Oregon Environmental Council

CLIMATE PROTECTIONOEC IDENTIFIES AND PROMOTES SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING INVESTMENTS AND POLICIES THAT REDUCE EMISSIONS AND INCREASE RESILIENCE TO EVER-WORSENING CLIMATE IMPACTS. IN FY24-25, WE PARTICIPATED IN A NEARLY YEAR-LONG RULE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT RESULTED IN RE-ADOPTION OF OREGONS CLIMATE PROTECTION PROGRAM, A HALLMARK INITIATIVE THAT REDUCES EMISSION ACROSS MAJOR SOURCES OF CLIMATE POLLUTION AND ALSO CREATES COMMUNITY CLIMATE INVESTMENTS THAT BENEFIT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.OEC SECURED $15 MILLION FOR THE HEALTHY HOMES PROGRAM TO HELP LOW-INCOME OREGONIANS REMOVE TOXIC MATERIALS LIKE ASBESTOS AND LEAD FROM THEIR HOMES AS WELL AS LOWER HOME ENERGY BILLS. OEC ALSO HELPED SECURE AN OFFSHORE WIND ROADMAP TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY AND TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT, REQUIREMENTS FOR UTILITIES TO PROVIDE MORE UPDATES ON REGIONAL TRANSMISSION, AND A LAW THAT WILL INCREASE CONSTRUCTION OF ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS. OEC SERVED ON THE OREGON CLIMATE COMMISSION AND THE CLEAN TECH TASK FORCE.OEC HELPED PLAN AND LAUNCH THE INAUGURAL OREGON CLEAN GRID SUMMIT THAT CONVENED STAKEHOLDERS FROM BUSINESS, NONPROFIT, DEVELOPMENT, AND GOVERNMENTAL SECTORS. WE DEVELOPED THE E-FORWARD EDUCATION AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO HELP HOUSEHOLDS INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE LOW-INCOME, GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE, AND UNDERSERVED CUT ENERGY USE AND REDUCE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. IN ADDITION, OEC WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERS TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION PROCESSES. OEC SERVED IN LEADERSHIP ROLES TO SUPPORT THE OREGON CLIMATE EQUITY NETWORK, COALITION FOR CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS, AND OREGON CLEAN GRID COLLABORATIVE. WE SERVE AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE BUILDING RESILIENCE COALITION. OEC ALSO LAUNCHED A PARTNERSHIP WITH OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY TO SECURE FOUR POLARIS ELECTRIC UTILITY VEHICLES (UTVS) FOR ITS AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATIONS.

TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONSOEC PROMOTES CLEAN, HEALTHY, SAFE, AND EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE GOODS AND SERVICES THEY NEED TO THRIVE. IN THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2025, WE CO-LED THE MOVE OREGON FORWARD COALITION OF OVER 50 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE CLEAN, SAFE, AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS. OEC ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE METRO TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SUPPORTING REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. OEC SERVES ON THE CLEAN AND JUST TRANSPORTATION NETWORK, A STATEWIDE COLLABORATION TO ADVANCE TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION AND SECURE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR A MORE EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. WE SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION, INCLUDING THROUGH ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING TO HELP LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME OREGONIANS AFFORD NEW AND USED ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND TO ELECTRIFY SCHOOL BUSES AND MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES. WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE STATES EFFORTS TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL INFLATION REDUCTION ACT INVESTMENTS FOR TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION, AND LAUNCHED THE E-FORWARD EDUCATION AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE ON HOW TO ACCESS INCENTIVES THAT SUPPORT ELECTRIC VEHICLE USE.