Image
REYNER MEDIA
Oregon businesses building power for a clean economy

Climate Solutions is involved in a statewide campaign that puts Oregon on a path to transition to renewable energy, significantly reducing Oregon’s carbon pollution. Renew Oregon offers an exciting and sustainable way to grow Oregon’s clean energy economy, and businesses across the state are joining the coalition to build power and tackle climate change.

The Renew Oregon coalition believes in a clean energy future for the state we love: an Oregon with good-paying jobs, clean air and water and healthy communities. A prosperous Oregon protected for future generations. We are working to transition away from polluting energy to a clean, energy-efficient economy. As a member of the Climate Solutions business network, this message hopefully resonates with you and your company’s values.

We invite companies across the state to join the coalition and endorse the campaign. Today we have dozens of businesses already endorsing the campaign, along with many diverse voices from communities of faith, public health, non-profit organizations and more. But to compete against fossil fuel industry interests, we need many, many more businesses to stand with our campaign.

Please demonstrate your climate leadership by joining the coalition today as a business endorser. Many thanks to the dozens that have already joined the Renew Oregon coalition!

Portland Mayor Hales Issues Business Climate Challenge

Image

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales is calling upon local companies to state their support for strong climate action, and to update their own business practices to help grow a sustainable, clean-energy economy. He has issued the Mayor’s Business Climate Challenge.

Portland companies can meet the challenge, and be recognized as climate leaders, by doing the following:

1. Sign the Oregon Business Climate Declaration, joining 400 other Oregon businesses that have already done so.
2. Take at least two climate actions:

  • Meet at least 50 percent of business electricity needs from renewable sources.
  • Install LED bulbs in all lights that are on for extended periods.
  • Provide incentives to employees to commute by transit, carpool, bicycle or on foot.
  • Power at least 20 percent of company vehicles by electricity or low-carbon fuels.
  • Provide at least one on-site EV charging station for employees.
  • Participate in food-scrap collection.

By taking these actions, businesses can improve their bottom line, keep money circulating in the local economy, and create an export market for products and services developed in response to climate change. Now through November 30th, add your name to the Mayor's Business Climate Challenge, and pledge your commitment to fighting climate change. Businesses have until April 2016 to complete the actions above.

Climate Solutions is proud to have engaged with so many of the leading companies on this list, and to have helped draft and recruit companies for the Oregon Business Climate Declaration. We know dozens more in the region are already taking the above actions! We challenge businesses to take on more climate actions to reduce carbon pollution, and demonstrate what climate leadership looks like. Take the Mayor’s Business Climate Challenge today.

Sungevity Co-Founder Danny Kennedy to Keynote Climate Solutions Seventh Annual Dinner

Climate Solutions' 7th Annual Dinner will be held on Thursday, November 12 at the Hilton Portland from 5pm to 8pm. This is our not-to-miss fundraiser event that will inspire and bring together leaders from all sectors of the clean energy economy, environmental advocates, and elected officials. Secure a table through a corporate sponsorship or purchase a ticket today.

Image

We are excited that our keynote speaker will be Danny Kennedy, CoFounder of Sungevity,a global solar electricity company. Danny started Sungevity, the largest privately held solar service company in the USA, in 2007 and has worked there in various roles ever since. He also cofounded The SfunCube – the only Incubator and Accelerator supporting solar entrepreneurs to succeed in 2013. He authored the book “Rooftop Revolution: How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy – and Our Planet – from Dirty Energy” in 2012.

Our Annual Dinner is a great opportunity to network with over 400 business and clean economy leaders, elected officials, and environmental champions. It's also a great way to support the critical work of Climate Solutions. Climate Solutions works to engage a diverse community in climate change issues and accelerate practical and profitable solutions to global warming by galvanizing leadership, growing investment and bridging divides. Your support will help continue our work to propel the clean energy economy and implement real solutions to climate change in our region. This event often sells out early, so be sure to secure a table through a corporate sponsorship or purchase a ticket today. If you are interested in sponsoring the dinner, contact Carrie Hearne, Oregon business partnerships manager.

Fortune 500 companies pledge to go 100% renewable energy by 2025

Major Fortune 500 companies are pledging to source 100 percent of their electricity from renewable energy. Nike has pledged to become 100 percent renewable by 2025. Eric Sprunk, Chief Operating Officer for NIKE, Inc. said, “Climate change is a global issue that requires global solutions. We believe that collaboration is important to accelerate and scale sustainable innovations that have potential to change the world, and Nike is proud to join the leading global brands in RE100 with our commitment to reach 100% renewable energy.” Read more about RE100, the global campaign led by The Climate Group and CDP, and find out what other global businesses are committing to reduce CO2 emissions.

Save 30% on Go Green! conference registration

Image

GoGreen Portland 2015 is just around the corner on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at the White Stag building in Portland.

GoGreen is a sustainability learning experience for business and government decision-makers. Featuring regionally targeted content and recognized leaders from the community, GoGreen works across industry silos to foster peer-to-peer learning and collaborative solutions. The GoGreen mission is to empower attendees with the strategies, tools and connections to green their organizations with profitability in mind. Use discount code CLIMATE to receive 30% off tickets to GoGreen. REGISTER HERE.

Utility 2025: Building the Northwest's Energy Future

Image

The annual CUB Policy Conference on October 23rd will explore the challenges and opportunities that NW utilities face in the coming decade. The program is specifically designed to educate utility analysts, policy analysts, attorneys, industry professionals, stakeholders, and others working in and around the energy industry. This event will take place on October 23rd, 2015, at the Downtown Portland Hilton.Register by Friday, October 2nd to take advantage of Early Bird pricing! REGISTER HERE.

Author Bio

Carrie Hearne

former Oregon Business Partnerships Manager, Climate Solutions

Carrie Hearne served as Climate Solutions' Oregon Business Partnerships Manager. Carrie has lived in Portland for over a decade and originally hails from the mountains of West Virginia. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Earlham College in Indiana and sustainability certificates from the University of Oregon and Willamette University.

Carrie successfully created and ran the first sustainability program at The Standard, a financial services company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. This program attracted new customers, reduced operating expenses, increased employee engagement. She is a current member of the Climate Action Plan Steering Committee for the City of Portland and Multnomah County and has served on the board of directors for the Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) since 2008. She is also on the advisory board for Women in Sustainability and the Environment (WISE). While at The Standard, Carrie was active on committees with the Oregon Business Association and the Portland Business Alliance, influencing public policy on matters relating to economic development, carbon reduction environmental sustainability and social equity. She has been a frequent guest speaker at regional business conferences such as Go Green Portland.

In her spare time, Carrie enjoys photography, cycling, baking and getting outdoors with her dog Timber.

Give for a brighter future

Did you enjoy this article?