Independents, Republicans and Democrats

After talking with the friendly people across our state one issue often comes up. The major forest fires, long-lasting heat waves, the droughts and ocean acidification are all causing too much carnage across our great state. They are getting worse with time and wreaking havoc on our health and economic livelihoods. This is happening in all four corners of Oregon.

NASA

While working as a public educator at NASA I was able to see in real time what was happening to our planet. I often spoke directly to scientists and engineers working on many of our satellites and the findings were alarming.
What we are facing is absolute. The science is undeniable.
Climate Change is 100% real.

Policies

Policies my administration will focus on:

Carbon Farming
Renewable Energy Economy
Clean Electricity
Stronger Targets on Clean Energy Efficiency
Robust Reforestation Policy
Revolutionary and Highly-Efficient Recycling System
Requiring all Public Schools Shift More Education on Climate Change Cause and Prevention.

My administration will sit down with Oregon’s Environmental Council  so we can work together to implement strong action.

The West Coast Solution

Within my first 100 days in office, I will be requesting a meeting with the governors of California and Washington to discuss the creation of the first ever of its kind West Coast Solution to address Climate Change. We can no longer rely on the broken federal government to fix our climate crisis. In this West Coast Solution we need to bring in the best and brightest minds from around the planet and work together to create the boldest action required. The goal is to focus on innovation and invention to create zero-carbon products and policies.

We can greatly reduce the emissions causing greenhouse gases by focusing on inventing zero-carbon technologies. That right there will be the focus of my administration with respect to climate change.

It is imperative that we work together to help attract clean electricity innovations so it is widely affordable for everyone to use. The West Coast can and will be a leader in tackling the climate crisis we are all facing.

Thinking About The Future

My administration will attract innovators and manufacturers into our state who are focusing on future technologies. Working on what? Zero-carbon cement, steel, fertilizers and plastics.

New construction from residential and commercial buildings should be required to have electric charging ports. School buses and trucks need to go electric. All new construction will be required to follow Green Building codes and healthy home retrofits. Energy affordability and low utility rates for low income and tribal areas will have my full support. My administration will focus on creating local renewable energy sector jobs that incentivize local energy projects, especially out in the rural areas. Job growth in clean energy can be huge.

Water Pipeline

As Governor I aim to go BIG. I will help to create the first-ever mega  water pipeline across eastern Oregon. This life-saving, community-saving and job creating water-line will be required in order to strengthen rural communities, strengthen farms, combat wild fires and defend against major droughts. Hope is around the corner.

Oregon’s Civilian Climate Corps

Under my administration I will require a whole new workforce specifically trained to combat our climate crisis. Forestry management, engineers, farmers, firefighters, home builders, electricians, all being trained to defend our communities from inevitable climate disasters. We have to go BIG and take life-saving knowledge to strengthen communities all accross Oregon with proactive measures. Oregon’s Civilian Climate Corps will focus on foresight so that Oregon will be safer and stronger as we head into the future of worsening climate crises.

Oregon’s Oceans

Oregon’s oceans are being devastated by micro-plastics, ocean acidification and hypoxia. This is devastating our coastal cities and we need to put in the time and resources to reverse the damage. Oregon’s ecosystems, the seafood industry and the state’s economy are all being affected. We share the same ocean with Washington and California so it makes sense to bring the brightest minds to work together. 

Oregon Wildfires 

Fires do not care about your political party nor do they stop at state borders. Washington and California must work together with Oregon to help prevent these raging fires that spread from state to state. The cost of Oregon’s wildfires in 2020 alone was over $350 million.  We should shift more funding to prevention and invest in our future, especially as the climate gets worse. You can read more about Aerial Rapid Response Team (ARRT). I want to focus on stopping forest fires in their infancy before they spread out of control.

With the combined forces of a West Coast Solution, we can share technology, robotics, and infrared flame detector cameras on satellites. This will allow us to put out small fires before they become unstoppable wildfires. Within minutes a fire can be detected and a rapid response deployed. Every second counts.

As Governor I will make the biggest push in Oregon’s history to attract companies that focus on the future of energy. Clean energy. Innovation and inventions that brings us closer to a zero-carbon footprint. The future of energy is both smart for the environment and for the economy. It’s time Oregon steps up to become a leader. Under my leadership we will be.

Energy shouldn’t be a Political Issue

It’s a job’s issue. It’s an environmental issue. Don’t let politicians try to mislead you. Investing in vital, clean infrastructure is key to creating good paying jobs and bringing about a full economic revitalization.

Battery Energy Storage

Investing in battery energy storage technology is the smart thing to do when planning for the future. This resiliant form of sustainable energy can be a manufacturing powerhouse for the state of Oregon and create good paying jobs. Clean electricity storage is the future and I want to fast-track battery storage projects thoughout our state. It is essential to a resilient and reliable power grid and a clean energy economy.

Wind Turbine Technician

Did you know, a wind turbine technician is one of the fastest-growing jobs in America right now? On average they make over $52,000 per year.

Currently Oregon ranks 9th in wind energy  and 19th for solar energy. We can do better.

Solar Power

Solar power is the most abundant energy source on Earth, and it is cheaper than fossil fuels. Airplanes can fly around the world while running entirely on solar energy. Solar power isn’t just a daytime deal. The power from the sun’s rays can be stored in advanced batteries. Oregon manufacturers can produce components to make advanced batteries, wind turbines and solar panels for roofs, solar roadways and solar powered vehicles. The job growth opportunities here could be exponential.

Clean Electricity

We are often using oil and coal in order to produce electricy. This needs to change.  It’s time we shift our focus on innovative ways to make clean electricity. Clean electricity will be a vital step in reducing our carbon footprint.

Large investments into research and development is an important step we need to take in the search for clean energy and clean electricity.

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This is something that I am very passionate about… and I hope you are too…

Our Beloved Salmon Runs

Salmon are an important part of the animal kingdom and most especially precious to humans.

Salmon is one of the most important species of fish to the state of Oregon and we need to do more to protect them and allow them to flourish throughout our Oregon rivers.

In Oregon, a healthy salmon population is vital to our economy. Cities and towns and businesses (both large and small) depend on strong salmon numbers. Oregon’s Native American tribes have been depending on healthy salmon runs for centuries. As the salmon numbers decline so does a part of their livelihood. I want to do even more to preserve those runs. Whatever it takes…it needs to happen.

Counties with rivers running through them can expect an increase in job growth from salmon protection and rejuvenation.  The Columbia River region is home to many rivers where the salmon migrate. Central Oregon counties along the Deschutes the Clackamas and Klamath River have salmon runs as well.

Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund

We should be proud that the US Congress established the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) to reverse the decline of West Coast salmon. Millions of dollars have gone directly towards Oregon’s salmon habitat. The Brown administration has done some good work on applying that money in the right direction and we applaud them for that. But more can and should be done, which will include pressuring Congress to establish a secondary fund for this vital and endangered species. If salmon numbers ever decline to the point that salmon becomes extremely rare or illegal to fish, it will affect everyone from our home-chefs, to our grocery markets, to the national fisheries.

Strengthening Salmon Habitat

If you are living in a city sitting along a river of salmon runs, then you can expect a revitalization of support and education in order to help strengthen salmon habitat, spawning, fishing, hatcheries and outdoor recreation. My administration will have a team of environmental salmon specialists who insist on habitat restoration programs to rejuvenate the shorelines and nurture the plants needed for successful and healthy spawning. We will heed these specialists’ recommendations to make our salmon strong again.

Advanced Salmon Innovation

My administration will advocate for advanced innovation for our fish hatcheries to produce stronger fry, better foods, and cleaner waters. We will seek new methods of hatching more salmon fry to life and keep them alive longer into adulthood.
How can we pay for this? 

A stronger salmon population will correspond to more Oregon tourist dollars if we can establish world-class salmon fishing spots. The economic boost from recreational and commercial fishing industries will far outweigh the cost of investing in our salmon habitats.

Salmon is key to living a healthy lifestyle. Rest peacefully knowing that I will protect our salmon and help them to flourish.

Aerial Rapid Response Team

Upon taking office my administration will make the case to fund a new task force, Aerial Rapid Response Team (ARRT).

We need to construct more fire-towers strategically located at vulnerable points in Oregon’s forests as recommended by fire captains and the Forest Management Committee. We will invest in new environmentally friendly fire-suppressing technology and new types of firefighting aircraft and larger water-dropping planes which will save the state millions in the long run.

Satellite Detection

Satellite radar technology exists that can detect the start of a fire within minutes. I will make sure that our fire and rescue teams are tapped into this technology. Once notified of a new fire, ARRT will already be ready to act.

I will put forth recommendation of continual patrolling of our skies during the short fire season with water-dropping aircraft. This will allow us to quickly congregate around fires to dampen them while still in their infancy. While we cannot prevent all fires from getting out of control, we can dramatically decrease the number of fires that will have that opportunity.

None of us will ever forget the feeling of being trapped in our homes during the fires and smoke of 2020. Many had their lives irrevocably changed by the fires. Where ever possible, I want to stop that kind of tragedy from taking place.

3-State Solution

Forest fires do not stop at state borders. Washington and California must work together with Oregon to help prevent these raging fires that spread from state to state. I want to establish a wildfire task force to create a 3-State Solution like no other. We can share technology, robotics and infrared flame detection cameras.

Forest Management 

Continual Forest Management is a must. Being proactive is an important step in forest fire prevention. Removing dead brush, backburning, and thinning trees will be necessary. Good forest management practices alone will not be enough…especially with climate change drying out our lush forests. 

Protecting old-growth forests is in my heart and we need to think outside the box to protect them. Each year we tragically lose just a little bit more of our ancient, mystifying old-growth forests.

What Are The Alternatives?

The cost of wildfires in just 2020 alone was over $350-million.
Over 4000 homes were destroyed and millions of beautiful wild animals were killed.
For fiscal conservatives who are against investing more into a fire-fighting bill, what is your alternative? Doing nothing is not an option. Don’t oppose this without giving detailed concrete resolutions and solutions on what the inevitable will bring. Because if you think 2020 was bad, the climate is only getting worse and so will future destruction.

Upon taking office my first goal will be to pressure the US Congress to fund a new West Coast 2022 fire-fighting bill. But we must be ready if partisan politics prevents anything from getting done in Washington. How can we pay for this?

We have to go big. It’s time for ARRT.

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