"Green" economy may be a contradiction in terms
Here Facebook tries to open a facility in Prineville, and of course it routinely signs up for power from the local electric utility company, Pacific Power. Suddenly it's an ecological pariah because Pacific Power has coal-fired power plants. I'm as "green" as the next guy, but there comes a point at which you want to tell the kids at Greenpeace to grow the heck up.
| Posted at 5:15 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (11)
"there comes a point at which you want to tell the kids at Greenpeace to grow the heck up."
That point was about ten years ago for me.
Posted by Snards | February 23, 2010 6:05 PM
Bloom box
Posted by dman | February 23, 2010 6:07 PM
"Facebook chose Prineville in part because of property tax exemptions that Oregon offers to industrial projects in rural areas."
Interesting...
Posted by ws | February 23, 2010 8:39 PM
Facebook chose Prineville in part because of property tax exemptions that Oregon offers to industrial projects in rural areas.
So the only way to attract business to Oregon is the promise of cheap electricity, low wage workers, and property tax giveaways?
Also, note that Facebook won't be generating any profits out of Prineville. That means that Big Internet will probably pay the minimum of the state's minimum tax.
All part Oregon's plan to model its economy on a "green" version of 1970s Britain ...
Posted by Garage Wine | February 24, 2010 6:49 AM
Also, note that Facebook won't be generating any profits out of Prineville. That means that Big Internet will probably pay the minimum of the state's minimum tax.
But wont they still pay a tax on revenue thanks to M67?
Posted by Jon | February 24, 2010 7:42 AM
They are here )and all the solar companies are here) because of reliable, cheap conventional electricity. And yes they are here because it is more profitable for them to choose central Oregon, but so what? Prineville deserves a break even if it is just a few jobs. As for the tax, they would pay taxes on ad revenues sold to Oregon businesses. I do not know how many that would be, but it is probably not much.
Posted by Robert | February 24, 2010 8:50 AM
The coal is from the US, not imported like oil. It's not perfect but it's what we have. Greenpeace is just another special interest group, looking out for itself rather than all of us.
Posted by Don | February 24, 2010 9:11 AM
"So the only way to attract business to Oregon is the promise of cheap electricity, low wage workers, and property tax giveaways?"
Yep. Businesses go wherever is best on their bottom line. Imagine that. It's almost like they're in business or something.
Posted by Snards | February 24, 2010 9:52 AM
I can see that some of you wouldn't ever be on a Board....or even in a management position.
"I vote 'no' on starting a division of our company in _______ for its low electrical rates, water rates, wage rates, tax subsidies, low property taxes, and wage earner training subsidies. I base this on being Green."
That should go over well with the rest of the Board and shareholders.
Posted by lw | February 24, 2010 10:57 AM
"So the only way to attract business to Oregon is the promise of cheap electricity, low wage workers, and property tax giveaways?"
The entire Silicon Forest (Intel) is an "Enterprise Zone", though I don't think their deal is anywhere as sweet as Facebook's in Prineville.
Boeing is another good example, in their exodus to South Carolina, they received hundreds of millions in outright grants and tax breaks (in exchange for producing some jobs in the state).
I think taxes need to be fair and responsible and not too burdensome. Outright giveaways to a select few? I don't think I believe in that.
Will the average small or medium sized business have access to these subsidies? Nope.
Posted by ws | February 24, 2010 11:49 AM
Psych studies show that seeing green can be good, but buying green can lead to worse behavior.
Posted by Anna | March 14, 2010 2:10 PM