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Photo: benmacaskill

Oregon’s stunning natural beauty and history of clean energy innovation position it as a natural climate leader that can inspire action in the Northwest and beyond. However, in recent years Oregon's progress on climate action has stagnated while a growing list of states and territories have adopted carbon pricing policies, enacted more robust energy efficiency standards, and committed to a timeline for transitioning to 100% clean electricity.

Climate Solutions is working in Oregon to:

Incorporate a racial and social justice lens in our work

We must ensure that we are addressing historic injustices and current inequities that disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous and people of color as well as low-income communities. Without incorporating these injustices into our climate solutions, we will not succeed in creating a livable and just world where we can all thrive.

Ensure the state adopts 100% clean energy

Climate Solutions is a supporting member of the 100% Clean Energy Opportunity Campaign, a statewide coalition advocating for the adoption of a 100% clean energy commitment, establishment of a special utility rate class for low-income Oregonians, and home upgrades to help improve the health of families across the state. Multnomah County and the cities of Milwaukie and Portland have already made groundbreaking commitments to 100 percent clean and renewable energy. We are helping them develop implementation plans to achieve these goals, and working with other cities and counties in Oregon to develop a groundswell of support for a 100% clean energy future.

Accelerate clean transportation

The transportation sector is Oregon's largest source of climate pollution, and according to our recent transportation research report, decarbonizing our grid, while both electrifying our transportation system and reducing our vehicle miles traveled are key ways to clean it up. We are working with local governments, transit districts, and utility providers to equitably accelerate transportation electrification by adopting medium and heavy duty zero-emission regulations, building more publicly accessible and affordable charging stations, promoting financial incentives for individual and fleet EV purchases, supporting transportation options and programs that are inclusive to community needs,  encouraging transit agencies to buy zero-emission electric buses, and working in coalition to advocate for a clean, and just transportation system. 

Advocate for energy-efficient buildings

Heating and powering our homes and businesses generates a substantial amount of our climate-changing pollution and contributes to energy burden experienced disproportionately by low-income communities, renters and communities of color (paying three times more than average). We are working with partners to help Oregon move toward constructing homes and buildings that produce as much energy as they use - net zero energy buildings. If all new homes and buildings were energy efficient, we would significantly reduce our climate pollution, drastically cut energy costs for owners and renters (decreasing energy burden), and improve air quality where we live and work.

Stop new investments in coal, and the oil and gas industry

The fossil fuel industry wants to keep us hooked on dangerous energy sources and use our state to expand their profits. With our urging, Oregon has already taken several momentous steps by stopping Portland General Electric from building a new fracked gas plant and ending Oregon's dependence on coal-fired power. We will continue sending a clear message that expanding fossil fuel infrastructure is not welcome in Oregon.

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