350.org has had good intentions but has refused to acknowledge facts with their electrification ordinance. I presented concerns, historical data and lessons learned to them, which they refuse to discuss.
Most houses built 50 years ago were electric as it cost 1 cent per kilowatt-hour. Today it’s averaging 10 cents or more, making electric resistant heat very expensive — far more than gas, which reflects the trends in heating over the last 40 years.
Today there are very few industrial or commercial buildings that heat with electricity, because of cost, inefficiency and energy density. Requiring them to change will most likely curtail most new industries within city boundaries. Is that 350.org’s intent?
The area of energy we should focus on is energy conservation which has many Achilles heels. Including ‘projected’ savings (not verified), focus on lighting and heat pumps (low hanging fruit) but not sufficiently on weatherization, and most programs benefiting upper classes, while many rate structures undermine conservation and low-income users.
With global warming, we need to focus on the greatest climate threats first, which is Seneca’s biomass plant. The Register-Guard revealed that EWEB is paying Seneca almost 9 cents/KWH, which is 2½ times BPA’s wholesale rate in a non-disclosure contract. Then Eugene gets all the pollution for free. One study showed how biomass is 40 times dirtier than coal and 300 times than natural gas, a function of energy density. Where is common sense?
Don’t support this electrification ordinance, as it’s pennywise and tons foolish.
Craig Patterson
McKenzie Bridge
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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