The Torch

Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Brandy Dominguez LCC OSPIRG chair Katie Taylor leads a group of students in a "flash mob" March 8. The campus march was the final event of OSPIRG's "coal week," an event staged to advocate the closure of the Boardman coal plant in Portland. [Click to enlarge]

Students marched through Main Campus on March 8, rallying for the closure of the Boardman coal plant in Portland. The plant is run by Portland General Electric and has been the topic of a lengthy debate between the utility company, state legislators and environmental activists.

LCC's OSPIRG chapter coordinated the effort to raise awareness of the plant's presence in the Columbia River basin. PGE has a plan in place to shut down the coal plant, but the utility company's proposal wouldn't have operation of the plant cease until 2020.

"It's just way too long," chapter chair Katie Taylor said. "I think 2014 is a reasonable deadline."

According to studies by the Sierra Club, the Boardman coal plant emits carbon dioxide, mercury, soot, acid rain and smog. These emissions find their way into 10 federally protected areas, such as Mount Rainier National Park and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

"This coal plant is the biggest contributor to carbon emissions in our home state," Taylor said.

OSPIRG hosted a five-day "coal week" event in the cafeteria March 1-5 in order to inform students of the plant's contribution to pollution in Oregon.

"If Oregon wants to set the example, we should just make ourselves a coal-free state," OSPIRG campus organizer Mike Reagan said.

The campus organization's petition to have the Boardman plant shut down comes at a time when the construction of wind farms in areas like Steen's Mountain and Union County are facing fierce opposition.

"We have so much potential for all of these clean energies," Reagan said.

One of the significant efforts OSPIRG promoted during Coal Week was a campaign where volunteers called the offices of senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkely requesting they bring attention of the plant's operation to Washington, D.C.

OSPIRG stresses the fact that vocal advocacy for the plant's closure is one of the best ways to ensure the 2014 deadline is imposed and met.

"Call your senators and tell them that it's time to act," Krisashwa Wade, grassroots coordinator for the campus campaign, said.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools