Climate Protection News
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March 26, 2026
2026 Short Session Recap
Earlier this month, the 2026 legislative session officially came to a close. It was a “short” session year – meaning less than a month between the Capitol doors opening and sine die. It was a sprint to get a lot done in a little ...more -
March 18, 2026
OEC v. IRS Update: Oregon-Led Coalition Backs our Challenge to Trump’s Attacks on Wind and Solar
When we filed a federal lawsuit against the IRS in December, we knew we weren’t alone in the fight for clean, affordable energy. And now, states across the country voiced their support, with Oregon leading the way. On February 20, ...more -
February 25, 2026
Oregon’s New Building Codes Are a Win for Home Energy Resilience
Last week marked an important step forward for healthy, affordable, resilient housing in Oregon. The Oregon Building Code Division’s Residential and Manufactured Structures Board (RMSB) voted to approve much-needed updates to the ...more -
February 24, 2026
Trump’s Reckless Deregulation: What the Endangerment Finding Repeal Means for Oregon
On February 12, 2026, the Trump Administration irresponsibly and cynically sidelined federal climate protections. Standing alongside EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin at the Roosevelt Room podium, Trump formally repealed the endangerment ...more -
February 5, 2026
Upgrade & Save and Community-Based Power — Explained
One of our biggest climate priorities this legislative session is making the biggest polluters pay for the damage they’ve caused in our state. While the climate impacts of everyday people pale in comparison to major oil and gas corpora...more -
December 18, 2025
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 ...more -
December 17, 2025
The Toll of Climate Change on Oregon's Transportation Infrastructure
Oregon's transportation system is at a crossroads. While the state recently passed emergency funding to address an immediate budget shortfall, the larger challenge remains: climate change is fundamentally altering how we must think about ...more -
November 28, 2025
What Governor Kotek’s Executive Order Rollout Means for Oregon
In the face of federal disinvestment and attacks on landmark climate protections, Governor Tina Kotek is ensuring that Oregon continues to build a healthier, more affordable, equitable, and resilient future. Over the last two months, ...more -
November 21, 2025
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 ...more -
October 27, 2025
2024 - 25 Impact Report: Solidarity in Action
Download OEC's 2024 - 25 Impact Report here, or scroll through the pages below! more -
October 21, 2025
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 ...more -
September 18, 2025
Joining Oregon's Climate Advocates in Washington DC
This month, I joined a Climate Action Campaign advocacy trip to DC—my first time participating in this critical work since the coalition began organizing these efforts 13 years ago. This "big green" coalition has real influence, having ...more -
August 27, 2025
Extreme Heat, Rising Bills, and the Case for Electrification
A longtime friend texted me this past weekend. “News said there’s a heatwave in Portland. I checked the weather app and it just seems like ‘normal’ Texas temperatures.” He lives on the east coast and has never visited Oregon. ...more -
July 30, 2025
Mixed Results on Climate in 2025: Energy Affordability Advances While Climate Action Stalls
The 2025 Oregon Legislative session delivered a tale of two climate stories. While lawmakers made meaningful progress on energy affordability and grid modernization, they failed to advance policies that would actually cut climate polluti...more -
July 10, 2025
2025 OEC Legislative Debrief
This session, OEC staff worked on more than 77 bills to advance environmental protections, ensure statewide access to clean water, cut toxic chemicals out of our communities, and elevate safe and healthy transportation options. We ...more
