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Rally at Oregon Capitol
Eric Stachon
One step closer to limiting climate pollution in Oregon

Oregon’s legislature moved one step closer to passing historic climate legislation today. This afternoon, the House and Senate environment committees both approved the Clean Energy Jobs bill (HB 4001/SB 1507). The policy to limit and price our state’s climate pollution and invest in clean energy solutions now moves to the Rules Committee in both houses.

On Monday, nearly 500 people from all across Oregon came to the State Capitol and told their legislators that we need urgent action in our state to address the climate crisis and accelerate the transition to clean energy. Thank you to everyone who came, and to everyone who has taken action.

And our legislators listened! Huge thanks to climate champions Senator Michael Dembrow and Representative Ken Helm for shepherding the Clean Energy Jobs bill through their committees over multiple years, several workgroups, and countless meetings with Oregonians. The result is a smart, innovative strategy that can grow Oregon’s economy and support communities most affected by climate change.

Oregon became a state 159 years ago. Today, we are working together to protect the incredible people and places that make Oregon so special. But it’s far from over, and our voices are needed more than ever. Please contact your legislators to thank them for taking this first step and let them know that you want the Clean Energy Jobs bill to pass this session. 

In collaboration with many incredible partners, Climate Solutions has played a key role in developing Clean Energy Jobs. With your help, we’re excited to finally put a hard cap and price on our state’s climate pollution and invest in the clean energy solutions we need. Now is the time for our state to step up to the challenge.

Happy birthday, Oregon!

Author Bio

Meredith Connolly

Oregon Director, Climate Solutions

Meredith brings over a decade of climate policy experience to her work accelerating Oregon’s transition to a clean energy economy. She advocates for innovative and equitable policy solutions to reduce pollution and create clean energy jobs across the state. Currently, Meredith leads a team diligently working to electrify everything from cars, trucks, and buses to homes and buildings, and power it all with 100% clean electricity.

Prior to joining Climate Solutions, Meredith was a Climate and Energy Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. At NRDC, she advanced renewable energy policies in the U.S. and internationally. She also implemented programs to protect public health and improve climate resilience to heat waves and air pollution in India’s growing cities. Before NRDC, Meredith practiced law in the private sector.

Meredith is a member of the Oregon and California State Bar Associations. She holds a JD from Boston College Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and French from Santa Clara University. In her free time, Meredith enjoys exploring her incredible home state of Oregon with her family and rooting too loudly for the Portland Thorns and Timbers.

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