Oregon Public Broadcasting

With fuel and utility bills rising rapidly in the Northwest, Oregon’s Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden is touring the state to hear what people think.

The first two stops -- in Eugene Monday and Portland Tuesday -- attracted a total of about 500 people. Many of them stressed the need to invest in research, or production, of renewable energy.

Non-profit leader, Joe Nunn, arrived at the Portland forum with green-collar jobs on his mind.

Joe Nunn: “It’s time for us as Oregonians to step up, to realize that we can employ a lot of people, we could be a model for the country, and I want to see this country change for the better, and the only way for us to do that, is for Oregon to be the one to show ‘em how.”

Senator Wyden also heard from solar energy leaders interested in receiving loan guarantees and subsidies that other industries have.

Wyden said he’d prefer to reduce subsidies for other industries, rather than create new ones. But he said he would work to direct federal funds to programs that would help low-income people pay their bills.