The Oregon Legislature has mandated that large utilities deliver 100% emissions-free electricity by 2040. Since coal and natural gas account for more than 45% of Oregon’s electricity generation, replacing those fuels with emission-free alternatives will be difficult. Moreover, the closer Oregon gets to 100% reduction, the more expensive it will get. This challenge stems from […]
The 35-day session of the Oregon Legislature opened in early February, and a hearing was held on the Governor’s top priority, Senate Bill 1537. Her goal is to increase the supply of housing. Unfortunately, this goal is undercut by Oregon’s Urban Growth Boundaries, which are designed to limit urban growth. Under SB 1537, cities will […]
In 2017, when the Oregon Legislature authorized a modest highway widening project on I-5 just north of the I-84 intersection, it was expected to improve travel speeds and reduce traffic accidents. The estimated construction cost was $500 million-$700 million. By 2021, the project had morphed into a social justice and real estate development scheme, with […]
Last week Cascade Policy Institute released a new research report finding wasteful spending in Oregon’s 1.5% for Green Energy Technology program, known as GET. Under the program, any government construction or renovation project costing $5 million or more must spend 1.5% of the budget on green energy technologies. These technologies can include solar, woody biomass, […]
Once again, the House Republicans have declared a complete and unconditional surrender to the Democrats. In spite of the lip service paid by the new House Republican “Leader” Vicky Breese Iverson about walking out, the Republicans once again agreed to rules that fine them if they do not meekly show up on the House floor […]
Everyone knows if you ignore your Mother long enough she will show up where you work. If you tell her to go away, she will come back. In a similar fashion, concerned residents are increasingly showing up at Government meetings. Many are attending school board meetings, and some have already been elected to serve. They […]
The era of small-modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) is upon us, but Oregon lives in the past. Oregon continues to ban nuclear power, while other states with a similar moratorium are taking action to reverse their bans and bring nuclear power to their states. Oregon voters approved a moratorium on the construction of any new nuclear […]
Last November, Oregon voters approved three ballot measures related to drug use. While all three passed by large margins, the policies themselves are contradictory. The purpose of Measure 110 was to make health assessment and recovery services for drug addiction widely available, and to adopt a health approach to addiction by removing criminal penalties for […]
If you thought hospital food was bland now, get ready to hear this. The Oregon Legislature is considering a bill that bans hospitals from serving bacon and every other salted, smoked, or cured meat. Because House Bill 2348 also requires hospitals to make plant-based food available, proponents argue that this is simply about promoting good […]
Today, Cascade Policy Institute released an analysis of Oregon’s Public Purpose Charge (PPC), recommending that the tax be repealed as soon as possible. The report, Oregon’s “Public Purpose” Energy Tax: Mission Accomplished, or Mission Creep?, was authored by John A. Charles, Jr. and Rachel Dawson. The PPC is a 3% tax enacted by the Oregon […]