On July 27th, the Portland chapter of E2 hosted an event to highlight the release of E2’s “Oregon: Changing Climate, Economic Impacts, & Policies for Our Future” comprehensive report and invited a cross-industry panel to discuss climate change and Oregon’s economy. The breakfast meeting brought together dozens of Portland business leaders and made the case that Oregon’s economy and climate change are inherently connected. Panelists included representatives from Oregon’s timber, wine, and clean energy industries who each touched on the economic challenges and opportunities that addressing climate change will require.
Timm Locke, Director of Forest Products at Oregon Forest Resources Institute, addressed a “win, win” for Oregon and the battle against climate change with the potential of Cross Laminate Timber (“CLT”). CLT is a new product that has the potential to replace concrete as a building material in high-rise apartments and commercial buildings. CLT could boost the struggling timber industry of Oregon through increased use of a sustainable, carbon storage material beyond wood’s use in low-rise buildings today. He spoke about how poorly managed forests in the Pacific Northwest are ticking firebombs of potential wildfires and how sustainable logging and proper management can help create jobs and minimize wildfires. A building in Portland was just awarded a grant from the Dept. of Agriculture to be the first 11-story wood structure in the U.S. It will serve as a test for future building opportunities.
Gary Mortensen, President of Stoller Family Estate, spoke of Oregon’s wine industry and its work to address and adapt to climate change. He also spoke about how the wine industry needs to do more to include local communities and educate them on sustainable practices. Low income communities within the wine country will not prioritize addressing climate change until they have met their own basic needs and addressing those needs is critical.
Bryce Yonker, Senior Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Clean Edge, spoke about Oregon’s clean energy economy. He gave an update on the nearly decade-old state tax program whose goal was to attract clean energy companies to Oregon. The program succeeded but Oregon has since been eclipsed by other states’ efforts to attract cleantech and greentech companies. However, Oregon has grown in other sustainable areas in terms of energy production, cleaner transportation, etc.