LYNN P. FINDLEY MARK OWENS State Senator State Representative

June 4, 2021

Senator Betsy Johnson, Co-Chair Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, Co-Chair Representative Dan Rayfield, Co-Chair Joint Committee on Ways and Means Oregon State Legislature

RE: Support for HB 2520A: One-Time Rulemaking on Goal Exceptions for Renewables

Senator Johnson, Senator Steiner Hayward, and Representative Rayfield:

We write today to support HB 2520A, which would require the Department of Land Conservation and Development to adopt rules identifying reasons a county could justify an exception to Oregon’s Statewide Land Use Planning Goals for the purpose of building renewable energy facilities.

This land use goal exception process has proven necessary because Oregon’s land use system is based on Planning Goals that no longer reflect the state’s objectives and values for renewable energy. Despite state policies that seek to promote renewable project development and bring more renewable energy jobs to Oregon, none of Oregon’s nineteen Land Use Goals explicitly acknowledge renewable energy as a beneficial use of land. By remaining silent on the value of renewables—while explicitly recognizing the value of other land uses—Oregon is implicitly categorizing renewables as a use of land that the State does not wish to promote. We know that this is not the State’s intention, but it makes the siting of renewable energy projects very difficult or even impossible in many areas.

The one-time rulemaking authorized by HB 2520A would provide a better-defined and more predictable process for county governments to apply land use goal exceptions to allow for the construction of renewable energy projects. We need HB 2520A to help ensure that Oregon is poised to meet growing regional demand for renewable energy projects. This exception would not eliminate all barriers to building renewable projects in Oregon, but it would be a significant step in the right direction. The bill is permissive for local governments, and it will also help to avoid litigation around the siting of renewable projects.

Renewable projects built in Oregon provide substantial economic development to rural areas, including property tax revenue, construction jobs, and ongoing operations work. The DLCD rulemaking directed by HB 2520A carries a modest one-time funding request of $300,000, but it would deliver an excellent return on investment for Oregonians.

For the above reasons, we respectfully request passage and full funding of HB 2520A.

Sincerely,

Rep. Mark Owens Senator Lynn Findley Rep. Bobby Levy House District 60 Senate District 30 House District 58

Senator Rep. Pam Marsh Senator Senate District 6 House District 5 Senate District 23

Senator Kathleen Taylor Rep. Karin Power Senate District 21 House District 41

Judge Dan Joyce Patty Dorroh Malheur County Commissioner Harney County Commissioner

Judge Pete Runnels Donna Beverage Harney County Commissioner Union County Commissioner

Paul Anderes Don Hodge Union County Commissioner Malheur County Commissioner

Mae Huston Bruce Nichols Jefferson County Commissioner Baker County Commissioner

Todd Nash Susan Roberts Wallowa County Commissioner Wallowa County Commissioner

Sam Palmer Jim Hamsher Grant County Commissioner Grant County Commissioner

Jerry Brummer Crook County Commissioner

Capitol Office: 900 Court St. NE, Salem, OR 97301 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]