State Contact:
Nat Parker nat.parker@sierraclub.org
2950 SE Stark St. Suite 100
Portland, OR 97214
503-243-6656
Energy Efficient Buildings or Old, Polluting Power Plants
Earth Day Weekend in Portland, Oregon, with the Sierra Club's Power2Change Campaign:
Clean Energy Rally
Governor Ted Kulongoski challenges Oregonians and elected officials to change our energy future. Surrounding the Governor (left to right) are Nat Parker (Sierra Club Regional Representative), Jeremiah Baumann (Environment Oregon), Pat Nagel (Interfaith Power and Light), and Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury.
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and Secretary of State Bill Bradbury joined
with the Sierra Club on Monday, April 21st-- the day before Earth Day--
to challenge citizens, businesses, and political candidates to take action
now to fight the impending threat of climate change. The Governor and
Secretary of State spoke before a crowd at Pioneer Courthouse Square
in downtown Portland and highlighted competing visions of America's energy
future: one that moves Oregon forward to a clean energy economy that
creates jobs, saves consumers money, and solves global warming, or one
that continues the expensive, polluting policies of the past.
Families, green businesses, and green utilities joined with the Sierra Club for the Earth Day Clean Energy Rally.
Along with the Governor and Secretary of State, Pat Nagel of Ecumenical
Ministries, Jeremiah Baumann of Environment Oregon, and the Sierra Club’s
own Nat Parker all spoke to the need for leaders to embrace solutions
to global warming and help lead America to a new energy future. A crowd
of over 100 people joined with green businesses, power companies, and
the Sierra Club to rally for clean energy and a change in our nation’s
energy policy.
A Zap Car (provided by EcoMotion Earth Friendly Vehicles) and solar panels (provided by Solar Energy Solutions) flanked the stage to demonstrate clean energy solutions. A hummer with a dozen empty gas cans flanked the stage to the right to demonstrate the failed and polluting energy policy of the last seven years.
"For the last seven years, the Bush Administration has promoted energy
policies that have produced record high oil and gasoline prices, delivered
historic profits for the big oil companies, kept us dependent on foreign
sources of oil, and pus us dangerously behind in combating climate change,"
said Nat Parker, Regional Manager for the Sierra Club. "But we have
the power to change direction. We need to challenge all our elected officials—including
the next President—to provide the leadership we need to move us
forward."
Shift to Green
The Shift to Green began at EcoMotion Earth-Friendly Vehicles. Over 70 cyclists joined with the Sierra Club for the 12-mile carbon-free tour of Portland’s most innovative solutions to global warming.
Over 70 energy-conscious bicyclists took to the streets Saturday, April 19th, for a 12-mile, carbon-free tour of innovative clean energy businesses in Portland, the weekend before Earth Day. The "Shift to Green" ride is part of the organization's Power2Change campaign, an effort to set global warming and clean energy issues at the forefront of the national dialogue in this 2008 election year.
Shift to Green cyclists visited at a solar powered co-housing community and learned about solar home options from Andrew Koyaanisqatsi of Solar Energy Solutions.
"We are engaging the public and candidates to illustrate just what is at stake in the 2008 elections concerning the nation's competing visions of our energy future," said the Sierra Club's Northwest Regional Representative, Nat Parker. "We can move forward to a clean energy economy that solves global warming, creates jobs and saves consumers money – or we can continue the unsustainable polluting policies of the past," Parker asserted.
The final stop on the Shift to Green tour was at Mississippi Avenue Lofts, a multi-use LEED Gold development—and tour participants rallied for clean energy, a photo, and a quick respite from the hail that showed them throughout the tour.
For the Shift to Green bike tour, the Sierra Club partnered with leading green businesses to boost efficient and renewable energy as key sectors to bolstering the nation's staggering economy and creating new jobs. The tour started at EcoMotion, then the two-wheeled travelers visited the Gerding Theater remodeled with striking, sustainable architecture; Mississippi Avenue Lofts, a new, highly energy-efficient condo development; Solar Energy Solutions, an installer of solar panels for residences; Horizon Wind Energy, a developer of renewable wind energy; and EcoShuttle, a door-to-door, biodiesel transportation service.
At each stop, the business owners did some pedaling of their own; explaining how the energy choices that Oregonians make every day can have beneficial impacts on our local economy and environment. Bill Jackson of Mississippi Avenue Lofts, noted, "Compared to just five years ago, consumers today are benefiting from a much greater array of choices when deciding how to heat their homes and commute to work and also where they live." The result says Jackson, is that "families can save money and at the same time help save our environment and protect their health." "It is vital," said Rick Snyder, CEO of EcoMotion, "that we change direction to a clean energy economy. We have the technology, know-how and power to build a clean energy future." He adds, "What has been lacking is the political will and leadership. We need to challenge all our elected officials, including the next President, to provide the leadership we need to move us forward."
Oregon Sierra Club Earth Day Rally
March 26, 2008
Sierra Club's Christine Caurant kicks off Oregon's Power-2-Change Campaign at EcoMotion Earth Friendly Vehicle Dealership of Portland surrounded by local press, Sierra Club organizers and green industry leaders Rick Snyder--EcoMotion, Bill Jackson--Mississippi Avenue Lofts, Andrew Koyaanisqatsi--Solar Energy Solutions, Erik Westerholm--Lane Community College, Jesse Yun--EcoShuttle, and Dana Peck--Horizon Wind Energy. The event was covered by the Portland Tribune, KOIN News and later featured in a number of other area media outlets.
Bill Jackson, Co-developer of the Portland LEED Platinum certified Mississippi Avenue Lofts stressed the importance of strong leadership from local and national candidates on renewable energy and green building issues in the 2008 election.
