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By Claudia Keith, Climate Emergency Coordinator

Highlights

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

“Climate Resilience Package Investment (HB 3409, HB 3630): Invests $90 million in community-focused and forward-looking solutions to increase our energy efficiency, keep Oregonians safe from extreme weather, maximizing federal funding opportunities, and build a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable energy system.”

From Rep. Tawna Sanchez’s 6/26/23 newsletter:

“Finally, I voted to pass HB 3409 and HB 3630, which together invest $100 million to bring in over $1 billion in federal matching funds to address the rapidly worsening impacts of climate change in Oregon.”

“$90 million Climate Budget Framework Invests in Sustainable, Resilient Future for Oregon

Investments to lower utility costs, reduce building emissions, empower landowners to participate in the green economy, incentivize carbon sequestration, and improve disaster resilience.”

HB 3409A Climate Budget Package passes along party lines $61.7M Fiscal. 

HB 3630A Energy Budget Package passes along party lines $4.7M Fiscal.

Here’s an unverified list of original bill numbers passed in policy committees included in these two packages.

· RE Building Policy Bills (SB 868, 869, 870, 871, HB 3166)

· State Energy Strategy and Resilience Planning (HB 2534 & 3378)

· Community Resilience Hubs (HB 2990)

· Community Green Infrastructure Act AKA TREES Act (HB 3016)

· Woody Biomass for Low-Carbon Fuels (HB 3590)

· Environmental Justice and Tribal Navigator (SB 852)

· Medium and Heavy-Duty EV Incentives (HB 2714)

· Renewable Energy Siting (HB 3181)

· Natural Climate Solutions (SB 530)

· Climate Action Modernization (SB 522)

· Residential Solar Rebate Program Extension (HB 3418)

· Residential Heat Pump Program Extension (HB 3056)

· Climate Protection Program Fee Bill (HB 3196)

· Harmful Algal Blooms (HB 2647)

· Community Renewable Energy Grant Program (HB 2021, 2021)

The $90M investment includes some state agency budget POPs. Oregon GHGE reduction targets by decade were not updated to reflect current best available science / UN IPCC aspirational goals. The State of Oregon and many Oregon jurisdictions are not aligned with 2023 IPCC goals nor ‘Juliana v US‘ federal lawsuit (return to 350 ppm C02 by 2100, and or by 2100 limiting global warming to 1.5-degree Celsius). Another disappointment was the watered-down Building Resilience policy related to building codes.

The League is disappointed. At this time Oregon will not be added to this EDF (Environmental Defense Fund) list of U.S. states that have meaningful binding economy-wide climate target statutes. We are hopeful the Governor, the new Climate Action Commission, and legislative leadership will address this issue in 2024.

Other CE Bills 

By Claudia Keith and Greg Martin

HB 2763 Enrolled passed and moved to the governor; creates a State Public Bank Task Force, League Testimony. Like the 2022 session RB task force, a 23-member Task Force is required to recommend no later than January 2024. “The report must include a recommendation for a governing structure for a public bank.”

HB 3179 B, Renewable Energy Permitting Process, passed and moved to the Governor. On June 23 the House concurred with a Senate amendment to the A-Engrossed bill. To issue a land use permit for a larger solar power facility as authorized by the bill, the county must require the applicant to provide a decommissioning plan, bonded or otherwise secured, to restore the site to a "useful, nonhazardous condition."

The Senate on June 23 passed HB 3550 by a vote of 18-6-6. The bill requires a state agency that buys or leases a light-duty vehicle on or after 1/1/2025 to buy only a ZEV unless the agency finds that a ZEV is not feasible for the specified use, in which case the vehicle bought or leased must be able to operate with an environmentally acceptable alternate fuel or as a low-emission vehicle. To the maximum extent economically feasible, DAS must use biofuels or biofuel-derived electricity instead of diesel for facilities or machinery the department acquires, designs, builds, completes, maintains, or operates as stationary or backup generation for heat and power systems. The introduced bill was not amended by either chamber.

End of Session Full JWM Budget Reconciliation Bill, HB 5506

A tentative list of Climate related line items in HB 5506:

 -Oregon Worker Relief Climate Change Fund $1M Section 309

 -OSU Climate Services. $250K Section 64 HECC

- DLCD Climate Friendly. & Equitable Community $3.0 M Section 148 and 149

- DOE Hydrogen Hub, cooling study, and energy development position $951.6K. sect: 176

-DOE Staff to support administration of new energy programs $513K sect: 177

- Renewable and Solar $60M (sections 172 - 175)

- City of Milwaukee $375K solar project

- Streetcar System - Salem. $250K (Cherriots - Study the feasibility of developing a rail streetcar system in the City of Salem)

Other Related Climate News

Lawmakers vote to protect water, prevent wildfires and guard against the effects of climate change – Oregon Capital Chronicle, $90 Million Climate Budget Framework Invests in Sustainable, Resilient Future for Oregon,| Legislature Press Release, Senate Democrats Protect Oregon’s Families and Future in Every Corner of the State with Historic Climate Package | Legislature Press Release, Oregon legislature passes major bill package to address climate change, invest in clean energy, sends to Governor's desk | EO.

Climate County, State and Federal Lawsuits

Multnomah County in Oregon Sues Fossil Fuel Companies Over 2021 Heat Wave - The New York Times, US climate change lawsuit seeks $50 billion, citing 2021 heat wave | Reuters, Multnomah County sues fossil fuel companies for nearly $52 billion over heat dome – OPB, Held v. Montana is first youth-led climate change suit to go to trial | Fast Co.

June 2023 Updates to the Climate Case Chart | Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Columbia University

Volunteers Urgently Needed 

By Claudia Keith

Please consider joining the CE portfolio team; we lack volunteers in these critical policy areas:

· Natural and Working lands, specifically Agriculture/ODA

· Greenhouse Gas Emission Mitigation and Renewable Energy

· Climate Related Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust

· Public Health Climate Adaptation (OHA)

· Regional Solutions / Infrastructure (with NR team)

· State Procurement Practices (DAS: Dept. of Admin. Services) 

· CE Portfolio State Agency and Commission Budgets

· Oregon Treasury: ESG investing/Fossil Fuel divestment

We collaborate with Natural Resource Action members on many Climate Change mitigation and adaptation policy topics. Volunteers are needed: Orientation to Legislative and State Agency advocacy processes is available.