State Senate Votes To Put Oregon In The Hemp Business

By Michelle Cole - The Oregonian
Friday June 19, 2009, 5:01 PM

SALEM -- When the history of the 2009 Legislature is written, it may record that this was the year lawmakers put Oregon in the industrial hemp business.
The Senate voted 27-2 Friday to approve a bill that clears the way for hemp to be grown and processed in Oregon if and when the federal government gives growers a green light.

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KGW News: Northwest Natural To Dish Out Rebates!

Northwest Natural customers to get rebate
02:20 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 20, 2009
By AP and kgw.com Staff
SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- The state Public Utilities Commission says Northwest Natural Gas customers will get a one-time refund that will reduce their rates by 3.4 percent on June 1.

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KAST-AM: Local Radio Media's Open Letter To Oregon Governor Pleading For Acceptance Of Bradwood Landing's LNG Terminal

GPR - Despite the perception of an unseemly attempt by the parties involved at exploiting an opportunity, in these stressfull financial times for all of us on the Lower Columbia, to prosper the position of NSNG/Bradwood Landing's proposed LNG Terminal upriver, I wonder as Freel pleads for The Governor to do the right thing, exactly what that right thing is.

Mr. Freel seems to forget that this project is up for review and disposition as applied for by both the States of Washington and Oregon with the United States Court of Appeals to overturn all applications for this project, which obviously is already considered the "Right Thing" as far as The State of Oregon is concerned along with legislation, supported by our own State Rep Boone that will require "Proof of Need".

Also, the proposed pipeline developer involved in party with our own Northwest Natural Gas, Palomar, says we don't really need any LNG Terminals in our midst should just one pipeline out of The Rockies to the Williams and TransCanada pipelines be completed and the closest, using, primarily, exisitng pipeline rights of way, is the 585 mile long Sunstone Pipeline coming out of Wyoming and terminating in Stanfield, Oregon and slated for a 2011 start.

Should this happen, as Palomar says, our West Coast Market NG needs will be met for, many years to come while bridging the transition from fossil fuels to renewable and sustainable sources.

Could this be "The Right Thing" as well?

Maybe if it were less so obvious NNB-KAST Radio's financial/Advertising/Marketing ties to NSNG/Bradwood Landing, the plea might be more credible to their listening audience.

Nevetheless, you read it and follow your own conscience as to exactly what is indeed "The Right Thing".

From:Tom Freel For KAST-AM Radio

"Dear Sir,

I'm struggling to understand your decision to discourage industrial development in Clatsop County. In light of yesterday's announcement of unemployment rates in the state and the continuing downward trend in private investment here it is unfathomable to me that you would not be in the lead when it comes to supporting the construction of Bradwood Landing LNG."

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Oregon Republicans Have A Plan For "The State Stimulus Funds"

Republicans pitch idea for state stimulus

By RYAN KOST - Associated Press Writer

SALEM — A Republican proposal to stimulate the economy by giving home and business owners tax credits for improvement projects got a hearing Thursday even as Democrats insisted there were better ways to spend state funds.Under the plan proposed by House Republican leadership, home and business owners could use tax refunds to finance up to 50 percent of high-dollar property improvements — 100 percent for “green” projects.

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