Intel's Hypocrisy Exposed....Again

A few weeks ago, Intel's Government Affairs Manager assured me that Intel "remains committed to the principle that Oregon continues to lead on the critical issues of carbon reduction and climate change." He also said, "I hope and believe there will be legislation this year that delivers on that goal." This was after members of the Cascade Climate Network, myself included, had invited Intel to lobby in support of Oregon's Senate Bill 80 - a cap on greenhouse emissions in our state. Intel's reply, in essence, can be summed up like this: We can't lobby for SB 80 right now, but don't worry; we're confident Oregon will pass plenty of great global warming laws this year.

Well, a few weeks after Intel tried to reassure us that there was no need for them to lobby on behalf of SB 80, the bill is in tatters. SB 80 is no longer even a cap on greenhouse emissions - it simply instructs Oregon agencies to find ways of reducing emissions, and gives them a lot of discretion in the process. Hmm....looks like Intel was a little over-confident about the prospects for prospects on "the critical issues of carbon reduction and climate change" moving forward without their help. Of course, while refusing to step up in defense of SB 80, Intel was still lending its membership to the alliance of corporate interests bent on destroying climate policy in this state....

Intel helped kill SB 80. It's time to hold them accountable.

-Nick Engelfried

Tell the Oregonian: Intel's Messing with Our Future!

We've just been handed a prime opportunity to call Intel out on its greenwashing. Yesterday, the Oregonian ran an article on the hurdles facing climate policy in Oregon in light of the economic downturn. This article specifically listed the ironically named Oregonians for Balanced Climate Policy as the principle opponent of Senate Bill 80. Now, Oregonians for Balanced Climate Policy, despite the grassroots sound of the title, is no citizen-initiated network of ordinary Oregonians. Instead, it's a conglomeration of major business associations including Industrial Customers of Northwest Utilities, of which Intel is a member.

Can you write a brief letter to the Oregonian editor, and let them know what you think of Intel's membership in this corporate interest group? You can email your letter to letters@news.oregonian.com

Certainly, Intel doesn't control everything Oregonians for Balanced Climate Policy does. But by lending groups like this the support of their membership, and then doing almost nothing to counter the group's attack on Senate Bill 80 and other progressive climate policies, Intel is letting Big Business sink Oregon's clean energy future. It's hugely important that the public realize what's going on here: a company which paints itself as "green" is preparing to let sustainability policy in Oregon fall by the wayside. Please take a few minutes to write a short letter to the Oregonian, and give them your 2 cents.

Hints for effective letter-writing: keep it short and to the point - no more than 150 words. You can email your letter to letters@news.oregonian.com; be sure to include your name, phone number, and a address, which they require for confirmation purposes. It only takes a few minutes, and could make a big difference. Please write to the Oregonian today!

-Nick Engelfried

Is Intel a Fossil Fool?

Yesterday, approximately 50 students from colleges and universities across Oregon converged on our state capitol to lobby our elected officials for bold climate policy. A representative of Intel was there with us, to support the goal of a clean energy future for Oregon, and show that the largest private employer in this state is willing to stand with the youth of Oregon in confronting the most urgent environmental challenge of our time.

April fools!!!

The part about Oregon's youth climate movement is true; we really were in Salem yesterday to push our representatives for real action on global warming and clean energy. We members of the Cascade Climate Network showed that the young people of this country are not going to sit there and let industry kill the progressive climate legislation moving forward in Oregon. But the part about Intel is the April Fools (Fossil Fools) Day joke. The Cascaded Climate Network's Corporate Accountability branch challenged Intel to live up to its green rhetoric by lobbying with us yesterday. But Intel's head lobbyist said no.

Show Intel what you think of their foolishness by voting in the pole at left!

What was Intel's excuse? We asked them to support SB 80 - the bill that would put a permanent cap on Oregon's greenhouse emissions - and Intel claimed they couldn't get behind it because they hadn't yet seen the exact wording of the bill. Well, that's understandable. But then I suggested that they join us in simply lobbying for a cap on carbon, with the understanding that the company couldn't commit to any bill until they saw the final wording. Intel still wouldn't join us. In fact, their head lobbyist said it was "disturbing" that we would assume Intel supported a cap on carbon, just because they claim to be a leader in corporate sustainability. Come again?

I'd say that this week, Intel showed itself to be a true "fossil fool" - a company that may talk the talk, but is not walking the walk when it comes to leadership in sustainability. If you agree, please vote on the poll at left, and help the Cascade Climate Network deliver Intel a "foolie" - an award that officially recognizes their fossil foolishness, and urges them to get their act together.

Let's call for an end to Intel's foolishness.

-Nick Engelfried