We have examples from across the country and worldwide that ought to close the confidence gap once and for all: yes, clean energy technologies work during cold weather.
Clean buildings
Heating and powering our homes and businesses generates a lot of our climate-changing pollution; our built environment is a major contributor to global warming. If our homes and buildings were carbon-free and energy efficient, we would significantly reduce our climate pollution, drastically cut energy costs for owners and renters, and improve air quality where we live and work.
For example, in both Oregon and Washington State, climate-worsening pollution from buildings are growing at a faster rate than any other source, with this increase largely attributable to the use of fossil gas in homes and buildings. Burning fossil gas in homes and buildings is not only a significant contributor to climate change, but also poses significant health risks for our communities, children, and other vulnerable populations.
Indoor air quality issues are particularly concentrated for low-income residents in smaller units with poor ventilation. Communities of color are already disproportionately impacted by outdoor air pollution, and should not continue to be disproportionately harmed by poor indoor air quality as well. Gas appliances also worsen our outdoor air quality. For example, California’s residential appliances releasing more than two times as many NOx emissions as all of their gas power plants combined, and commercial gas appliances releasing just as much NOx pollution as all of California’s cars.
States and many cities in the region and around the country are increasingly looking at ensuring all new buildings are electric as a key cost-effective pathway for achieving their local or state greenhouse emissions goals. Electrifying buildings is critical to addressing climate change, but it is also achievable, affordable, safe, and creates a more resilient energy system.
We are working with lawmakers and community partners to move rapidly toward electrifying our buildings for heating, cooling and cooking. We can also construct homes and buildings that get all their energy from sustainable sources, and even produce as much energy as they use — net zero energy buildings.
Our communities deserve a climate future, tell lawmakers to act now
Oregon’s legislative session is almost over, and lawmakers have only passed one of nine critical bills in the Energy Affordability and Resilience Package. The rest are still sitting on the table, and we need your help to move them forward.
Remember when NWN was secretly piping hydrogen gas into Portland homes? Well, no more secrets.
Oregon lawmakers have taken action to improve public oversight of gas utilities’ hydrogen “pipe dreams.”
Tell Oregon lawmakers: We need a strong Climate Justice Budget in 2025!
Federal climate rollbacks threaten our progress — and Oregon families can’t wait for clean energy, affordable heating and cooling, and climate resilience. Lawmakers are finalizing the state budget for the next two years. Now is the time to speak up for a strong Climate Justice Budget that protects communities, lowers energy bills, and creates clean energy jobs across the state
Stop utility companies from charging YOU for their lobbyists and lawyers
The Oregon State Senate will hold a floor vote on SB 88 - Get the Junk Out Rates to protect your families and your budget by holding large utility companies accountable. Can you email your legislators urging them to support this crucial legislation?
Midpoint Momentum: A Climate Progress Update from Oregon's 2025 Legislative Session
We’re officially over halfway through Oregon’s 2025 legislative session. Here’s the inside scoop on dynamics at the Capitol, the status of key clean energy and climate priorities, and how you can help keep the momentum going.
Join the Building Resilience Lobby Day! Speak Up for Climate & Community Justice
Join Climate Solutions and our partners for the Building Resilience Lobby Day at the State Capitol on Wednesday, May 7. Together, we’ll talk to legislators in Salem and push for bold action on climate, energy-efficient housing, and energy justice.
A major win for WA families and affordability
Initiative 2066 is unconstitutional! So what does this mean for WA?
Show up in person to urge legislators to invest in climate and affordability
Every two years, Oregon’s top budget writers tour the state to hear from community members about which programs and services should be funded. With all the chaos and uncertainty being unleashed at the federal level, this couldn’t be a more critical moment for you to engage with legislators.
Thermal Energy Networks: a win-win technology for the climate & clean energy jobs
Action Alert for Oregon! Urge your legislator to support SB 1143 Thermal Energy Networks (TENs), a climate-friendly heating and cooling solution! This piece of legislation is key to decarbonizing our grid and utilizing existing infrastructure, a win-win technology.
New Year, New Rates
While many of us are still reeling from the sticker shock we received from our energy bills after last year’s extreme winter weather, a new round of rate increases is right around the corner. If you are anything like me, many of you are thinking about those bills as you debate whether to turn up the heat or bundle up.