- Climate Reality Portland, OR Chapter
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- May Chapter Social! Let's (Re)connect!
May Chapter Social! Let's (Re)connect!
And legislative action for you!
Climate Reality Portland Chapter
May 07, 2023
Happy May, everyone. In this email you will find info about the May Chapter Meeting (a social reconnecting gathering) and things we need to do to bring climate bills across the finish line in the current legislative session!
May Chapter Meeting: Chapter Social! Tuesday, May 16 7pm @ Hi-Top Tavern
You are invited to our first in-person gathering this year! Our May chapter meeting will be an in-person social to welcome newly trained Climate Reality Leaders and reconnect with existing members (so that’s all of you!) We will be gathering on the Hi-Top Tavern patio (covered and heated), and get to know what the chapter has been up to. We will hear from our new chapter chair, Alex, and committee leads on the good work that we all have been achieved and planning for the next few months.
Order whatever you want, mingle, reconnect with and get to know fellow climate warriors. RSVP is required and do it here! Oh minors are welcome, too (till 9pm!) Again please RSVP and we hope to see many of you!
Where: Hi-Top Tavern (5015 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97213)
Funding from Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
As many of you know, the last (April) Climate Reality Power-Up Training focused on implementing the historic climate incentives included in the IRA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). One of our new members put together a resource guide “Where to find info about IRA and BIL” so we can all take advantage of the federal dollars and be a part of the implementation. As a part of the IRA climate incentives, the U.S. Department of Energy recently rolled out a tool to help us understand Federal Tax Credits for Plug-in Electric and Fuel Cell EVs, and which make(s) and how much is qualified for tax credits. Take advantage of these $$ and share widely!
Building Resilience Bills: Let’s bring them across the finish line!
For more 2 years, we, along with dozens of advocacy groups, community members and our state legislators have been working on making our buildings more resilient, affordable, healthy and strong. In the current legislative session, the Building Resilience Package consisted of SB 868-1, SB 869-1, SB 870-3, SB 871-2 has been introduced and passed out of the Senate EE committee. We need to make sure they pass before the session ends in June. 2 things you can do now:
Send this letter to your state senator and rep (1-min action!)
Read and share Senator Lieber’s Op-Ed on The Portland Tribune. She explains what these bills will help Oregon drastically reduce methane +carbon emission, improve our indoor air quality, and save $$$. Share on IG, twitter, and facebook.
Some of our state legislators walked out during from the Oregon Senate this past week, and some climate and human rights bills we support have been stalled. If you know your rep and senator are among them, please contact them. Find your senator and rep here!
Deny Zenith’s Permit
Some of us join the Portland Youth Climate Strike on April 21, demanding Governor Kotek and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) deny Zenith’s Air Quality Permit. About 90% of Oregon’s liquid fuels are stored at a site in NW Portland along the Williamette River operated by companies including Zenith Energy. Environmental reviews show that the crude oil and diesel are likely to spill into the Williamette River and pollute our water source. Let’s make some phone calls📞!
DEQ Director Leah Feldon - 503-229-6408 🤙
Governor Kotek - 503-378-6408 🤙
Our Chapter’s Legislative Co-chair Helena at the protest!
Interactive Op-Ed Writing Training to support Green Banks: Tuesday, May 9 at 3:30pm PT
Green banks provide financing opportunities to make green projects more affordable and accessible to regular people and historically marginalized communities, speeding up our transition to clean energy. Join the Climate Reality Engagement Team to learn how to write persuasive and impactful opinion pieces advocating for a green bank in your state. Register here!
We mourn the passing of Bill Bradbury, former Oregon Secretary of State, a climate champion and Climate Reality Leader.
We report with great sadness that local Climate Reality leader and climate champion, the former Oregon Secretary of State, Bill Bradbury has passed away in April.
It was just last year that Climate Reality Portland was privileged to have him talk to us as part of a virtual workshop on how to advocate for climate legislation in Salem. Bill Bradbury been involved with the local chapter of Climate Reality since its founding, he has been with the international Climate Reality organization since its founding. His life and effort was a model for how one person can have an outsized impact on our state - and our planet.
We honor and appreciate that he dedicated his retirement to fight the climate crisis despite his daily struggle with MS, and for being a mentor to other Climate Reality Leaders, and for standing up against the LNG terminal proposed in Coos Bay.
See Bill Bradbury speak about climate change with compassion, dedication and optimism in this Climate Reality Leader spotlight. To honor Bill’s legacy, consider taking the actions in this email or make a donation to the Climate Reality Project.
💚 That's it for this newsletter! If you have any comment, question, and idea about the chapter, please let us know. We appreciate you! 🙏
- Li-Ya, Communication & Social Media Lead