Edwin Wanji, Sphere Solar Energy
Clean energy partnerships rising in Eastern Washington
Inspiring new clean energy projects are on the rise in Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Moses Lake. But a big challenge remains: accessing the clean electricity needed.
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. 

 

Climate cast header graphi Dubai

COP28 convenes in Dubai — with fractional results

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Events happening in our Oregon Community!

I wanted to mention a few events coming up from other climate and environmental organizations across Oregon.

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Oregon’s Climate Wins in the 2023 Legislative Session

We saw success despite a challenging legislative environment that included a minority of Senators leading the longest walkout in Oregon’s history. Because the legislative calendar was down to the wire, many climate and clean energy bills were combined into two omnibus bills...

image of a car plugged into a house

Lake Oswego Fair focuses on benefits of an all-electric lifestyle

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Climate-fueled disasters strike, and climate hope perseveres

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Advocates reach settlement with Avista to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, expand low-income efficiency programs

[PRESS RELEASE] A historic settlement in a contested rate case between Oregon’s second-largest gas utility and intervening organizations will require Avista to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, dramatically expand low-income weatherization programs and restrict political spending by the gas company that undermines state climate law.

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Avista used customer money to fund anti-climate litigation in Oregon

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image of a gas meter on a yellow wall

Public Comment Opportunity: Avista Gas Rate Hike

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A new fire season is here; will legislators get it together?

In this week's ClimateCast: Debt ceiling raised with climate consequences, Oregon legislation crippled due to GOP walkouts, insurers batten down the hatches against climate impacts.

image of a gas meter on a yellow wall

Advocates reach settlement with Avista to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, expand low-income efficiency programs

Submitted by Greer Ryan on

[PRESS RELEASE] A historic settlement in a contested rate case between Oregon’s second-largest gas utility and intervening organizations will require Avista to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, dramatically expand low-income weatherization programs and restrict political spending by the gas company that undermines state climate law.
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