As you know, last month signaled the dawn of a new Oregon Legislative Assembly, a new U.S. Congress, and a new presidential administration. I have been asked what this means for Oregon’s electric cooperatives. My answer is that, like every odd-numbered year, it’s another excellent opportunity to shape policies ensuring our access to affordable, reliable electricity.
The 83rd Oregon Legislative Assembly convened in Salem on January 21, a few weeks after the 119th Congress began in Washington, D.C. ORECA will be active in both capitals. We will be in Salem every day and stay in close contact with our National Rural Electric Cooperative Association partners regarding Capitol Hill developments.
As always, there are several new faces on both sides of the aisle in Salem, and we welcome 2 new members of Congress: Janelle Bynum and Maxine Dexter. As Oregon’s electric cooperatives, we will work hard to build relationships on a bipartisan basis with these important decision-makers.
It is also clear that wildfire policy will be an important issue in both Salem and Washington, D.C. The tragic fires last month in Los Angeles confirmed what we all know: Wildfires can strike anywhere and at any time. We will continue to pursue policies that protect our communities from the risks posed by wildfire. But we will also impart to lawmakers that bankrupting utilities because of wildfire liability is not in the best interests of Oregon.
Because federal hydropower marketed by the Bonneville Power Administration is such an essential part of our power supply, we will engage with the new administration and the appropriate federal agencies to advocate for a more common approach to hydropower. As the Northwest’s demand for power grows, this is no time to remove a carbon-free, reliable form of electricity, as even the state of Oregon has proposed.
We look forward to working with our elected officials to help solve our energy challenges during what may be 1 of the most consequential legislative sessions in recent memory.
Executive Director Ted Case
