Why Oregon needs a strong Climate Protection Program
Oregonians are already paying the price for pollution from large corporations, which is fueling climate disasters and extreme weather
Sky-high energy bills. Record-breaking wildfires. Air too toxic to breathe.
Oregonians are already paying the price for pollution from large corporations, which is fueling climate disasters and extreme weather. To make matters worse, some corporate special interests are now trying to take away one of the best tools we have to lower energy costs and clean up our air: Oregon’s Climate Protection Program.
At its core, the Climate Protection Program is about reducing pollution and improving the health and livability of all of our communities. Shaped by comments from thousands of Oregonians across the state, the Climate Protection Program sets clear limits on pollution from the state’s biggest polluters and helps more Oregonians access clean, affordable energy. The program is thoughtfully designed, forward-looking, and absolutely critical – especially in this moment.
With D.C. politicians actively gutting clean air and public health protections, Oregon leaders must keep charting a path forward that delivers a cleaner, healthier, more affordable future for all of us: Every child should be able to play outside without inhaling wildfire smoke. Every family should be safe and comfortable in their home, year-round. Every Oregonian should be able to afford their utility bill.
The Climate Protection Program is the foundation for building this more resilient future. The program holds big polluters accountable and invests in communities bearing the brunt of climate change; Black, Indigenous, and people of color, low-income families, people with disabilities, seniors, and rural and coastal residents have shouldered higher costs, worse health outcomes, and more extreme weather.
But all Oregonians will feel the benefits of these investments. every time we install an energy-efficient heat pump for a senior or weatherize a low-income family’s home, we help that household save money and live more comfortably while also reducing pollution and creating good-paying local jobs. Reducing energy use is good for all of us – it keeps the grid stable and reliable, lowering costs for everyone. independent modeling has found that the Climate Protection Program’s investment in clean energy will add nearly 10,000 jobs and $2.5 billion to Oregon’s GDP by 2050.
The economic benefit of climate action to Oregon is clear – so too is the cost of inaction. The Oregon Health Authority releases an annual report about how climate change is affecting Oregonians’ health, and, year over year, the findings grow more alarming. In 2024, wildfires burned a record 1.7 million acres across Oregon.
More than 1.2 million Oregonians experienced 28 days of combined exposure to both extreme heat and smoke, with some students forced to miss school days when temperatures soared to unsafe levels. And, tragically, 21 Oregonians died of heat-related causes.
This summer is shaping up to be no exception. Already, Multnomah County officials have reported 4 deaths that they believe were related to June’s record heat wave. Drought has been declared in more than half of all Oregon counties, and experts warn that a severe wildfire season could be ahead.
We cannot afford delay, and we certainly cannot allow corporate special interests to roll back the progress Oregon has made. Oregonians deserve clean air, affordable energy, and a stronger, more resilient future. The Climate Protection Program is the path forward.
Cheyenne Holliday is a born-and-raised Oregonian who grew up on a small farm outside of Portland, where her family rescues and rehabilitates horses. As Verde’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, she focuses on policy development, education, and outreach around environmental and racial justice issues.
Mary Peveto, co-executive director of Neighbors for Clean Air. Peveto founded and helped build Oregon’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to clean air advocacy.