Climate Champion: Governor Brown’s Legacy and the Path Ahead
A few years ago, the prospect of Oregon taking meaningful action on climate was dim. Republicans had just fled the capital to prevent the elected majority of state leaders from moving forward with a vote (a tactic now widely condemned by Oregon voters via Measure 113), effectively denying passage of widely-supported climate legislation.
Thankfully, Governor Brown stepped in. When it comes to climate protection, Gov. Brown should be recognized as the most important leader in Oregon history to date. Policies and programs adopted under Gov. Brown’s leadership set the path for Oregon to significantly reduce emissions from our top polluting sectors, protect communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and create cleaner, cheaper, healthier energy and transportation options that will benefit Oregon jobs, families, and communities for decades to come.
Governor Brown signs sweeping executive order to combat climate change in Oregon in March 2020.
PLACED LIMITS ON CLIMATE POLLUTION
Thanks to Gov. Brown and DEQ’s Climate Protection Program, Oregon now has mandatory declining limits on climate pollution from oil and gas companies, science-based emissions reduction requirements for large industrial polluters, and a funding source that could invest hundreds of millions of dollars annually in clean energy projects in environmental justice and other communities across the state. DEQ also adopted a series of rules that will speed the transition to cleaner, electric cars and trucks and the strongest clean fuels standard in the country, ensuring near-term reductions of climate emissions and co-pollutants in the transportation sector.
PROTECTED FRONTLINE WORKERS
Following Gov. Brown’s direction, Oregon OSHA adopted new, strongest-in-the-nation standards to protect Oregon’s workers against climate-fueled extreme heat and wildfire smoke. The Oregon Health Authority also published comprehensive reports on the impact of climate change on public health and youth mental health in Oregon, and secured significant legislative investment to support local, regional and state efforts in advancing environmental justice and climate resilience.
INITIATED NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
Recognizing the vital role that healthy forests, waters, and agricultural lands play in both achieving our climate goals and ensuring a healthy climate future, Gov. Brown also directed the Oregon Global Warming Commission and state natural resource agencies to identify opportunities for maximizing carbon sequestration by Oregon’s natural and working lands. Now, for the first time in our state’s history, Oregon has concrete goals for advancing natural climate solutions by Oregon’s forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands.
Governor Brown signs legislation (HB 2021) transitioning Oregon’s electricity grid to 100% clean power, July 2021.
ESTABLISHED A PATH TO CLEAN ENERGY FOR ALL
Gov. Brown also worked with the Oregon legislature, environmental justice, climate and business leaders to oversee the passage of significant and complementary policies to decarbonize Oregon’s electricity grid and support an equitable transition to a clean energy economy. Most notably, the 100% Clean Energy for All bill, which will ensure that Oregon’s electricity grid will be powered by entirely clean, renewable sources, like solar and wind by 2040. The law will also support stronger energy efficiency, regional sharing of clean power, and disallow development of new fossil gas power plants.
In the face of unprecedented climate-fueled wildfires, extreme heat, drought, a global pandemic, and obstructionist tactics from opponents, Gov. Brown delivered on historic policies to reduce climate pollution, address historic environmental injustice, and promote resilient communities and economic vitality across Oregon. Many years from now, families, workers, and communities across Oregon will continue to reap the benefits of improved public health, affordable and clean energy and transportation, and green jobs made possible by the leadership of Gov. Brown.
Now it is up to Governor Kotek to build on this progress to ensure pollution reductions happen at the pace and scale necessary and to enable an equitable transition to a clean energy future.
Thankfully, Gov. Kotek has a strong track record of passing transformative climate policies like the legislature’s 100% clean electricity law, and is well-positioned to take the ball and run with it. Recent congressional climate action presents a vital opportunity for the Kotek administration to harness billions of dollars in federal investments to supercharge the benefits of Oregon’s existing climate programs and policies, drive down the cost of living for Oregon families, and boost job creation in our existing clean-energy economy. However, securing the full economic and climate potential of these new laws hinges in large part upon proactive State leadership and strong, strategic implementation.
The Kotek administration will have a key role to play in maximizing this opportunity and translating these federal investments into meaningful, near-term benefits for Oregon families, workers, businesses, and local economies. Gov. Kotek can lead in positioning Oregon for success by working to advance new, complementary programs and policies for:
- Building efficiency and electrification: As Gov. Kotek works to deliver on housing access and affordability, it is imperative that new housing and buildings prioritize health, affordability, and resilience for the people living and working in them. Gov. Kotek has an important opportunity this session to advance a Resilient, Efficient Buildings policy package (SB 868-871) that will transform and expand Oregon’s building stock in a way that maximizes climate, public health, affordability, and job creation benefits for Oregon.
- Climate-smart land management: Advancing Natural Climate Solutions will be key to achieving net zero emissions by no later than 2050, which is what science says is necessary to avoid catastrophic climate impacts. Gov. Kotek should work with the legislature to advance Natural Climate Solutions legislation (SB 530) this session, which will support and invest in climate-smart land management practices. SB 530 will help make our forests, waters, farmlands, and natural resource economies more resilient in the face of ever-worsening climate impacts while maximizing carbon sequestration to help achieve our climate goals. Doing so will also better position Oregon to harness billions of dollars in federal funding for climate-smart land management.
- Transportation electrification and public transit: While the CPP will drive down emissions from oil companies, we know that in order to clean up and replace the heavy fossil fuel use by our cars, trucks, and so forth, the way we get around needs to change. If we want to reach our climate goals, we need to be bold. That means policies and investments that prioritize convenient, affordable, and safe transportation options, reduce driving single-occupancy vehicles, electrify all the remaining driving, and use cleaner fuels for the rest.
- A more resilient and carbon-free electric grid: Thanks to HB 2021, Oregon’s electricity grid is on track to be sourced by 100% clean zero-emissions energy by 2040. However, additional state action will be key to ensure the state maximizes the benefits of a clean grid, including through leveraging federal investments in things like increased storage and added transmission capacity. At the same time, neither the CPP or HB 2021 regulate emissions from in-state fossil gas plants that export electricity or the state’s investor-owned utilities or any of the state’s public utilities. Expanded regulations will ultimately be necessary to fully cover pollution from all major stationary sources of pollution, including energy-intensive facilities, like data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations.
- Clean energy jobs and workforce training programs: Gov. Kotek should partner with legislative champions to ensure Oregon is best-positioned to harness new federal incentives for domestic manufacturing of in-demand, clean energy technologies–like solar panels and heat pumps–by adopting complementary programs and incentives to attract new and expand existing clean technology companies in Oregon. Moreover, there is a vital need for expanded workforce development programs across sectors to ensure all Oregonians are able to access the benefits of a clean energy economy.
There’s no two ways around it: Gov. Brown set a high bar for climate action and leaves enormous shoes to fill. However, we are confident that Governor Kotek is up for the challenge. OEC and our coalition of partners across the state look forward to working with Gov. Kotek in building on past progress to create family-wage jobs, improve public health, cut climate pollution, and drive down costs for Oregonians across the state.
A Climate Solution You Can Live In: Q&A on Building Resilience
9
Oregon’s Climate Protection Program is Restored!
9
OEC and Allies Push Back Against Fossil Fuel Industry in Climate Battle
9
Help Restore Oregon’s Climate Protection Program
9
Oregon’s Climate Protection Program (CPP) Is Under Attack
9
Greetings from a Recovering Climate Pessimist
9
Building Climate Resilience with Better Buildings
9
9