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Dear John,
All around us, the climate movement is building momentum. Young climate activists like Greta Thunberg, Isra Hirsi, and Autumn Peltier are making headlines almost daily, and, last month, team OLCV joined 7.6 million voices across the globe for the biggest climate mobilization in history. The science has never been clearer, or more urgent—with only 11 years to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, the choices we make in the next few years will impact not just the next generation, but all generations to come. And after 11 state senators chose to flee the Capitol rather than protect our future, Oregon is falling behind.
That’s why, this morning, OLCV joined a coalition of environmental groups, small businesses, and climate activists in filing two clean energy ballot measure petitions, both designed to put climate action into the hands of Oregon’s voters in 2020.
These ballot measures work in tandem to tackle Oregon’s largest sources of carbon emissions, improve our air quality, and create high-paying jobs for Oregonians.
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100% Clean Electricity: Did you know that 48% of Oregon’s electric grid is sourced from coal and other fossil fuels? The Clean Electricity measure would transition our electricity system to 100% wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and other sources of clean energy by 2045. This would not only lead to less carbon pollution, but cleaner air and a job boost for rural communities. Read more here!
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100% Clean Economy: Oregon already has targets for reducing climate pollution, but they’re not strong enough. This measure would update those targets to meet the emission goals set by the world’s top climate scientists, cutting Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2035, and transitioning us to a 100% clean energy economy by 2050. Read more here!
Clean energy is more efficient and affordable than ever before. Seven states—including our neighbors in Washington, California, and Nevada—and more than 130 cities, including Portland and Multnomah County, have already committed to 100% clean electricity. In fact, more than one in four Americans who live in a place that has committed to 100% clean electricity. Oregon was once a leader in environmental policies, but now we’re falling behind.
One way or another, 2020 will be Oregon’s year of climate action. The Clean Energy Jobs bill is still the most comprehensive plan to reduce Oregon’s carbon pollution, and we’re going to do everything we can to ensure it passes in the 2020 February short session. It’s our top priority and unfinished business for our legislators. But, if our state senators once again side with big polluters over Oregonians, voters will have the opportunity to choose climate action at the ballot box in November 2020.
We hope you’ll join us in the months to come as we continue to fight for clean energy, cleaner air, and a healthier future for all Oregonians.
Thank you for your support,
Doug Moore
Executive Director, OLCV
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