Session Highlights
We Won Big on Climate Legislation
The biggest environmental victory coming out of the 2021 legislative session was the passage of three major climate change bills including 100% Clean Energy for All (HB 2021), Healthy Homes (HB 2842), and the Energy Affordability Act (HB 2475).
The time was right for major climate change policy––a year after the Governor’s historic climate executive order we needed a big win to keep the momentum going on strong climate change policy to pave the way to a just transition to a clean energy future. It was time for 100% Clean Energy and the legislature delivered.
Oregon’s 100% Clean legislation is one of the strongest in the nation because it prohibits any new fossil fuel infrastructure, has strong labor standards, and one of the fastest timelines to get to 100% clean energy––aiming to get to 100% clean by 2040. Oregon’s 100% Clean bill is also strong on environmental and economic justice, including requiring the state to consult with Tribes impacted with clean energy projects, and strong protections for ratepayers.
Together We Win
These three major climate bills were part of the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity (OCEO) campaign led by frontline and environmental justice organizations from across the state, including the Just Transition Alliance, Verde, and many others. This historic effort led to historic outcomes––passing legislation that acknowledged the disproportionate impacts of climate change on frontline communities and ensuring that those communities are part of the solution as we transition to a clean energy future.
We at OLCV along with our fellow environmental and conservation groups, labor groups, utilities, and others joined the OCEO campaign to help ensure that energy would remain affordable to low income families with HB 2475, and that funding would be made available to families to upgrade their homes to make them safer, healthier, and more energy efficient with HB 2842. In addition to the broad coalition of groups working to pass these bills, hundreds of volunteers from across the state made phone calls, showed up to (virtually) to lobby, sent postcards, and published letters to the editor in their local newspapers to make these victories possible.
Passing the full OCEO package of bills proves that when efforts to pass meaningful legislation are led by frontline communities along with a broad base of support, we can truly accomplish transformative policy.