2023 Oregon Legislative Priorities 

Oregon has made incredible strides in cleaning up our electric grid and transportation sector through milestone policies in recent years. The buildings sector — Oregon’s second biggest source of climate pollution — requires similar cornerstone policies to set a framework that reduces pollution and energy waste and increases the resilience of our homes and buildings in the face of climate impacts. At the same time, Congress has recently passed historic legislation that will soon inject billions of dollars into climate resilience, clean energy, and infrastructure in Oregon. The combined investments of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) present a historic opportunity for Oregon to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy, create family-wage jobs and address environmental injustice. The Legislature needs to act in 2023 to position Oregon to maximize the economic and climate potential of this once-in-a-generation funding infusion. Building upon the strong foundation of recent climate and clean energy policy wins in Oregon, this suite of priorities helps turn the promise of these policies into progress on the ground that meaningfully benefits us all.

[read our 2023 OR Legislative Priorities in PDF form]

Building Resilience Policy Package

Oregonians deserve healthy, affordable, resilient homes and buildings that run on clean energy. Right now, too many of our homes and workplaces put us at risk from the harms of climate change, like extreme heat and wildfire smoke. The way we heat buildings and water with fossil fuels is making things worse, especially for lower-income and frontline communities. A suite of policies emerging from the legislature’s Resilient Efficient Buildings Task Force will help reduce climate and air pollution from Oregon’s homes and buildings while increasing energy efficiency, affordability, and resilience and creating good jobs. Read our Resilient Building Coalition factsheet!

  • Healthy Heating and Cooling for All: (SB 868)
    • Leverage new federal incentives and existing state programs to accelerate heat pump adoption and increase weatherization and retrofits; 
    • Set a state goal to get 500,000 new heat pumps installed by 2030, with a priority for low-income and environmental justice communities; and
    • Align Oregon’s energy efficiency programs with state climate goals.
  • Pass a “Building Performance Standard” (SB 870)
    • Reduce climate pollution and improve the energy efficiency of existing large commercial buildings over time. This policy represents a huge climate bang-for-its-buck while saving energy and improving indoor air quality.
  • Build Smart from the Start (new construction): (SB 869)
    • Strengthen building codes to increase energy efficiency and resilience; and
    • Encourage low-carbon building materials.
  • Smart State Buildings: (SB 871)
    • Ensure public buildings walk the talk on Oregon’s efficiency and climate goals.

Key Bills to Accelerate Oregon’s 100% Clean Energy Transition

As Oregon accelerates the transition to a carbon-free grid, we need to make sure the state’s clean energy policy is consistent and inclusive of some of the state’s largest energy users. We also want to ensure how we transition to 100% clean energy results in economic benefits for communities across Oregon and increases resilience in the face of growing climate impacts. As the state transitions toward a cleaner and more equitable transportation system, leveraging federal funding to reduce the upfront cost of replacing diesel trucks, delivery vans, and buses with zero-emission vehicles is critical. These goals are reflected in the following bills:

100% Clean Electricity for Big Tech (HB 2816

Applies the state’s 100% clean energy targets for data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations whose power is not currently regulated by HB 2021 to ensure the state’s major energy users are transitioning from coal and gas to carbon-free power by 2040.
Read our factsheet!

Electric Truck Rebates (HB 2714)

Creates a Medium- Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Program that provides rebates for zero-emission vehicles like delivery trucks and buses and can attract and distribute anticipated federal funding.
 Read our factsheet!

Utility Customer Protection (HB 3152)

Directs the Oregon Public Utility Commission to consider the climate in its decision-making. The bill also shifts the financial risk of expanding the fossil fuel system from residential utility customers to gas companies and their investors by ending the practice of using residential ratepayer funding to subsidize or incentivize new gas line extensions and new gas appliances after 2026. Read our factsheet!

Renewable Hydrogen (HB 2530)

Defines green electrolytic hydrogen. Directs Oregon Department of Energy to develop statewide strategies to accelerate renewable hydrogen in a regionally-aligned, climate-smart way.

Microgrids and Rural Resilience (TBD)

Supports the development and adoption of microgrid systems to increase electric grid and energy resilience. A workgroup has been convened by Representatives Marsh and Owens to finalize details.

Last updated 2/14/2023
 

Read on for the latest updates on Climate Solutions' work in Oregon:

Oregon State Government

Improving Oregon’s Homes and Buildings for our Climate and Communities

by Greer Ryan on March 8, 2023

Oregonians deserve healthy, affordable, resilient buildings that run on clean energy.

🎬 Cutting climate pollution from buildings

by Jonathan Lee on January 12, 2023

Homes, offices, and other buildings are a major source of climate and air pollution. Thankfully, the best solutions will save you money on energy…

100% Clean Cars for Oregon!

by Victoria Paykar on December 20, 2022

We did it!

Clean Cars mean the West Coast can breathe easier

by Jonathan Lee on December 19, 2022

By 2035, every new car sold in the states of Washington, Oregon, and California will be powered by 100% clean energy.

Portland says goodbye to petroleum diesel!

by Victoria Paykar on December 13, 2022

Did you hear the news? Last week, the City of Portland became the first city in the U.S. to phase out the sale of petroleum diesel by 2030.

Oregon's Green Wave

by Meredith Connolly on November 14, 2022

As the final results of this November’s midterm election roll in, one thing is clear: climate action was on the ballot in Oregon, and voters made it…

One more way to be a Climate Voter in Oregon

by Meredith Connolly on November 2, 2022

Voting yes on Measure 113 will help us make the necessary progress in Oregon on an equitable transition to a clean energy-powered grid,…

The wheels on the electric school bus go ‘round, across the country

by Jonathan Lee on October 28, 2022

In this week's Climate Cast: Electric school buses across the country, air quality woes, upcoming elections, rising methane pollution, and holding NW…

Cleaner cars could come to Oregon—with your help

by Victoria Paykar on October 11, 2022

This December, Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission will vote on proposed tailpipe emissions standards so that by 2035, 100% of new cars sold…

BREAKING: More clean fuels means cleaner climate and air for Oregon!

by Victoria Paykar on September 27, 2022

Did you hear the news? Oregon now has the strongest clean fuel standard in the country.

Getting Oregon off oil for getting around

by Victoria Paykar on September 7, 2022

This summer’s record-hot temperatures, heat waves, and soaring gas prices reminded us to keep pushing on climate acti

How the West is One

by Jonathan Lee on August 26, 2022

The US West leads the way on electric vehicles and clean tech, more details about the landmark federal climate bill, melting roads, and NW Natural…

Share your #FreedomFromFossilFuels story

by Jonathan Lee on July 25, 2022

Throughout this month, Climate Solutions has been sharing real, widely available clean energy solutions through our #FreedomFromFossilFuels campaign…

No time to burn: let's keep the future of gas short in Oregon

by Nora Apter and Greer Ryan on July 11, 2022

Fossil "natural" gas is far from being the safe, clean product that gas and fossil fuel companies claim.

Tell Oregon regulators: we want clean and safe buildings in our future

by Greer Ryan on July 8, 2022

Together we can let the Public Utility Commissioners know that there is NO FUTURE for methane gas in Oregon.

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Image of wave crashing in the Oregon Coast

Oregon's Green Wave

As the final results of this November’s midterm election roll in, one thing is clear: climate action was on the ballot in Oregon, and voters made it clear that they want more!
Read More