since I have been hearing about this all my life.The bigger question is have they not notice all the extra stuff on equipment and vehicles that have reduced emissions tremendously. The other part is how much Natural resources that is used in to make the DPF system on equipment and vehicles how much we recycle nowadays and also how much we all have done to take good care of or environment as stewards of the land and Oregonian our self we dont need them tell us what to due we are doing great as awhole.
This is just ignorant. Example look at the number of coal fired power plants in the US and compare that number to the rest of the world. We ARE leading the world in every category like by 100 or more fold. Politicians are selling a bill of goods to the population to fill their personal pocketbooks. Unfortunately for Oregon your state party much screwed for next 2 generations. Demand your politicians provide actual plans to make things better, not just wind in the air solutions like wind farms. They are not effective. If you shut down a coal fired or natural gas fired plant they must give DETAILS OF THE SOLUTIONS, not just gee this us better believe me stuff. I live in Washington we have same BS here. Rhetoric no real facts of provable evidence. They should also have to verify where the money comes from idea by idea. Considering their only source is from working class people they are in a mess. They them is who represents you the people, for the people of the people!!
The people of Oregon should vote on this bill, period. It’s so bad.for our state and will have a devastating effect on everyone. The self righteous politicans in Salem forget that they work for us, the betterment for the people of Oregon and all businesses. They will be voted out of office or impeached if they don’t come around to serving the needs and best interests of the people of Oregon.
I couldn’t have said this better. I’m a concerned Washington resident, with a multi-generational timber dollars family. I’m closely watching this unfold and waiting (ugh) for them to bring it here next. Keep up the good fight! It’s much appreciated.
Very true & factual report! Thank you for NOT TWISTING IT TO SHOW HOW EVIL WE & our REPUBLICAN SENATORS ARE!
Most Oregonian are not for this.please do not pass this.
The timber industry was specifically exempted from the cap and trade bill that was in front of the Oregon Legislature.
Climate change is here. It’s going to threaten your business and your bottom line. But most importantly, it’s threatening your workers and their way of life.
Please stop making excuses for not supporting this policy. Your short-term gain will ruin all of us in the long-term.
Nicely done, Steve. Not long after I started Evergreen Magazine (1986), I warned southern Oregon lumbermen that this day of reckoning was coming. Only one, the late D.R. Johnson, believed me. The rural-urban divide is but one of several that continue to haunt the lumber industry.
Absolutely spot on! ‘Renewable energy sector jobs’ and existing timber, agriculture, ect.. are not mutually exclusive – we can have both! This is a huge slap in the face to the timber and agriculture communities who have & are working with environmentalist and scientists to continually improve the land. Rural communities are our best stewards. Nobody loves the land like a farmer, fisherman, or forester!
Beautifully stated, Steve!
Well written. I appreciate the sound practical thought process. I support the conclusions.
Well done Steve. The rural-urban divide is certainly alive and well in western Oregon. Here in Idaho, things are better connected and the natural resource conversation is more positive and productive. Likewise Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and eastern Washington. In Evergreen’s early years, we assembled a grassroots coalition in western Oregon that included about 100,000. Quite a feat considering the fact that there was no Internet and cell phones were the size of lunch buckets. The coalition fell apart after the spotted owl was listed. Nick Smith is doing a good job of reassembling it, following a template first laid out by my old friend, Joe McCracken, who ran the Western Forest Industries Association for all of its years.
Cap and trade is just another Democrat-led scam meant to destroy natural rural industries and businesses that lean Republican. Same thing for all the Democrat-instigated fake environmental whose lawsuits imposed hands-off forest management policies, which destroyed forest health and led to two decades of record forest fire seasons where forested states saw millions of acres burn in catastrophic fires. These groups should be sued for he timber lost to all Americans as a result of forest mismanagement created by their lawsuits.
I agree with this article. . .and I vote!
CBS National News interviewed your governor and put a totally different spin on this story. CBS made the Republicans that walked out the villains. But really there was no other way out of stopping this legislation! Your efforts to stop this bill should inspire rural America to wake up and not allow the left to continue such tactics. Your demonstration to unify the producers forest, farm products ,and raw materials
Was exceptionally well done, but it never was reported by the main stream Fake News, they only villainized the senators that walked. Great job Loggers and Farmers for standing together to put the Axe to the Governors Carbon Tax!
Thank you for the information. This makes sense and we should be able to work together for a solution that works !
Very well said, and I would add that if these people want to follow in the footsteps of California they need to look real hard a moving to California.
Very well said. Thank you and you have the support of my friends and family not in and outside of Oregon.
Thank you for the information and know that those of us here in the NE corner of Jackson County stand with you.
First of all and very important: Climate doesn’t change from human activity. Earth history has shown this over and over again through its geological record.
Totally Agree..100%
Thank you for taking the time to give a message that expresses the opinions of rural communities in Oregon .
Well said! It is unfortunate that the one large urban area in our state can cram legislation down the throats of the rest of the state. My office is in downtown Salem near the Capitol. It was good to hear the truck horns on Thursday. The state government needs to listen to the voices of ALL Oregonians. Hopefully they were heard last week!