Please see Climate Emergency Overview here.

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• Climate Emergency Highlights

• Senate Committees

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Climate Emergency Highlights

Claudia Keith

This is a short 5-week Legislative session, most bills must have work sessions scheduled in the first chamber by mid Feb to stay active. There are now many Legislative Concepts’s waiting for Bill numbers for Environment / Climate Legislative soon to be posted to OLIS by no later than 28^th of January. At this point here are a few that have been identified as potential League policy and or budget Climate priorities:

Senate Committees

Energy and Environment

LC 226, - The measure directs the Oregon Department of Energy to seek grant funding to convene a founding board and, upon securing sufficient funds, directs the board to establish a nonprofit entity to finance clean energy and resilience projects. Basically, A Public/Green Banking theme

Natural Resources & Wildfire

LC 0183, – Creates the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to assess financial impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and recover costs from responsible entities. Designates the Department of Land Conservation and Development to lead an interagency team, directs the Department of Environmental Quality to issue cost-recovery notices, and establishes a dedicated account to receive funds.

House Committee Climate & Energy

LC 283, – Requires solar energy contractors and installers to hold licenses appropriate to the work they perform and sets mandatory disclosures and contract elements for solar purchase, lease, and power purchase agreements. Prohibits deceptive statements, with violations treated as unlawful practices under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act. (see 2025) 

LC 286, – Exempts an energy facility from needing an Energy Facility Siting Council site certificate if the energy facility produces power from a renewable energy source, construction begins on or before December 31, 2028, and it qualifies for certain federal renewable energy tax credits.

The League is a founding member of OCN network ~46 member organizations which includes  Olcv  Climate Solutions ' Defend and Deliver Moment', , OEC , Sierra Club and many others.  Some of their priorities:

• Make Polluters Pay - Climate Superfund (see above LC 183)

• Defending Existing Climate / Energy related policies and funding

Bills. Some may compliment Gov Kotek’s recent 25-29 Energy Executive Orders.

• Major themes

• Lower household energy costs

• Address financing gaps left by federal funding cuts (public/green banking structures?)

• Protect and grow local clean energy and construction jobs and address Data Center issues. 

• Strengthen resilience, especially for rural and frontline communities

Other Topics  - LWVOR and Local League

Nuclear, Natural Gas expansion  in Lane County and PUC related Legislation 

‘A 9-gigawatt problem’: Northwest’s soaring energy demand, supply constraints, could spark new power crisis - oregonlive.com

CUB Endorses the Power to the People Act | News | Oregon CUB

New labor coalition hopes to spur job growth to meet Oregon’s clean energy targets • Oregon Capital Chronicle

The Pacific Coast Intermodal Port Project Coos County 

North Bend council signals support for county on natural gas pipeline negotiations

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  What is your passion related to Climate Emergency ?  You can help. Volunteers are needed.  The short legislative session begins in January of 2026. Many State Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring.  If any area of climate or natural resources is of interest to you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, or Claudia Keith Climate Emergency at peggylynchor@gmail.com Or climatepolicy@lwvor.org.  Training will be offered.

Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Governance, Revenue, Natural Resources, and Social Policy report section