It’s goodbye diesel if Oregon Democrats get their way
By Terry Murry on Friday, March 5th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – Rep. Karin Power (D-Milwaukie) dropped a bill this week in the Oregon House of Representatives that would set dates for a ban on petroleum diesel fuel by the owners and operators of card-activated or key-activated fuel dispensing devices for use in a motor vehicle. The ban would go into effect in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties by 2024 and would be active statewide by 2027.
That’s just the beginning. The bill would then ban the sale of petroleum diesel by retailers starting in 2025 in those first three counties and become a state-wide ban by 2028.
House Bill 3305 states that petroleum diesel does not include fuel that consists of a blend of diesel and biodiesel as long as the biodiesel comprises 99 percent of the mixture by volume.
The Oregon House Republican Caucus issued a strong rebuttal of the ban, saying it’s a declaration of war against the working class.
“Our entire economy depends on the free flow of freight by both truck and rail, nearly all of which is powered by diesel engines,” Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) stated. “There is simply no commercially-available, cost-effective alternative to transporting these goods. Of course, the impacts of this bill go beyond trucking and freight and would destroy any and every industry that relies on heavy equipment, render tens-of-thousands of personal vehicles inoperable, and put countless Oregonians out of work.”
House Bill 3305, which was introduced Tuesday,” is on House Speaker Tina Kotek’s (D-Portland) desk awaiting committee assignment. Public hearings will not be scheduled until the committee assignment is made.
Here is the full release from the GOP lawmakers:
Oregon House Republicans today criticized legislation that would outlaw the use of diesel fuel in Oregon. Authored by a Portland Democratic lawmaker, HB 3305 would prohibit gas stations from offering diesel fuel in some counties starting in 2024 and statewide by 2028. If adopted, the legislation would cripple Oregon’s economy by effectively banning entire industries from operating altogether.
“I’m not sure where to begin with this bill,” said Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany). “Our entire economy depends on the free flow of freight by both truck and rail, nearly all of which is powered by diesel engines. There is simply no commercially available, cost-effective alternative to transporting these goods. Of course, the impacts of this bill go well beyond just trucking and freight and would destroy any and every industry that relies on heavy equipment, render tens-of-thousands of personal vehicles inoperable and put countless Oregonians out of work.
Not only was this bill blindsiding, I am also disturbed to see such a blatant attack on working Oregonians.”
Under HB 3305, retail dealers, nonretail dealers or wholesale dealers of diesel fuel would be prohibited from selling the fuel in accordance with the following schedule:
●January 1, 2024, if the nonretail dealer is located in Clackamas, Washington or Multnomah County.
●January 1, 2025, if the retail dealer is located in Clackamas, Washington.
●January 1, 2027, if the nonretail dealer is located anywhere in this state.
●January 1, 2028, if the retail dealer is located anywhere in this state.
“There is absolutely no way we can implement this legislation in accordance to these timelines without extreme disruption to Oregonians’ daily lives and the obliteration of our economy as we know it,” said Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville). “The super majority has put agenda over people and our economy. If enacted, Oregonians could no longer rely on everyday goods like food, groceries and medicine being readily available.
Entire industries would disappear, thousands of jobs would be lost and rural and agriculture areas will be disproportionally devastated. This concept should have never been introduced this way, it should never get a hearing without additional vetting, and it should certainly never be brought forward for a vote.”
HB 3305 was first read in the Oregon House Tuesday and awaits committee assignment.
