Emission-free electricity due by 2040
By Lorrie Kaplan
With this year’s Oregon’s legislative “short session” wrapping up just last week, I was eager to chat with Rep. Pam Marsh, Southern Oregon’s representative to the Oregon House, to get a fresh round-up on state climate action news.
As Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environment, Marsh sits in a key position to drive climate legislation. Under her leadership, the Oregon legislature notched several landmark climate victories last year. The biggest was the “100% Clean” bill which will effectively require emission-free electricity in the state by 2040.
The rapid-fire, five-week legislative session took place in the context of a state budget with revenue already coming in $2.7 billion over projections.
“We were actually able to fund much more than we would usually be able to in a short session and still keep a healthy reserve,” says Marsh. “We focused on making smart, one-time investments.”
We are fortunate to have a hardworking intelligent representative for House District 5. Thanks to Pam Marsh for all her hard work and the accomplishments it brings.