Timber truck convoy protests climate bills at Oregon Capitol
Published 9:59 am Thursday, June 13, 2019
- Timber industry members converge on the steps of the Oregon Capitol June 12 to protect climate legislation they say will devastate them financially.
SALEM — A convoy of logging trucks converged on the Oregon Capitol June 12 to protest two climate bills the industry says will devastate it.
House Bill 2007 would require trucks and other equipment in use in Washington, Clackamas and Multnomah counties to be replaced or upgraded to reduce emissions. Equipment outside those counties is exempt.
HB 2020 would cap carbon dioxide emissions in the state.
If the bills pass, Mike Pihl, 58, predicts they would force even more layoffs at his logging company, which has been struggling since the recession began in 2008.
“How am I going to put up with this kind of punishment?” he told the Capital Press before the rally. “I’m a go-getting son-of-a-gun. I even have a tattoo that says, ‘Never give up.’ But how much longer can I do this? How will we survive?”
This story will be updated.
