552 results for author: Admin
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) At Risk
Oregon lawmakers have long worked hard to protect Oregonians from hazardous chemicals. From getting harmful chemicals out of children's products to banning PFAS in firefighting foam, Oregonians have fought for – and won – critical protections that keep our families safe.
State-level wins like these are crucial for protecting our communities from environmental harms. As things currently stand, the Toxic Substances Control Act (or “TSCA”) allows for states to take this type of action. But a threatened federal rollback now aims to weaken it through a death by a thousand cuts, putting polluter profits over public health and threatening the ...
2025 Winter Newsletter: People, Place, & Planet
Download OEC's 2025 Winter Newsletter here, or scroll through the pages below!
APPLICATIONS CLOSED – Legislative Director
Announcing our Legislative Director search! We're looking for someone who is excited about advancing innovative, collaborative and equitable solutions to Oregon’s environmental challenges for today and future generations. Come Join us.
Breaking: We’re Suing Over Trump’s Attacks on Wind and Solar
We have some big news to share. Today, we filed suit against the IRS. The lawsuit is centered on the Trump administration’s unlawful treatment of tax credits for solar and wind energy projects. OEC is the lead plaintiff in the case, with our partners at the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and a broad coalition of clean energy, tribal, and local government partners across the country supporting alongside us. It's not every day that OEC shows up in court – but with Trump's ongoing attacks on renewable energy that harm our climate and ratepayers across the country, it was a clear choice.
Read the full press release below. To stay up to ...
In Her Words: Three-Time ELB Member Jade Menchaca on the Power of Getting Involved
Hi friends,
My name is Jade Menchaca and I am a proud member of the Emerging Leaders Board! The Emerging Leaders Board (or ELB) is composed of young professional changemakers who are dedicated to environmental protection and advocacy in the state of Oregon. The program is lucky to be designed, implemented, and supported by the Oregon Environmental Council.
When someone joins the ELB, they're making an 18-month commitment to serve alongside a cohort of fellow volunteers. During that tenure, ELB members will combine our passions and diverse areas of expertise to produce several creative projects that benefit our local environment. Our work is ...
Measuring Patterns Across the State — and Across the Street
Vivek Shandas, one of OEC’s new Board members, has always been interested in land – what it’s made of, how it’s allocated, and the ways society interacts with it. It started at a young age, when he and his family moved from a tropical region of Southern India to dry-and-mild Northern California. The contrast was immediately apparent.
“I saw firsthand the different ways the earth can reveal itself based on where you are,” says Vivek. “That got me interested in trying to understand why we see such unique patterns in different parts of the planet."
That spark would eventually lead to Vivek studying "agroecosystems" – in his words, ...
Partner Q&A: Jamie DeWitt
Science is at the heart of all we do at OEC – and when it comes to PFAS, Dr. Jamie DeWitt’s research is making a lasting impact. Jamie – a first-generation college student – has been studying PFAS for 20 years. OEC is currently collaborating with her department at Oregon State University to study PFAS exposure in everyday products.
Tell me about your academic background? What led you to the work you do today?
Growing up in Southwest Michigan, I took every single science class that I could take in high school. But living in a small town, you don't really have that many ideas of the vastness of the field. So when I got to college, I learned ...
2024 – 25 Impact Report: Solidarity in Action
Download OEC's 2024 - 25 Impact Report here, or scroll through the pages below!
New Staff Q&A: Jessie Kochaver
We’re thrilled to introduce our new Clean Grid Campaign Director, Jessie Kochaver!
Jessie hails from Boise, ID, where she spent her childhood backpacking, skiing, and getting off the grid in the family van. After graduating from college in Salt Lake City, Utah, she packed up her car and moved to Oregon, spending time in Hood River and Bend before finally settling in Portland. Her passion for environmental advocacy led her to join OEC’s Emerging Leaders Board in 2022. At the same time, she was cutting her teeth in the legislature as a Climate Policy Analyst for Representative Mark Gamba’s office in Salem—working in coalition with leaders ...
New Staff Q&A: Abby Burke
OEC is thrilled to introduce our 2025 Environmental Health intern, Abby Burke!
Abby is a soon-to-be Senior at Lewis & Clark College, where she’s majoring in International Affairs with a minor in Data Science. She’s also a member of the Pamplin Society of Fellows—the highest academic award at the college. Growing up in Alaska, she spent her early years exploring the state’s spectacular outdoors—from camping trips to competitive rock climbing.
Abby’s thought-partnership and policy expertise has already been an invaluable addition to the team at OEC. We can’t wait to see what her future holds during the internship and beyond!
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