Climate Emergency Reports

LWVOR published a September ALERT related to an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) Climate Protection Program Sept 26 rulemaking public hearing. This meeting was scheduled late August to provide for more public comments. OPB: ‘Public will get a little longer to weigh in on Oregon’s program to cut carbon emissions.’

Please consider joining the Climate Emergency team. We have several critical volunteer openings. Natural and Working Lands Agriculture & Food Insecurity: Public Health, Fossil Fuel (FF) Infrastructure, and Regional Solutions/Community Resilience Hubs. The topic of Transportation has been moved to the Natural Resources Legislative Report.

HCR 206 was passed to set 2025 presession deadlines for members and committees to submit requests for drafts of measures to be presession filed to the Office of the Legislative Counsel, for Legislative Counsel to deliver drafts of measures to be presession filed and for requesters to submit those drafts for introduction to the Senate Desk or the House Desk.

The session ended with a compromise as well as reasonable funding, especially in SB 1530 (>$21M) and end of session omnibus SB5701 (>125M) but no update to Greenhouse Gas Emission targets approved in 2007 nor improvement to Climate Change coordination and accountability across agencies.

The League continues to be disappointed that there is no commitment by Legislature leadership to update greenhouse gas emission targets or fund a coordinated, cohesive, accountable effort for climate action across all state-funded entities.

LWVOR is disappointed that SB 1559 is not advancing this session. It was designed to increase the target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Because of real or perceived opposition party threats Legislature Leadership has chosen not to move SB 1559 GHG Emission Modernization – to a vote, as discussed in 2/13 SE&E PH.

Senate Energy & Environment Public Hearing is scheduled for Tues Feb 13. One of the issues being discussed is using the word goal or aspiration goal. The most powerful legal term would be specific mandated reduction targets in 2030 or 2035 and 2040 with zero net emissions before 2050.

Updating Oregon statute with meaningful (to align with best available science) Greenhouse Gas Emission reduction goals continues to be a League priority.

Senator Michael Dembrow is expected to sponsor a bill (follow-up to SB 3409, 2023) during the 2024 Legislative Short Session (Feb 5 to March 10) to update Greenhouse Gas Emission targets to net-zero by 2050, into statute in 2024.

LWVOR ALERT to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) Climate Protection Program Rulemaking staff and the Environmental Quality Commission. Their Deadline is Oct 13, 2023.

The League worked independently and as a partner with multiple coalitions, contributing to a very productive historical 2023 Legislative session.

Over $90M Climate Budget Package Investment Legislation passes both chambers and moves to the Governor.

The League has not received a reconciliation to determine which items are missing from the promised Climate $100M Package.

Some good news from State Senator Michael Dembrow’s May 28th Update from SD 23 . Many LWVOR climate related priority and other bills are listed in the drafted Legislative Climate Funding Package, not yet posted to OLIS.

The CE priority bills had minimal activity in the last month. Most have already moved to JW&Ms. Find additional background in previous LR (report)s on the six CE priorities.

The May 17 Revenue 23-25 forecast was very favorable. Oregon is forecasted to have $1.5-2.0 B in funds not previously reflected in the Feb  forecast.

CE priority bills had minimal activity in the last few weeks. Most have already moved to JW&Ms and one to the House. Find in previous LR (report)s additional background on the six CE priorities.

This week we learned more about the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR or the Project) Project’s status from Just Crossing Alliance (JCA), which published widely about their IBR’s plans objections

Numerous lawsuits are challenging Oregon’s DEQ CPP regulations.

We collaborate with Natural Resource Action members on many Climate Change mitigation and adaptation policy topics.

It is unclear how Oregon Treasury/Treasurer Tobias Read will assist with addressing the IRA $27B Federal funds, contingent on formation of an Oregon Green Bank.

The League has identified the I-5 Bridge Replacement as a key project impacting Oregonians and anyone traveling the I-5 corridor.

Good news, all CE priorities have Work Sessions scheduled or have already moved forward from their policy committee.