Oregon’s Annual Legislative Session Started February 3rd

On February 3rd Oregon’s annual legislative session kicked off with some hot topics regarding solar energy.

OSEIA has worked hard over the last year on a bill to update the Limited Renewable Technician License (LRT) and we are proud to announce that the bill will be heard in the Senate Labor and Business Committee on February 4th.  The bill, SB 1563, is sponsored by Sen. Jeff Golden and Rep. Pam Marsh and has the support of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

Tune in February 4th to hear OSEIA’s Treasurer, Eric Hansen of True South Solar, testify in support of the bill.

More information about the bill can be found here – https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2020R1/Measures/Overview/SB1563

And on OSEIA’s website here – https://www.oseia.org/bill-tracker

OSEIA hopes to support SB 1530, the Cap and Invest bill, which will have its first hearing on February 4th where we hope to hear that it will be strengthened through an amendment.  OSEIA board member James Reismiller with Abundant Solar will testify in support of the concept and with an ask to strengthen provisions of the bill.

OSEIA strongly supports HB 4067. The bill would advance equity in Public Utility Commission processes through increased funding for organizations that represent environmental justice communities, including rural, coastal, and frontier communities and low-income communities in PUC proceedings, and help reduce energy burden by allowing differentiated rates, like discounts for residential ratepayers.

OSEIA opposes HB 4049 which would allow municipal waste incinerators to generate RECs.  OSEIA does not believe that municipal waste incineration is renewable energy and defining it as so dilutes the REC market.

The session will be fast moving!  Join OSEIA’s policy committee to get involved. https://www.oseia.org/committees