The unprecendented Pacific Northwest heat wave reached 108oF on June 26, 112oF the next day, and then the new record temperature of 116oF on June 28 in Portland. The usual opportunists jumped in with their typical cries of “rising CO2 levels,” “blaming greenhouse gas emissions,” “stop all fossil fuels,” “need state carbon taxes,” and “the […]
Because the global temperature has been very close to normal for several months, most people will wonder about a “Great Heat Wave,” except those who live in the Pacific Northwest. At the end of June, Western Oregon and Washington experienced one of the most extreme heat waves ever observed. For three days, temperatures rose to […]
The race is on for a reliable power grid. A newly redeveloped model used by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council to calculate annual loss of load probability (LOLP) shows significantly higher LOLP in 2023 compared to previous predictions. The LOLP calculates the likelihood that utilities will have to take some kind of emergency measure […]
When I moved to Boring, Oregon, 46 years ago, it did not take long for all my friends who lived in other places to ask with a smirk, “Is it boring in Boring?” I soon tired of the plethora of jokes and puns about Boring—some of them not printable in a family newspaper like the […]
Should we breach Northwest hydropower dams to replenish native fish species on the Columbia or continue benefiting from hydro’s cheap and reliable power? With the innovative Whooshh Fish Passage System, our region wouldn’t have to choose between the two. And, yes, the company is really called “Whoosh.” The system is set up alongside dams to […]
Say your roof is leaking and you call a roofer for a quote. If they say “I’ll have to charge you the highest rate in the region” before saying hello, you’d probably just hang up. Oregon’s leaky roof is infrastructure spending. Instead of hanging up the phone, Oregon’s legislators may force every contractor to charge […]
Every student deserves access to a quality education. Despite the setbacks caused by closing public school buildings, many Oregon students were already struggling to succeed in the public school system before the pandemic. According to the National Association of Education Progress, only 34% of Oregon fourth-graders tested “proficient” in reading in 2019. Moreover, Oregon continues […]
PORTLAND, Ore. – Cascade Policy Institute submitted testimony strongly opposing Oregon Senate Bill 223, which would effectively force private schools to register with the state. The bill would ban from interscholastic activities any school that does not register. Proponents of SB 223 characterize the bill as merely a “voluntary” scheme to register private schools. But, […]
Nearly six months after the event, many survivors are just now returning to their wildfire-decimated properties to begin the process of rebuilding. While homeowner’s insurance is the primary source of funds to pay for home repairs after a major disaster, some home repairs such as private wells and/or septic systems are not typically covered. The […]
A recent Oregonian/OregonLive editorial criticizes Metro’s lack of “vision” in implementing its homeless services measure (“Metro lacks vision for homeless services measure,” Feb. 21). In particular, the editorial questions what the measure will achieve or what “success” will look like. This should not be a surprise. Metro never had a vision for the measure. Last […]