The water flowing in streams and percolating in the ground is directly connected to what comes out of your tap. We depend on clean water to support healthy communities, a vibrant economy, and habitat for native fish and wildlife. Water is the fundamental building block that defines our way of life in the Northwest.
But our clean water is at risk.
The EPA recently started the process to repeal the Clean Water Rule, a landmark set of guidelines that strengthened protections for important waterways. Without it, fewer streams, wetlands, and other waters would be protected by the Clean Water Act’s requirement to clean up polluted waters, its pollution control standards for industrial dischargers, its protections against burying streams and wetlands, and numerous other safeguards.
A roll back would mean more pollution to the lakes and streams we rely on for drinking water supply or for fishing and swimming, and a green light for the destruction of wetlands that filter pollution and prevent dangerous flooding.
The directors of Oregon’s natural resource agencies have told EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt that this rule is vitally important to the nation’s ecological and economic wellbeing. People across the country are making their voice heard on this issue, and we need you to raise the chorus.
Yesterday morning, the Climate Protection Program took an important step forward: The Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) officially named CALSTART as the entity to carry out the program’s community climate investments (CCIs). These investments benefit Oregonians hit first and worst by climate change — including Tribal, rural, low-income, and BIPOC communities.
What do these CCIs look like in practice? Here are just a few examples:
Better access to efficient h
On May 18th, the Oregon Clean Grid Collaborative (OCGC) hosted the Clean Grid Summit in Salem, bringing together more than 100 attendees, including representatives from 13 legislative offices, to discuss the future of Oregon’s electric grid and the policies needed to support a reliable, affordable, and clean energy future. Through three panels, speakers explored the competing priorities shaping energy policy, the r
If you’ve done any traveling in Oregon, you’re no stranger to the gorgeous landscapes our state has to offer – the lush, rolling hills of the Willamette Valley, the Tolkienesque cliffslides of the Columbia River Gorge, the high-desert drama of Central Oregon.But if you’ve hit the road in the past few years, you might have noticed some new additions to the vistas around you: sprawling, nondescript buildings in the d
When Oregon Business & Industry filed a lawsuit to repeal the CPP in April, we knew we had to take action. So we did. This morning, we joined forces with our coalition partners to intervene in the lawsuit and defend this critical program in court.
Read all the details in the press release below, and
It might feel like a nightmarish bout of déjà vu, but it’s all too real: The Climate Protection Program is once again under attack.Last month, Oregon Business & Industry brought forward a new lawsuit challenging the state’s authority
In a landmark moment for Oregon ratepayers, last week the Oregon Public Utility Commission enacted new rules protecting Portland General Electric (PGE) customers from rate increases stemming from data centers. Represented by Green Energy Institute, OEC joined other consumer advocates to influence this decision.
By creating a new customer category for data centers, PGE can now more accurately track their energy usage and charge them accordingly. The new rules put guardrails in place
On April 16, 2026, a new lawsuit led by Oregon Business & Industry was brought forward challenging the state’s authority to implement Oregon’s landmark Climate Protection Program.
OEC and our coalition partners stand in firm opposition of this latest attack, and in full support of the CPP. This critical program was designed (with careful legal oversight, and input from the business community) to benefit Oregon communities most affected by the mounting
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 amount of time.Even so, we were able to make meaningful progress in some crucial areas. At the same time, the legislature left Oregonians disappointed when it came time to take action on im
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, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield led a coalition of 16 state attorneys general in filing an
[…] out of international climate agreements. Cutting funds for programs that keep our drinking water safe. It seems, every week there is a new announcement from Washington, D.C. that signals our […]
Defending Oregon from Federal Attacks | Oregon Environmental Council
January 4, 2019 (6:41 pm)
[…] out of international climate agreements. Cutting funds for programs that keep our drinking water safe. It seems, every week there is a new announcement from Washington, D.C. that signals our […]