Faithful energy lobbyists

One of the emerging players in the Legislature's renewable energy debate is the Oregon Interfaith Power and Light lobby, a faith-based effort to help curb global warming supported in part by the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. I spoke to Jeff Hammarlund, a PSU professor and energy policy expert, on Friday who said he is representing Interfaith power and light as a consultant on the Governor's climate change advisory committee. Jeff, who helped craft the Northwest Power Act, is now participating in the drafting of the state's renewable portfolio standard. So far, he said, they're encountering the largest opposition from the state's public utilities that are concerned about the cost of implementing the standard.