Governor Ted tax-and-gouge-me, The Oregon League of Conservation Voters and other environmental groups considered it a significant win on the passing of House Bill 2186 by 32-28 which would direct the state Department of environmental quality to adopt requirements to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by setting low carbon fuel standards and adopting regulations to reduce aerodynamic draft on heavy-duty trucks and maintain energy efficient tire pressure on cars and trucks.
Oregonians spend $2 billion a year on fuel and virtually all of that money leaves the state, said Rep. Ben Cannon, a Portland Democrat who carried the bill on the floor. "This is about transitioning Oregon to a clean, affordable, locally produced source of energy."
Opponents of the bill such as classic car and hot rod hobbyists were especially worried that the state would start dictating the kind of tires or aftermarket parts that they can buy.
Rep. Mike Schaufler said he has stood at the feet of receding glaciers and does not dispute that climate change is real. But the Happy Valley Democrat added: "If we go too far and have a negative impact on our economy, what are we doing?"
Also opposing the bill was Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Trucking Association, Oregon Forest Industries Council and Associated Oregon Industries.
Rep. Bob Jenson, R-Pendleton introduced a bill to reduce the state speed limits back to 55 miles an hour. [Fortunately] it did not even get a hearing.
this environmental stuff is really getting out of hand...
so now the state police is going to pull over large vehicles if they do not consider them "aerodynamic enough"?
In a struggling economy, and as Oregon is one of the more expensive states for trucks in the nation, and now they want to add thousands of dollars more costs on the trucking industry.
The nation's requirement for emissions standards which requires semi-trucks manufactured [I cannot remember the year] to have a regeneration system added to the exhaust, which is not cheap. Other states with their anti-idling laws have already required the addition of auxiliary power units (APU), again at the expense of the trucking industry.
The above requirements, have already forced some of the smaller companies and owner operators out of business.
So again, on the surface these idiots in Salem are not really looking at the BIG picture and in actuality are causing more harm than good.
Trucks are the lifeblood of our nation... and a highly regulated industry. As a friend of mine has told me, "want to go broke... by a truck."
7 comments:
Build adequate highways so that cars and trucks don't have to idle on I-5?
There is no need for aerodynamics when a tractor-trailer is running at or below 10 mph.
But, perhaps, that investment would make too much sense. And, of course, it isn't visiony at all.
.
Wow cool. Does this mean the government will come out and check my tire pressure?
Seriously, the market has already adapted many of these suggestions as an answer to the increasing fuel prices.
P.S. I wonder if this will also apply to Mexican trucks that the government insists we need?
As per usual, the private sector is already way ahead of these visioneers. UPS has managed to save $3 million gallons of fuel by rerouting trips to avoid left turns and shutting off engines at every delivery to reduce idling.
The aftermarket car parts people have withdrawn their opposition as they have been removed from the bill.
Classic car tires are exempted by the bill as well.
And no, the bill only allows the state to require that car service folks (not gas stations) check your tire pressure, and only if they already have the equipment.
sorry my mistake. It was supposed to be 3 million gallons and $12 million when fuel was $4 a gallon.
"the bill only allows the state to require that car service folks (not gas stations) check your tire pressure"they better not touch my car without my permission!
I have had already service areas add or bleed air from my tires without permission, and I end up having to make a special stop to re-fill my tires again.
I keep them at the tire manufactures recommended pressure, and MOST car tires are no longer the standard 32 LBS.
I can hardly wait to see the wind tunnel that the state DEQ builds so that they can prove that their measures are really aerodynamic and not just a lot of hot air.
Post a Comment