Oregon Solar Policy Update: 2/15/16

The legislative session continues to race along. We’re now approaching the half-way point. Last week was a whirlwind and next week promises to be more of the same.

Before we get to those, did you see the action alert this week? It asked folks to contact their state representative and urge a YES vote on HB 4036, which will be up for a vote today. Didn’t get a chance to do that? You still can….just do it before 10am on Monday morning. Calls or e-mails are both great.

Don’t know who your state representative is or don’t have their contact information? Go here to find out. And then make a call or send an e-mail. It would be a big help for moving HB 4036 forward.

And now, on with the updates.

Week in Review

HB 4036 (Clean Electricity/Coal Transition Plan) was the subject of a lot of back-and-forth amendments. But the bill finally moved out of the House Energy and Environment Committee on a 6-3 vote.

HB 4037 (Solar Incentive Program) continues to wait in the Joint Ways and Means Committee. We hope to see it referred to a subcommittee and get a hearing soon.

SB 1572 (Community Solar) got a vote in the Senate Business and Transportation Committee and moved to the Senate floor. There has been a minority report proposed for the bill which may slow it down a bit. HB 4036 still contains community solar language.

Week Coming Up

HB 4036 should be up for a vote in the House Monday morning (see above). We expect a solid, bipartisan vote to pass it out of the House and send it to the Senate.

SB 1572 is scheduled to be up for a vote on the Senate floor on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

We will have a half-dozen solar business owners and professionals visiting legislators on HB 4036 and HB 4037 next Thursday on Feb. 18. We have room for a few more folks if you’re available to come to Salem on the 18th. If you do want to come and visit legislators, please contact me at jeff@oseia.org.

Remember, contact your state representative urging them YES on HB 4036. Thanks and stay tuned!