Radical Noesis - Thinking outside the box

SEN. GINNY BURDICK
State Senator, District 18
Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee
Criminal Justice Commission

NEWS RELEASE

November 27, 2006
CONTACT: Jordan Rash 503-986-1718

SALEM - Senator Ginny Burdick (D-Portland/Tigard) will host a town hall meeting on biofuels on December 5, 2006, at Portland State University. The event, covering biofuels production, economics and the role of local and state governments, will be held in the Cascade Room at PSU at 7pm.

Senator Burdick will moderate an expert panel on biofuels that includes Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard, who is leading an initiative by the Portland City Council to expand the use of biofuels in Portland. Also on the panel will be Legislative Director Lindsey Capps and Biofuels Program Director Kevin Considine of the Oregon Environmental Council (OEC); Professor of Economics Patricia Koss at PSU; and Managing Partner of Sequential Biofuels Tomas Endicott.

"Considering the impending depletion of the world's oil resources within this half-century, coupled with increased global warming, Oregon must take an active role in reducing emissions into the atmosphere and must reduce our dependence on a limited resource," Sen. Burdick said. "With its abundance of suitable resources, Oregon is in an excellent position to become a national leader in biofuels production."

The goal of this town hall is to inform constituents of the advantages and potential downsides of biofuels, with a focus on research in Oregon public institutions, including PSU. In addition, the town hall will serve to educate constituents on how local and state governments are working to incorporate biofuels in government activities and encourage use among private businesses. Members of the audience will be given the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.

For more information regarding the town hall meeting, please contact Jordan Rash, legislative assistant for Senator Burdick, at 503-986-1718 or email at sen.ginnyburdick@state.or.us.