What’s the latest? A cap-and-invest update
It’s been a jam-packed February. On the 11th, more than 1000 Oregonians, from 27 counties, came to the capital to demand strong climate action.
So what’s new with carbon pricing?
Senate Bill 1530, like previous iterations in recent years, the bill still caps and prices climate pollution, requiring at least a 45% decrease by 2035 and at least 80% by 2050. The bill also covers all major sources of fossil fuel use and directs resources to benefit communities most impacted by climate change, including communities of color, low-income, coastal and rural.
It maintains strong standards for family-wage jobs for construction and transportation projects. However, there are some significant changes. Amendments adopted last week include:
- A geographic phase-in of transportation fuels, starting with the Portland metro region, expanding to most western counties by 2025, then coastal and central areas in 2028. Counties in eastern Oregon are only included if 23 counties opt-in.
- The bill splits resources differently this year as well. The Climate Investment Fund includes the following:
- 10% for Oregon Tribes (still first in the nation to make this commitment!)
- 25% for wildfire mitigation
- 25% for carbon sequestration and resiliency projects on natural and working lands (including, but not limited to wetlands, forests, farms, and urban greenways)
- 20% for statewide programs, with a priority on projects that reduce climate pollution
- 20% for local governments, with a priority on projects that reduce climate pollution
- It remains to be seen if the Constitutional restriction will apply to the transportation sector. For now, the bill restricts the use of funding to areas covered by the program (see geographic phase-in above), funds Metro’s important investments in cutting transportation pollution, and allocates a portion to other local governments and a lesser amount to the State Department of Transportation.
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- An empty Oregon Senate chamber was filled with silence on Feb. 25, 2020. Photo by Lathen Gorbett
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- Renew Oregon organizer Madison Daisy Hathaway enjoys a moment at a rally against the costly Senate walkout Feb. 25, 2020 in Salem. Photo by Lathen Gorbett
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- A reporter interviews Sen. Manning during a rally against a walkout led by opponents to the 2020 climate bill. Photo by Lathen Gorbett
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- Hundreds of people gathered with less than 24 hours notice to protest against a Senate-led walkout against the 2020 climate bill. Photo by Lathen Gorbett
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- PCUN Executive Director Reyna Lopez energizes the crowd. Hundreds of people gathered with less than 24 hours notice to protest against a Senate-led walkout against the 2020 climate bill. Photo by Lathen Gorbett
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- Hundreds of people gathered with less than 24 hours notice to protest against a Senate-led walkout against the 2020 climate bill. Photo by Lathen Gorbett
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- Hundreds of people gathered with less than 24 hours notice to protest against a Senate-led walkout against the 2020 climate bill. Photo by Lathen Gorbett
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- Hundreds of people gathered with less than 24 hours notice to protest against a Senate-led walkout against the 2020 climate bill. Photo by Lathen Gorbett
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