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.
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Climate Solutions is working in Oregon to:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
by Northwest Business for Climate Action on July 9, 2015
Oregon businesses are responding in ever-increasing numbers to the threat of global warming, and the ways climate change is harming our state's…
by Seth Zuckerman on June 29, 2015
Oil drilling suspended in Canadian Arctic, clean fuel rule survives challenge in Oregon, New York State sets higher climate targets, and more news of…
by Kristen Sheeran on June 24, 2015
The oil industry wants to protect their monopoly, and wash their hands of responsiblity for cleaning our air and protecting the climate. That's what'…
by Carrie Hearne on June 18, 2015
With Oregon legislators threatening to repeal the state's recently-enacted Clean Fuels program, and with no other signs of climate policy progress …
by Kristen Sheeran on June 15, 2015
You know you’re doing something right when Big Oil is working this hard to stop you.
by Lisa Adatto on February 4, 2015
On February 2, the first day of the Oregon Legislature, the Senate Environment & Natural Resources committee will
by Kristen Sheeran on February 2, 2015
Working together, we can make sure Oregon seizes the day. Here’s a rundown of several priorities and upcoming events in 2015.
by Seth Zuckerman on November 10, 2014
A few victories soften the blow of an otherwise painful midterm election, Oregon NGO cleanses its portfolio of fossil fuels, Brazil attracts cheap…
by Bobby Hayden on October 10, 2014
It’s been an eventful Fall already in the world of climate and clean energy, with more in store. Check out the latest news and upcoming events from…
by Beth Doglio on September 24, 2014
There's no need for massive investments in coal export infrastructure; Let’s leave that in the past, build on recent victories, and commit to a…
by Seth Zuckerman on August 18, 2014
Vermont breaks ground on a solar-powered microgrid, Oregon rejects Ambre Energy's coal export plan, acidic ocean waters get attention coast to coast…
by Bobby Hayden on July 8, 2014
Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program is a great step forward. But oil companies are threatening the program’s very existence before it has a real chance to…
by Seth Zuckerman on April 28, 2014
In this week’s ClimateCast: Climate politics shifting in renewables’ favor; a climate denier changes his stripes; Gov. Kitzhaber comes out against…
by Joëlle Robinson on April 9, 2014
Recently, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber stated that "It's time to say NO once and for all to coal exports." We couldn't agree more! Take a minute…
by Ann Gravatt on March 13, 2014
This is the week of sleepy (read: grumpy) kids in my house, due to the return of daylight savings time. But even a household disrupted doesn’t…
In this week's ClimateCast: An Oregon bill seeks to account for the true cost of climate pollution. Clean energy deployments are on the rise--but so are portentious impacts of global warming.
Clean energy, cost saving, job creating investments from the ten states that have already put a price on climate pollution
With the Clean Energy Jobs bill, we have a huge opportunity for Oregon to take a bold step in the fight against climate change.
It’s time for Oregon’s largest transit agency to stop buying new diesel buses and make the switch to electric.
Global temperatures aren't the only thing heating up--states and cities are showing an appetite this year for strong climate policy. We've got the latest news on climate and clean energy.
This February, the Oregon legislature has the chance for a major climate win by passing the Clean Energy Jobs bill, which puts a limit and price on climate pollution and reinvests the proceeds into our communities.
As 2018 kicks off, we’re already running full steam ahead toward passing the Clean Energy Jobs bill and other strategies for transitioning Oregon to 100% clean energy.
Yes, 2017 was an awful year in many ways. But it was also a year of transition for climate action. We and many others affirmed our ability to make progress at the speed and scale our climate crisis demands.
Oregon Governor Brown's recent executive order calls for energy efficient design in new buildings that will save people money on utility bills and make a big difference in reducing the building sector’s contribution to the climate crisis.
One family's experience with Portland's innovative EV car-sharing program.
