Clean energy fund needs 8,726 valid signatures
Presenter: Signature gathering continues for the Eugene Clean Energy Fund. A broad coalition hopes to put the fund on the ballot in November. During public comment at the Eugene City Council June 8:
Patty Hine: My name is Patty Hine. I’m co-president of 350 Eugene.
The 350 in our name represents the safe upper limit of parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere— the blanket that overheats our planet— due primarily to the burning of fossil fuels. In April, the average parts per million was 431, the highest point since recording began.
This was also by far the hottest winter in the West, and our snowpack is at record low. The upcoming Niño cycle promises to break all records for damaging weather events.
All that’s to say, I am glad we have good council leadership for climate, a talented sustainability staff and commission, with up-to-date climate 2.0 reports and a climate dashboard.
We’re behind in meeting our goals, but we’re making meaningful progress. I’m optimistic about the energy transition, but we need to urgently fund and rapidly implement programs that support electrification, battery storage, efficiency, and renewable energy infrastructure.
The plummeting costs of renewable energy are amazing. The worldwide transition is well underway, and now, with the dangers and volatility of the trade in nonrenewable dirty energy, it’s all but drowned out our scientific, moral, and economic arguments.
We need energy sources that petrowars can’t shut down. Investments in these clean energy, if permitted speedily and simplified, provide broad-based prosperity and energy security that prioritize the needs of communities, local businesses, families with energy poverty.
I ask you that you recommit to these goals and take it to the next level. Let’s transition Eugene’s public buildings to heat pumps and initiate solar and battery projects with EWEB to generate local power and reduce our costs.
Let’s turn big corporate profits into local savings by supporting the Eugene Clean Energy Fund so we can build EV-charging infrastructure, transition homes off of their oil furnaces, and keep summers cool by covering our public pools and saving on those electric bills. It’s never been more important. Thank you.
Jim Neu: My name is Jim Neu. There’s something about holding a clipboard that people view you as having the plague: ‘Oh, no. He wants me to get to sign something.’
Gathering signatures is what dozens of volunteers are doing until the end of July in order to get a proposed city of Eugene measure on the November ballot.
If passed, the Eugene Clean Energy Fund would place a surcharge of 2% on the gross profits of local big box stores that make more than $1 billion nationally and $500,000 locally, but would exclude basic groceries, medicines, garbage, recycling, and health care services.
The estimated $15 million a year from this fund would help the city meet its goals of the Climate Recovery Ordinance by investing back into the community through four grant areas: 60% into renewable energy and energy efficiency programs for households, 25% percent into creating clean energy jobs, 10% into green infrastructure projects, and 5% into future innovations.
The Eugene Clean Energy Fund would assist renters and homeowners in weatherization improvements, window replacements, ducting for heating and cooling upgrades, making energy bills more affordable for utility customers, and lightening the energy loads for EWEB, especially during times of peak demand.
The fund would create training and education for electricians, HVAC and heat pump installers, building energy auditors, solar battery and electric vehicle infrastructure maintenance technicians.
Most importantly, the Clean Energy Fund would start the process in reducing the city’s building carbon footprint within the community in an equitable social and economic process while transitioning off of fossil fuels.
The Portland Clean Energy Fund passed the same type of measures several years ago and has been very successful. I urge the Mayor and City Council to publicly support this measure and thank Councilor Keating for his support.
Listen to what the folks with the clipboards have to say and sign the petition. It may be one of the easiest and best things you can do for the future of our community. Thank you very much.
Presenter: Adding his endorsement at the conclusion of the public comment period, Councilor Matt Keating:
Councilor Matt Keating: Take climate action today and visit EugeneCleanEnergyFund.org to learn more about the growing coalition around this most critical fund that’s working in Portland and should work here in Eugene.
The coalition around the effort include, but aren’t limited to: Eugene Education Association; IBEW Local 280; the Ironworkers; Lane, Coos, Curry, and Douglas County Building Trades; the sheet metal workers; businesses like Gratitude Brewing, Tacovore, Wheel Pizza Pub; elected officials like Sen. Manning, Rep. Phil Barnhart, former Mayor Kitty Piercy, and Councilor-elect Jennifer Smith. Thank you.
Presenter: Signature gathering enters the home stretch, as petitioners must collect 8,726 valid signatures by July 27 to qualify for the ballot in November. To learn more, visit EugeneCleanEnergyFund.org.
