You Can’t Put a Price on Saving Lives

  • 4 images side-by-side. and elderly woman overheated in her home, a little boy sweating while drinking from a water fountain, a scene from an Oregon wildfire, a man wiping sweat off his brow.

Oregon state lawmakers are entering the final weeks of the legislative session. As our elected officials make tough decisions about what bills will pass or die this session, one thing is clear: there’s not enough money to go around.

Against this budget-constrained backdrop, already this month Oregon has already faced a heatwave, wildfires, and a smog warning. People across our state need home cooling, clean air, and energy security.

These aren’t luxuries. They’re life-saving essentials in the face of extreme climate events.

Only four years ago, a heat dome claimed the lives of hundreds of Oregonians, many of them elders, living alone without a home cooling system. The recent heatwave and wildfires are a stark reminder: our window to act is closing.

Our legislators can still lead with their values. That means funding proven climate resilience programs for vulnerable Oregonians. Full stop. This is what Oregon Environmental Council and hundreds of advocates are pushing for: an Energy Affordability and Resilience Package that meets this moment with immediate solutions.

We need continued funding for Community Resilience Hubs that serve as emergency heating and cooling stations. We need funding replenished to deploy more energy-efficient heat pumps for our most at-risk community members so they can cool (and heat) their homes. We need to pass bills like the FAIR Act so Oregonians don’t see their utility bills spike during winter months. Without all of these measures, we’re forcing low-income residents to decide between paying their rent, paying for groceries, and paying their utility bills. We’re forcing Oregonians to miss days of work due to heat stroke and doctor visits. At worst, we’re forcing vulnerable Oregonians to risk their lives due to climate inaction.

We need our legislators to step up and prioritize funding for the entire energy affordability package. If they don’t, we will all be paying for it—today, and for years to come.

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