Community Organizations Urge Eugene City Council to Take Action Ahead of Key Vote
For Immediate Release
November 15, 2021
Press Contacts
Danny Noonan, Fossil Free Eugene Coalition and Climate & Energy Strategist at Breach Collective, 541.653.5795, danny@breachcollective.org
Meg Ward, Communications Director, Breach Collective, 503.341.8590, meg@breachcollective.org
Community Organizations Urge Eugene City Council to Take Action Ahead of Key Vote
Over 20 organizations endorse Eugene’s efforts to mandate 100% electric construction in new buildings
Eugene, OR - Today, twenty five climate, environmental, and community organizations sent a letter to Eugene City Council in support of a long-discussed policy to mandate that all new buildings be constructed 100% electric, without “natural” methane gas hook ups, in order to reduce climate pollution in the City and protect against exposure to dangerous indoor air toxics created with gas combustion. The letter comes ahead of Wednesday’s work session where Councilors could make their first vote to move electrification policy forward and to direct staff to begin drafting a first-in-the-state ordinance.
Dylan Plummer, Senior Campaign Representative with the Sierra Club, said:
“Increasingly, communities across the region are bucking the influence of the fracked gas industry and implementing policies to ensure a future free from fossil fuels. As the climate crisis progresses, it is critical for all levels of government to see through the lies of the fossil fuel industry and put forward concrete legislation to provide a just transition to 100% clean electricity for all.”
Danny Noonan, Fossil Free Eugene Coalition and Climate & Energy Strategist at Breach Collective, said:
“Despite what expensive and sophisticated PR campaigns from the fossil fuel industry would have us believe, methane gas has no future in the clean energy transition. Every new gas installation puts communities’ health and safety at risk, especially low-income and BIPOC communities. After years of deliberation, and with a yawning gap between the City’s climate goals and its existing policies, it’s past time for Eugene City Council to take real action to protect public health and the climate.”
The letter states:
“Our coalition and our networks are unified in support of city council to take the following actions:
1) Forward motions to direct staff to explore regulatory options available to the City to reduce emissions associated with methane gas in buildings at the upcoming November 17th CAP 2.0 work session; and, ultimately
2) Utilize the full extent of the City’s authority to equitably and swiftly transition our community off of fossil fuels.”
The letter comes as the City Council is considering directing staff to draft ordinance language to codify the building electrification policy at their upcoming work session on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Community members and climate advocates hope that the City will move quickly to pass the policy, leading the state on the transition to renewable electricity.
Cities and states across the country are embracing efforts to require that new construction utilize electric appliances instead of gas-fired ones. For most of Oregon, swapping gas for electric heating has the carbon reduction impact of giving up one’s car.
In addition to negative climate impacts, there is a growing awareness of the serious health impacts of gas appliances:
Homes with gas stoves have 50 percent to over 400 percent higher nitrogen dioxide levels in their indoor air than homes with electric stoves, which can lead to heart failure and asthma.
One hour of cooking on a gas stove produces nitrogen dioxide levels that would be illegal if found outdoors.
Children in homes with gas stoves have a 42 percent increased risk of asthma symptoms.
In response to these grave concerns, NW Natural has only offered unworkable alternatives like so-called “renewable” natural gas and a transition to green hydrogen as an effort to stave off regulation for as long as possible. For more on NW Natural’s false and misleading claims, as well as detailed rebuttals, see this report.
The campaign in Eugene has broad support in the community, with endorsements from prominent organizations including the NAACP Eugene-Springfield, members of the state legislature, the Democratic Party of Lane County, the Eugene Sustainability Commission, the Eugene Human Rights Commission, Springfield Eugene Tenants Association, the Sierra Club, the Friendly Area Neighbors and Downtown neighborhood associations and many more.
The following organizations signed on to the letter: 350 Eugene, 350 Deschutes, 350 PDX, Beyond Toxics, Breach Collective, Cascadia Wildlands, Climate Solutions, EG350, Electrify Now, Families for Climate, Green Energy Institute, Lane Independent Living, Sierra Club, NAACP Eugene/Springfield, Natural Resources Defense Council, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Planet vs. Pentagon, Power Past Fracked Gas, Raging Grannies Eugene, Rocky Mountain Institute, Rogue Climate, and Springfield Eugene Tenants Association.
Find the full text of the sign on letter here.