In 14 years, this kind of stove presumably will be useless in Oregon. Burning fossil fuels is supposed to stop in 2040.
Now, when the temperature drops to freezing these winter nights, is a good time to remember Oregon’s laws on fossil fuel and greenhouse gas. The laws are insane.
Passed by Democrats in the Oregon Legislature in 2021, the laws require utilities to reduce their output of greenhouse gases 80 percent by 2030 and to eliminate the emissions completely by 2040. All the energy we need is supposed to come from renewable sources in 14 years.
These requirements in Oregon law are insane because, first, they are impossible to meet and, second, trying to accomplish them anyhow will drive the price of electricity through the roof.
The Oregonian news outlet in Portland is doing voters a favor with a current series of stories describing the situation. Look them up at The Oregonian/Oregon Live.
Here’s one paragraph from a story published Sunday:
“In a filing with state regulators this week, PacifiCorp provided an eye-popping estimate of its costs to comply with the emission mandates: between $135 million and $2.5 billion a year for the next two decades. It said those would translate to an ‘average annual incremental rate impact’ between 10% and 140% of its 2025 costs. PacifiCorp serves more than 620,000 customers in Oregon.”
The trouble with laws like these is that their likely disastrous effects are years down the road when they are passed, so the lawmakers responsible can’t be held to account for what they have done. Voters pay no attention to predictions of problems that far ahead.
The utilities play along because they figure that whatever the cost, customers will pay it through rates. It’s the customers that bear the burden, like the single mother in Portland cited by The Oregonian in Sunday’s story. PGE shut off her electricity because she couldn’t pay bills that were hitting $200 or $300 per month.
Last month, Oregon citizens handed in nearly 250,000 signatures to block and refer a 6-cent gas tax increase Democrats in the legislature passed last fall. That increase was nothing compared to what Oregonians face in the costs of energy in coming years. (Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, pointed out that the state’s clean-fuel rules, another program to cut greenhouse gases, already adds 20 cents to the price of gas per gallon.)
The gas tax and increased vehicle fees got the attention of a lot of voters in a short time. The greenhouse gas requirements should get the same attention, and even more.
What we need is an initiative petition to repeal all the greenhouse and climate-change laws that sharply raise the cost of living without actually doing anything about climate change.
If voters are made aware of the costs they or their children will have to pay, signatures should be easy to get. At least as easy as signatures against a 6-cent bump in the price of gas. (hh)
Thank you, Hasso!!
It was absolutely great to read your closing sentence in your opening paragraph: “The laws are insane.” Yes!!
This racket has gone on for far too long and caused way too much social, biological, ecological, and economic damage for it to continue any further. These idiotic laws and the politicized and pseudo-scientific “studies” that have made it possible should have been exposed and eliminated 20 years ago, or more — but, “you mix science and politics and you get politics.”
And that means telling herds of people what to do, what to believe, how to vote, and charge them money for the directives. “Climate Catastrophe 101.”
Thank you for bringing this to everyone’s attention, Hasso. Insane was too kind a word.
Why do you blindly accept analysis from Boshart-Davis in regards to “she state’s clean-fuel rules, another program to cut greenhouse gases, already adds 20 cents to the price of gas per gallon.” Your other “source” is a quote from a for-profit energy company who essentially has a monopoly on its customers. Why would we believe either of your “sources.” Boshart-Davis provides no evidence to back her claim. You do not provide any evidence other than the word of a back-bench politician who has accomplished little-to-nothing in her Back Bench time in office. Please tell us why we ought to believe any of this tripe.
Perhaps Boshart-Davis can get work with former Federal representative, Chavez-DeRemer, a woman now under scrutiny for greed, stupidity and failure to carefully manage taxpayer dollars, and a Cabinet Secretary known mostly for her sycophancy to a criminally convicted president intent on destroying the Constitution. Come on, Hasso. When the only politico you cite is an ineffective state representative tossing “facts” around without evidence, readers must look under the hood of what motivates you.
The problem with you Hartman, is you belong to the no nothing party. When they passed the idiot California look alike law which raised the price of gas by 20 cents a gallon, with no benefits to the environment, the facts were made available at the time but the Democrats completely ignored the fact. Perhaps you should do some research before opening your mouth and insulting knowledgeable people.
Learn the difference between “no” and “know.”
Yes, you’re right, of course. All of this “insanity” is supposedly to preclude “global warming” aka: “climate change”. There’s only one problem with that notion. Despite a 50% increase (280ppm to 420ppm) of atmospheric CO2 content over the last 125 years, average temps here in Corvallis have only risen one degree. While, over in Bend, average temps have actually dropped a degree or so. No, I’m not making this up. I got my data from NOAA’s own weather recording stations. If one bothers to do the research, and follows the money, it becomes clear that this has less to do with “saving the planet” and more to do with selling “green energy” products to the unsuspecting public. For those who doubt me, I put together a little essay on this subject, complete with “receipts” here: https://craigbell.substack.com/p/global-warming-is-a-myth
Hi, have you watched Aclimatecomnverstion.com? Very educational.
Climate Catastrophe! Yes, that is what your children will face because of man’s greed and the fossil fuel billionaires. Wonder how hot it will be in nice, used-to-be-temperate-in-climate Oregon this coming summer?
Sure Pacific Power and Light is going to say the costs for them to comply with fighting climate change is prohibitive. Look up and see how much money their executives are making?
Exactly this. Not to mention the insane energy costs of AI data centers which these utilities also pass off to rate payers instead of big tech companies.
Speaking of costs to the Albany residents, am I the only person in Albany who finds it embarrassing for Albany that they spent 22 million to make Monteith Park ugly and to put in a pink brick road, but at least 6 or 8 of their snowflake lights downtown (which are still up) are burned out and have been since they put them up this year.
Apparently Albany does not have the money or personnel to fix the lights, so take them down!!
And just wait for that extra cost to our monthly power bills for pink brick road power line burial.
$$$$$$$$$$
This initiative shall be on 2026 ballots if time to collect signatures is still available!
Man made climate change is real. Many studies have verified it. The US is not the only country to deny it. I have personally witnessed it in my 75 years living in Corvallis. Summers are much hotter and winters are much milder.
I’ve lived in this state since 1949 and I would ask where’s the evidence? You ran George Taylor and other climatologists out of the state because they could find no evidence to support your claims.
Here are the key graphs and data points illustrating this warming:
Long-Term Temperature Trend (1900–2020): Observed annual temperature data shows that despite year-to-year variability, the trend line has moved upward by approximately 2.5°F (1.4°C), with the 1990s and 2000s being hotter than any previous period in the records.
Increase in 90-Degree+ Days (Portland, 1940–2025): A, 90-degree-or-hotter days in Portland have increased significantly. Since 1940, Portland has averaged about 12 more days above 90°F per year. In the 2010s, Portland experienced 169 days at or above 90°F, the highest for any decade on record.
Summer Heat Increase (1970–Present): Summer temperatures in the Pacific Northwest have warmed, with Portland experiencing a 3.7°F increase since 1970.
Warmest Years on Record (1895–2025): The years since 2020 have consistently ranked in the top 20 warmest, with 2015, 2021, and 2025 being among the hottest in recorded history.
Winter Warming (Cold Night Reduction): Since 1995, Oregon has experienced a below-average number of very cold nights (0°F or lower), indicating that winters are becoming milder and contributing to the overall, long-term average temperature increase.
Al can’t read that. LOL
Dennis, what was the temperature in October of 1713? Nobody knows, that was the year before the thermometer was invented. You can not even ask the people who were here because they didn’t have a written language, their stories tell of cool and warm but not what temperature it was because there is no way for them to measure it.
The temperature has gone up and has gone down, no intelligent person uses 310 years to measure geologic time, when the cycles of temperature on a gross scale have varied widely both above now and below now.
Hasso, I really enjoy your daily blogs. I come here before our local newspaper because you do an amazing job covering local news. Sadly, I find this article to cross the line into editorial and opinion. I can tell you first person, what has happened with insurance costs in Oregon since we had three catastrophic fires in 2022. Cost of electricity is only one factor when we consider all the potential impacts of climate change. Decreasing snow pack is a serious problem for places like Utah, downstream from Colorado in Arizona and Nevada. Thoughtful journalism would look into those issues as well from people who actually study these nuances and all of the economic impacts related to a warmer and drier climate. I can respect and listen to a lot of different perspectives and thoughts, I have plenty. But there is a difference between journalism and opinion. With that said, I respect what you do and I’m quite amazed what one man riding around our community on a bike is able to do to keep us informed.
“Sadly, I find this article to cross the line into editorial and opinion…But there is a difference between journalism and opinion.”
Obviously. He has never made any pretense that it is pure journalism aka his previous “job.” If he can’t stir-the-pot by editorializing at times, it would be very-very boring IMHO. It is his blog after all…
” Sadly, I find this article to cross the line into editorial and opinion.”
Can you point out editorials that aren’t opinion in other newspapers or TV newscasts?
This is Hasso’s blog. He can write what he wants.
Opinion pieces are in fact a part of Journalism. Google or AI the question.
correction: 312 years
Can Humans control the weather/climate? What folly!!