Oregon Delegation Seeks Federal Partnership for the Oregon Sustainability Center

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An Oregon delegation that includes Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Portland State University president Wim Wiewel, Nancy Hamilton of Governor Ted Kulongoski's office, Janet Gagnon of Solar World and a group of civic entrepreneurs will travel to Washington D.C. next week to lobby for funding for the proposed $120 million Oregon Sustainability Center.

The OSC is envisioned as a first-of-a-kind synthesis of world class environmental performance and an integrated sustainability agenda, serving as both a technological model and a hub for sustainable practices, policy, education, research and entrepreneurship. As a triple net zero building, across water and energy use and carbon emissions, the OSC is designed to achieve LEED Platinum and the world's most rigorous certification protocol, the Cascadia Green Building Council's Living Building Challenge.  

"The Oregon Sustainability Center is an on-the-ground example of green jobs and sustainability leadership," said Mayor Sam Adams. "Our time in Washington, D.C. will help us identify the champions and funding opportunities to help make the Center a reality."

The group has received help from Oregon's congressional delegation to schedule time on January 25 and 26 with high level staff at the Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, Housing & Urban Development, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Green Building Council.

A reception on Monday evening, January 25, at the U.S. Green Building Council's headquarters, sponsored by the Portland Sustainability Institute, U.S. Green Building Council, Oregon BEST, Ball Janik LLP and Lane Powell, will highlight the building and Oregon's leadership in sustainability for a small group of key influencers within federal agencies, the White House, area foundations, trade associations, and non-government organizations.

"We're eager to help Oregon and the Portland metro region extend its leadership in creating livable communities and a green economy, by sharing the Oregon Sustainability Center's clean energy jobs and innovation message," said Janet Gagnon, Solar World's government relations manager.

Confirmed members of the Oregon delegation are:

- Sam Adams, Mayor of Portland

- Gail Achterman, Executive Director, Institute for Natural Resources, Oregon State University
- Dan Bates, Director, City of Portland Office of Government Relations

- Rob Bennett, Executive Director, Portland Sustainability Institute
- Dan Carol, Adjunct Faculty, University of Oregon

- Mark Edlen, CEO & President, Gerding Edlen Development Company

- Janet Gagnon, Government Relations Manager, Solar World

- Nancy Hamilton, Economic Development Policy Director, Office of Governor Ted Kulongoski

- Dave Kenney, President and Executive Director, Oregon Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies Center
-  Wim Wiewel, President, Portland State University

- Greg Wolfe, Executive Director, National Policy Consensus Center

The Oregon Sustainability Center is a collaborative project partnering the Oregon University System, City of Portland, Portland Development Commission, Portland Sustainability Institute and the region's leading green economy businesses and organizations.

SOURCE Portland Development Commission