Lemons and Laurels

Time once again for our semi-regular, but always occasional KINK Considers lemons and laurels.

Lemon to Portland General Electric. PGE plans to spend a half billion in ratepayer money to modify its Boardman coal plant, but it will not result in less carbon dioxide emissions from what is the largest stationary source of greenhouse gases in Oregon. PGE thinks it needs to keep coal in the mix along with gas, renewables, and hydro for future demand, but the Northwest Power Planning Council says energy efficiency can cover 85-percent of new demand.

Laurel to Apple and Nike. Apple for pulling out of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce due to the chamber's opposition to anti-global warming measures, and Nike for leaving the board of the U.S. chamber.

Lemon to U of O football coach Chip Kelly for saying he will consider reinstating LeGarrette Blount,the running back who sucker punched an opposing player. Blount gave the U of O a black eye and now Kelly may give it a second black eye. Time for U of O's president to get involved.

Laurel to Portland City Auditor Lavonne Griffin Valade. She is commissioning an independent look at the three-year-long investigation that resulted in Police Chief Rosie Sizer exonerating the officers who killed James Chasse.

Lemon to organizers of the Sam Adams recall effort for saying they will try again after failing the first time. If anything, that would lead to sympathy for Adams. Laurel to Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle for deciding he would not authorize condemnation of private land for the purpose of building a new stadium for the Portland Beavers.