Thoughts from Lisa: ‘Yes’ on Eugene Clean Energy Fund

from Lisa Arkin

I’ve been having discussions with friends about the Eugene Clean Energy Fund. There have been some questions about the structure of the ordinance and accountability for spending the monies that will go into the Fund.

I’ve read the ordinance language, and what I see are feasible possibilities and smart steps to accomplish things I believe so many Eugeneans value. I see a program that is modeled on the work other cities have succeeded in doing, but with stronger language and a more equitable funding mechanism.

Other cities are generating revenue for clean energy initiatives. Note that Eugene is not on this list! When do we give our city the means to start?! We do so now, with Measure 20-388.

Other than Portland, the difference is that most of those funds are temporary or built on taxpayer burdens. Like Portland, Eugene will raise the funds from fees paid by huge corporations that do little to nothing to enrich our community.

I make it a point to shop at community-sized businesses – none will be affected by the required 2% fee on large national chains. I support making megacorporations do their share and serve as the funding source for climate-resilient projects our community will benefit from.

I believe this ordinance is innovative and its crafting is sound (sound enough considering the built-in constraints of our city manager- city council and the good work of various appointed citizens’ committees).

I see positivity in this ordinance—it is based on the progressive belief that we the people can take local action for a better future. We can adopt new energy and transportation systems that aren’t fossil-fuel dependent.

We can vote to affirm young people who are begging us to stop settling for the status quo.

To vote yes is to support a change, try something new, adopt local energy projects and give more people access to updated HVAC technologies. Let’s see how it goes! And a big plus is that big mega-corporations can supply the purse book for helping our community achieve responsible solutions to a warming climate!

Please don’t settle for maintaining the status quo. Vote yes and help the next generation take a step toward solving the looming climate and energy crises they’ve inherited.

This was written by Lisa Arkin, revered, retired director of Beyond Toxics, October, 2026. Read by Robin Bloomgarden for KEPW-Whole Community News.