Editor’s note: This article was updated on 7/31/2024 to reflect actions by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Last December, the oil and gas industry and their allies delivered a devastating blow to climate justice in our state.
The Oregon Court of Appeals invalidated Oregon’s landmark Climate Protection Program (CPP) based on a procedural technicality. The program was spearheaded (unsurprisingly) by the oil and gas industries most responsible for climate pollution in our state.
The CPP represents a historic victory for Oregon’s climate, local economies, and communities – especially Black, Indigenous, people of color, low-income, rural, and other communities who stand to benefit the most from emissions reductions and investments under the CPP. OEC and dozens of environmental justice, labor, climate, and business community partners from across the state worked tirelessly over an 18-month rulemaking process to develop the CPP. Prior to its invalidation, it was projected to achieve nearly half of Oregon’s targeted emissions reductions, and invest hundreds of millions of dollars annually in environmental justice and other communities throughout our state.
However, the Court’s decision didn’t spell the end for the CPP – far from it. While fossil fuel companies will continue lobbying to skirt accountability and derail climate justice, we have people power on our side. Together with our broad coalition of partners and thousands of individual Oregonians across the state, we are committed to restoring these vital protections for climate and communities.
What’s happening now?
Earlier this year, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced plans to initiate a rulemaking process to reinstate the CPP by the end of the year. Governor Kotek, OEC, and dozens of other partner organizations are in full support of DEQ’s commitment to restoring the CPP’s vital protections for climate and communities as quickly as possible.
On July 31, 2024, DEQ released draft rules to restore the CPP. These rules followed months of public hearings on in-depth policy proposals. Given OEC’s historic leadership in developing, implementing, and defending the Climate Protection Program, we are pleased to have the opportunity to serve as a formal member of the CPP 2024 Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC), alongside many other key environmental justice, Tribal, public health, business, labor partners. OEC was on the ground at the meeting and delivered powerful testimony in support of the CPP.
Unfortunately, oil and gas industry representatives make up the majority of the seats on the RAC. To no one’s surprise, fossil fuel lobbyists used the first RAC meeting in April this year to paint a picture of a scary, expensive future under the CPP.
It’s not the reality. What they don’t want people to know is that the transition to clean electricity will be cheaper and healthier for everyone. The oil and gas industry has been misleading us for decades on these issues because their goal is to continue to pollute. That’s just not sustainable.
Our health is suffering. Our climate is suffering. We cannot continue to put Oregon lives and livelihoods at stake just to preserve business as usual for oil companies and gas utilities.
There are countless examples where polluters have tried to steer regulators and the public away from climate protections through fear-mongering about job loss and economic impacts. Yet, as soon as there is a new framework in place, these policies have shown nothing but benefits. For example, during the development of Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program, the oil industry threatened that the policy would result in a $1 per gallon increase in gas prices. Instead, the reality has been mere pennies on the gallon to achieve the benefits of cleaner air, more energy independence, fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and more economic development in Oregon.
But not every oil and gas industry representative on the RAC was complaining. In fact, some of the transportation fuel suppliers shared their experience and success in reducing emissions in line with the CPP’s requirements, before the court struck it down. In short: the CPP was working and on track to achieve its stated goals for climate and communities.
As DEQ moves forward with this process, it is imperative that decision-makers hear from the Oregonians whose lives will benefit from the CPP, now and in the future. In particular, it’s important that they hear support for maintaining science-based emissions reduction requirements, and an effective Community Climate Investment Program that’s responsive to community needs. (Scroll down for specific talking points you can use in your outreach to DEQ).
We’ve already lost years of emission reductions since the CPP was halted. It is more important now than ever to make sure we get back on track.
How can I help?
Your role in the process is arguably the most important: make your voice heard in support of climate justice.
Urge the agency to strengthen the Climate Protection Program to maximize benefits for our climate, communities, and local economies – and restore these vital protections without delay! Consider personalizing your comments. The public comment period was extended and closes on September 27.
This is our moment. Join us in fighting to create a healthier Oregon.
By restoring the CPP, we will get Oregon back on track to protect our climate, communities, and local economies now and for generations to come. For too long, fossil fuel corporations have tried to lock us out of decision-making and get away with polluting our communities consequence-free. By taking action together, we can create a future that’s sustainable, resilient, and meets the needs of all Oregonians.
OEC’s work to advance meaningful, lasting environmental progress is made possible by people across the state who care about safeguarding Oregon’s future.
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) just released draft rules to restore Oregon’s cornerstone Climate Protection Program (CPP), kicking off a short public comment period. Help us restore the CPP and hold polluters accountable!
QUCIK LINKS TO TAKE ACTION:
-> Send this Letter to DEQ to Restore the C
Dear fellow friends of Oregon,My name is Sam Pape. Nice to meet you! I’m the new Communications and Marketing Coordinator at OEC. I started in an interim role back in February, and was thrilled to recently accept a permanent, full-time position. In other words: I’m here to stay!
Gazing at the downtown skyline of Portland? Rushing through PDX to catch a flight? Lost in the Silicon Forest? You probably aren’t thinking about how to reduce climate emissions. But Oregon’s large office, high-tech and public buildings are one of Oregon’s best opportunities to meet our climate goals by addressing our second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.That’s because the overall “carbon footprint” of
On September 29, 2023, OEC gathered with a growing coalition of community-based organizations, lawmakers, and business groups following oral arguments heard by the Oregon Court of Appeals to rally behind the Oregon Climate Protection Program (CPP), which is under attack from the fossil fuel industry.OREGON’S CLIMATE PROTECTION PROGRAM
Oregon’s Climate Protection Program (CPP) is a cornerstone in our st
Oregon’s 2023 Legislative Session ended with a momentous victory in the fight against climate change with the passage of the bipartisan Climate Resilience Package (HB 3409 & HB 3630). With over $90 million in funding and strategic leveraging of federal investments, this victory represents significant progress in our relentless pursuit of a climate-resilient future for Oregon.
Oregon has taken resolute action in protecting workers from dangerous conditions caused by the worsening climate crisis. On June 7, 2023, Governor Tina Kotek signed into law Senate Bill 907, the Right to Refuse Dangerous Work. This law builds a past victory for worker safety achieved by the OEC and coalition partners in implementing permanent heat and smoke rules, fortifying our state’s commitment to shielding workers from the dangers of an increasingly volatile cl
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2023
Media Contact
Kat Driessen, kat@empirical.media
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Health Authority today released a comprehensive report on the public health impacts of climate change in Oregon. The “2021-2022 Climate and Health in Oregon Rep
Speak Up For the Climate Protection Program (CPP)!
Read our newest Climate Protection Program blog.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on 7/31/2024 to reflect actions by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Last December, the oil and gas industry and their allies delivered a devastating blow to climate justice in our state.
The Oregon Court of Appeals invalidated Oregon’s landmark Climate Protection Program (CPP) based on a procedural technicality. The program was spearheaded (unsurprisingly) by the oil and gas industries most responsible for climate pollution in our state.
The CPP represents a historic victory for Oregon’s climate, local economies, and communities – especially Black, Indigenous, people of color, low-income, rural, and other communities who stand to benefit the most from emissions reductions and investments under the CPP. OEC and dozens of environmental justice, labor, climate, and business community partners from across the state worked tirelessly over an 18-month rulemaking process to develop the CPP. Prior to its invalidation, it was projected to achieve nearly half of Oregon’s targeted emissions reductions, and invest hundreds of millions of dollars annually in environmental justice and other communities throughout our state.
However, the Court’s decision didn’t spell the end for the CPP – far from it. While fossil fuel companies will continue lobbying to skirt accountability and derail climate justice, we have people power on our side. Together with our broad coalition of partners and thousands of individual Oregonians across the state, we are committed to restoring these vital protections for climate and communities.
What’s happening now?
Earlier this year, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced plans to initiate a rulemaking process to reinstate the CPP by the end of the year. Governor Kotek, OEC, and dozens of other partner organizations are in full support of DEQ’s commitment to restoring the CPP’s vital protections for climate and communities as quickly as possible.
On July 31, 2024, DEQ released draft rules to restore the CPP. These rules followed months of public hearings on in-depth policy proposals. Given OEC’s historic leadership in developing, implementing, and defending the Climate Protection Program, we are pleased to have the opportunity to serve as a formal member of the CPP 2024 Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC), alongside many other key environmental justice, Tribal, public health, business, labor partners. OEC was on the ground at the meeting and delivered powerful testimony in support of the CPP.
Unfortunately, oil and gas industry representatives make up the majority of the seats on the RAC. To no one’s surprise, fossil fuel lobbyists used the first RAC meeting in April this year to paint a picture of a scary, expensive future under the CPP.
It’s not the reality. What they don’t want people to know is that the transition to clean electricity will be cheaper and healthier for everyone. The oil and gas industry has been misleading us for decades on these issues because their goal is to continue to pollute. That’s just not sustainable.
Our health is suffering. Our climate is suffering. We cannot continue to put Oregon lives and livelihoods at stake just to preserve business as usual for oil companies and gas utilities.
There are countless examples where polluters have tried to steer regulators and the public away from climate protections through fear-mongering about job loss and economic impacts. Yet, as soon as there is a new framework in place, these policies have shown nothing but benefits. For example, during the development of Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program, the oil industry threatened that the policy would result in a $1 per gallon increase in gas prices. Instead, the reality has been mere pennies on the gallon to achieve the benefits of cleaner air, more energy independence, fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and more economic development in Oregon.
But not every oil and gas industry representative on the RAC was complaining. In fact, some of the transportation fuel suppliers shared their experience and success in reducing emissions in line with the CPP’s requirements, before the court struck it down. In short: the CPP was working and on track to achieve its stated goals for climate and communities.
As DEQ moves forward with this process, it is imperative that decision-makers hear from the Oregonians whose lives will benefit from the CPP, now and in the future. In particular, it’s important that they hear support for maintaining science-based emissions reduction requirements, and an effective Community Climate Investment Program that’s responsive to community needs. (Scroll down for specific talking points you can use in your outreach to DEQ).
We’ve already lost years of emission reductions since the CPP was halted. It is more important now than ever to make sure we get back on track.
How can I help?
Your role in the process is arguably the most important: make your voice heard in support of climate justice.
Use OEC’s letter to submit public comments to DEQ, today.
Urge the agency to strengthen the Climate Protection Program to maximize benefits for our climate, communities, and local economies – and restore these vital protections without delay! Consider personalizing your comments. The public comment period was extended and closes on September 27.
This is our moment. Join us in fighting to create a healthier Oregon.
By restoring the CPP, we will get Oregon back on track to protect our climate, communities, and local economies now and for generations to come. For too long, fossil fuel corporations have tried to lock us out of decision-making and get away with polluting our communities consequence-free. By taking action together, we can create a future that’s sustainable, resilient, and meets the needs of all Oregonians.
OEC’s work to advance meaningful, lasting environmental progress is made possible by people across the state who care about safeguarding Oregon’s future.
Make a difference. Become a member of OEC today.
Help Restore Oregon’s Climate Protection Program
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