As the state of Oregon is looking at upcoming days with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees and the concurrent stress it will place on the energy grid, Legislators are considering legislation that may force Oregon into California-style blackouts.

HB 2021, introduced by Representative Pam Marsh (D-Ashland) and Khanh Pham (D-Portland), has moved through committees on party lines and will soon be considered on the House floor. The bill raises electricity costs for Oregonians and will likely make the state’s energy grid unreliable.

This session House Republicans have pushed for only focusing on bills that address immediate concerns related to the pandemic, natural disasters, education and restoring jobs. Raising the cost of living for people still struggling to recover is the wrong direction.

“We should not be raising electricity costs for Oregonians while making our energy grid less reliable,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “HB 2021 will hike electricity costs and expose Oregon families and businesses to rolling blackouts like we see in California. We shouldn’t be pushing this through a closed-door legislative session and ignore serious concerns from the public and key stakeholders. Oregonians cannot afford to pay more for less reliable electricity.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-22 16:23:19

Last Update: 2021-06-22 16:48:32