Climate Emergency
June 6-10, 2022 - Week 6
Back to Full Legislative Report
Coordinator: Claudia Keith
Team: Julie Chapman, Shirley Weathers, Cathy Frischmann, Josie Koehne, Kathy Moyd, Robin
Tokmakian, Nancy Rosenberger and Greg Martin
Climate Emergency Highlights
By Claudia Keith
Federal
Biden Order Will Boost Heat Pumps and Building Insulation - Scientific American. “Invoking the Defense Production Act could help reshape the economics around building decarbonization.”
Carbon emissions are causing widespread damage. - “The Economic Cost of Climate Change.”
SEC Extends Comment Period for Proposed Rules on Climate-Related Disclosures, Reopens Comment Periods for Proposed Rules Regarding Private Fund Advisers and Regulation ATS. Individuals can comment: “The public comment period for the proposed rulemaking 'The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors,' will now end on June 17, 2022. (LWVOR requested LWV to provide supportive testimony.) and related: Fifth Circuit Court Ruling Asks if SEC Can Even Make Rules – Bloomberg. This ruling could how the SEC fundamentally functions.
June 5 2022, NYT Opinion: The Supreme Court Is Pursuing a Very Dangerous Strategy for the Environment. “…From my perspective as an environmental lawyer and a former clerk for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, a case that looms large is West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, which should be decided within weeks. The justices will determine how much authority the E.P.A. has to address the climate crisis by regulating emissions of climate-warming carbon dioxide from power plants…”
State
Oregon utility builds nation’s first large-scale wind, solar and battery facility - OPB
Oregon Legislature Joint Emergency Board met recently, find a complete approved DAS funding list here: (Includes $248M from the general fund, Dept. Transportation funding and Federal funds)
Joint Task Force on Resilient Efficient Buildings. The link includes the recent meeting agenda, meeting materials, and Next Steps: Future Meeting Dates and Topics, Tuesday, June 14th, 3:00 Task Force Discussion: Oregon Building Decarbonization Policies Tuesday, July 12th.
Environmental Justice
Oregon adopts heat and smoke rules for workers - OPB, “The heat rules take effect on June 15 and the wildfire smoke rules take effect on July 1. Currently, Washington and California have temporary rules for protecting workers and are also working on permanent rules that have not yet been implemented.”
Opportunity: ”The Oregon DEQ - Department of Environmental Quality is seeking people from across the state to be part of a new Equity Advisory Committee to help guide the Climate Protection Program. Interested individuals are asked to provide a brief statement of interest by June 13, 2022.”
OSU - Oregon State University New President
OSU Board names Jayathi Murthy its next president – OPB. A recent post @https://twitter.com/JayathiMurthy.
Oregon Business: Report
“Good piece on carbon capture and cement featuring @UCLAengineering’s Prof. Gaurav Sant.” NYMag “How new forms of concrete could capture carbon”.
State (Treasury) Has $5.3B Invested in Fossil Fuel Companies
Oregon Economic Forecast – Clean Fuels Report Forecast – 2022 Clean Fuels Forecast
“In preparing the forecast, the Office of Economic Analysis has formed a Clean Fuels Forecast Advisory Committee comprised of relevant experts and stakeholders to assist in reviewing forecast assumptions, as well as methodological considerations and potential data sources. A membership list can be found in Appendix A. "
Clean Energy
By Kathy Moyd
Interim House Environment and Natural Resources Committee Meeting June 1, 2022
The Committee had two information sessions related to energy. Presentation and supporting information are contained in the Committee Meeting Materials tab and the video of the meeting is accessible here, including the questions and discussions following each presentation. There were no mentions of potential legislation for the 2023 session.
(11:35 am) Update, Oregon Global Warming Commission’s Climate Planning Tool Cathy Macdonald, Chair, Oregon Global Warming Commission Alan Zelenka, Asst Dir for Planning and Innovation, OR Department of Energy Maya Buchanan, Sr Climate Policy Analyst, OR Department of Energy
(12:10 pm) Update on Implementation, House Bill 2021, 2021 Legislative Session Janine Benner, Dir, OR Department of Energy Rob Del Mar, Central Oregon Field Energy Analyst, Oregon Department of Energy Colin McConnaha, Mgr, Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs, Department of 98Environmental Quality Caroline Moore, Utility Strategy & Integration Division Administrator, Public Utility Commission
Interim Senate Energy & Environment Committee Meeting June 2, 2022
The Committee had several information sessions related to clean energy. Presentation and supporting information are contained in the Committee Meeting Materials tab and the video of the meeting is accessible here, including the questions and discussions following each presentation. There were no mentions of potential legislation for the 2023 session, although the need for additional funding was brought up.
2021 Regional Transmission Organization Study Adam Schultz, Lead, Electricity and Markets Policy Group, OR Department of Energy
Oregon’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan (Roadmap to 2035) Cathy Macdonald, Chair, Oregon Global Warming Commission Alan Zelenka, Assistant Director, Technology and Policy, Oregon Department of Energy Maya Buchanan, Senior Climate Policy Analyst, Oregon Department of Energy
Oregon Renewable Energy Siting Assessment Ruchi Sadhir, Associate Director of Strategic Engagement, Oregon Department of Energy Kaci Radcliffe, Project Manager, Oregon Department of Energy
Updates on Oregon Department of Energy Incentive Programs Janine Benner, Director, Oregon Department of Energy
Interim Senate Committee on Housing and Development June 2, 2022
The Committee had one information session related to energy. Presentation and supporting information are contained in the Committee Meeting Materials tab and the video of the meeting is accessible here, including the questions and discussions following the presentation. There was no mention of potential legislation for the 2023 session.
Senate Bill 1536 “Renters Rights and Access to Cooling" Implementation Christy Splitt, Oregon Department of Energy Cynthia Branger Muñoz, Oregon Health Authority
HB 4058 and SB 1536 respectively, were merged into SB 1536 and passed in the 2022 session in response to the “heat dome” in 2022, thus providing cooling for renters and vulnerable homeowners either with temporary air conditioners or installed heat pumps.
Environmental Quality Commission (EQC)
The EQC adopted the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program updated permanent rules by a 5-0 vote on May 19 as called for by Executive Order 20-04.
Department of Environmental Quality
The Rulemaking Advisory Committee for the Clean Fuels Expansion had its last meeting on May 26. The public comment period for the draft rules will be during the summer with approval planned for September. LWVOR will review the draft rules and consider submitting testimony.
Our Children’s Trust – ‘Juliana v US’ (Claudia Keith)
Action Alert: Sign the Petition: Tell Attorney General Garland to End Opposition to Youth Climate Justice
Target: Attorney General Garland
Climate Emergency Team Volunteer Opportunities
By Claudia Keith
Please consider joining the CE portfolio team; we lack volunteers in these critical policy areas:
1) Forestry and other Natural and Working lands
2) Clean Buildings
3) Public Health Climate adaptation
4) Regional Solutions Infrastructure
5) State Procurement Practices (Dept. of Admin. Services)
6) CE Portfolio State Agency and Commission Budgets
7) Oregon Treasury: ESG investing/Fossil Fuel divestment
8) Join Julie, DOT/Transportation with a focus on DLCD/LCD Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities – a major program across multiple agencies. and a priority focus on a just transition, i.e.,
9) Climate and Environmental Justice with a focus on equity.
We all collaborate with Natural Resource Action members on many Climate Change mitigation and adaptation policy topics.