2010 Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Bradbury to Deliver Summit Keynote

I'm very pleased to report that former Oregon Secretary of State and 2010 Governor's Race candidate Bill Bradbury will be joining us for this year's Washington County Sustainability Summit at Pacific. Mr Bradbury will be delivering the keynote address at the March 6th Summit, speaking about the challenge of combating global warming while retaining our region's competitiveness in the clean energy economy.

The past several years have seen Bill Bradbury become one of Oregon's foremost voices for environmental responsibility and clean tech competitiveness. Since becoming one of the first 50 people from across the country to participate in former Vice President Al Gore's trainings on global climate change, he has given over 200 presentations on Climate Change in Oregon around the state - including one at Pacific University in February of 2008.

During his time as Oregon Secretary of State, Bill Bradbury became the first public official elected in Oregon at the statewide level to publicly oppose developing high-carbon liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure in this state. This marked a turning point in environmental and land-rights activists' struggle against LNG development, as several other high-ranking public officials announced their opposition to LNG projects soon after Mr Bradbury. In addition to protecting Oregon communities from LNG, Bill Bradbury has been an outspoken advocate of clean energy, sustainable transportation, and transitioning our state away from coal use.

It's an honor to have gubernatorial candidate Bill Bradbury joining us for the Second Annual Washington County Sustainability Summit.

Elected Leaders on Sustainability to Speak at Summit

I'm pleased to announce that three new speakers from the arenas of state and local government have been confirmed for the Second Annual Summit. I'd like to thank Oregon State Representative Chuck Riley, Washington County Commissioner Dick Schouten, and Forest Grove City Councilor Victoria Lowe for agreeing to join us at this event.

Chuck Riley represents Oregon House District 29, including parts of the Washington County communities of Hillsboro, Cornelius, and Forest Grove. Representative Riley has been a consistent and outspoken supporter of environmental responsibility in the Oregon legislature, particularly on the issue of liquefied natural gas (LNG). As landowners affected by LNG pipelines and environmentalists concerned about LNG's large carbon footprint seek to keep this imported fossil fuel out of Oregon, Rep Riley has been one of our greatest allies in the legislature. It's an honor to have Rep Riley joining us for the Second Annual Sustainbility Summit at Pacific.

Dick Schouten represents the Beaverton/Aloha area on the Washington County Board of Commissioners. Named "the voice of environmental responsibility on the [Washington County] commission" by the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Commissioner Schouten is known for his advocacy of bike-friendly cities and livable communities. At this year's Summit, students and community members will welcome Commissioner Schouten to Pacific University to speak about local environmental leadership for the third year in a row.

Victoria Lowe is a City Councilor for Forest Grove - a city with notable environmental achievements that include becoming the first local government in Oregon to publicly oppose high-carbon LNG in the state. Since Forest Grove's announcement opposing LNG, many other local governments have followed suit and stood up for Oregon's natural environment and farmland. Councilor Lowe's involvement in sustainability issues includes work to keep our waterways clean, and manage Washington County's timber resources in the most sustainable manner possible. It's great to have Councilor Lowe joining us for this year's Summit.

Local Peak Oil Activist Peter Lunsford to Speak at Summit

I'm excited to announce one of our first confirmed speakers for the Second Annual Sustainability Summit: Peter Lunsford, local Washington County activist. Known to local elected officials and Washington County citizens alike for his advocacy of the need to prepare for coming energy shortages, Peter has probably done more than any other person to educate the county's citizenry, elected leaders, and city and county administrators about the concept and implications of peak oil. Peter will be joining us on March 6th for the Summit's afternoon panel and citizen dialogue on Addressing Sustainability in Washington County.

As a result of his persistent local advocacy and education efforts, Peter Lunsford has been featured in an Oregonian discussion on energy conservation in Washington County, addressed county residents at numerous public meetings, and has spoken at Pacific University three times in the past. It's a great honor to have Peter coming to join us for the Second Annual Sustainability Summit at Pacific. Please register for the Summit here!

Tentative Schedule for 2nd Annual Washington County Sustainability Summit at Pacific University

This is a tentative schedule of the events for March 6th. Please RSVP here, and we'll keep you updated as plans for the Summit are finalized!

Tentative Schedule:

9:30am - Doors open

10am-10:40am - Keynote Presentation: Breaking Fossil Fuel Dependence in Washington County

10:45am-11:45am - Panel: Carbon's Not-So-Hidden Costs (panelists to be announced)

11:50am-12:20pm - Speaker (to be announced)

12:20pm-1:00pm - Presentation: Local Foods

1:00pm-2:20pm - Lunch and on-campus action

2:30-3:50pm - Panel/citizen dialogue: Addressing Sustainability in Washington County (panelists to be announced)

4pm-4:20pm - Wrap-up/summary

4:20-5:00pm - Afternoon Keynote Speaker (to be announced)

Come for all or part of the day - register now!