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At 350 Eugene we are eager to usher in a swift transition to clean energy led with the Inflation Reduction Act and build upon the incremental success of COP28. Locally, we have our work cut out for us as Eugene City Council, led by Climate Mayor Vinis, is poised to bring back a legally defensible electrification ordinance this spring and continue delivering new policies to decarbonize our building stock with building performance standards. It’s going to be a big lift! But grassroots activists know how to apply the pressure! As we saw last year, purveyors of dirty energy in the fossil gas industry (and their serfs in elected office) have boatloads of money to delay, distract and misinform consumers. They ignore or dispute the profound health effects of burning fossil gas in homes and pretend they’re part of the clean energy revolution. (Hint: renewable natural gas and hydrogen are expensive and will never replace their product.) 350 Eugene, with our partners, stands ready to engage & educate our community about the overwhelming advantages of electrification and organize resistance to slick methane-messaging. Just watch us!  In addition, 2024 will be the year for enacting durable policies to protect the Pacific Northwest’s most precious climate solution, our massive carbon-storing & sequestering biodiverse Forests! All national forests are reviewing and updating their forest plans this year and we will make sure throughout the public process that they hold fast to the goals of protecting mature and old growth trees. And we'll let you know of opportunities for you to do your part!  Along the way, we’re committed to supporting the brand new Climate Rights campaign, building on the success of Our Children's Trust's case in Montana, to pass state constitutional amendments that will protect air, water and land for future generations, stopping gas expansion in the PNW with the GTN Xpress project, offering workshops to promote personal and community resilience, and passing a bill in the Oregon legislature to divest PERS investments from coal (a no brainer).
A big portion of our 2023 budget was spent with the Eugene Weekly where we sponsored short "Factoids" and longer articles under the header "It Must Be the Climate". The aim to inform readers on important climate related issues as written by community engaged authors. Regretfully, we are learning that the Eugene Weekly must stop their printed paper and will only be available online for now. We’re making plans for a fun-filled and edgy Earth Day in April. We hope you will plan to join us! Stay tuned. 2024 is going to be a big year. We’re glad to be fighting side by side with you toward a saner, safer and more just clean energy future. Thanks for considering 350 Eugene in your end-of-year giving.
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 As 2023, the soon to be hottest year on record, comes to a close, we look ahead to 2024 with anticipation… for international financing to help poor countries leap to clean electricity, for market forces to push renewables to new heights and for a saner & stronger democracy! Locally, our noses are to the grindstone ensuring the City of Eugene doesn’t waiver on its commitment to bring back a legally defensible electrification ordinance for new residential construction this spring, and a plan of action to decarbonize existing building stock. Eugene continues to lead the way for Oregon cities to pass policy that significantly reduces building emissions, e.g., Ashland, Milkaukee, Bend, Corvallis and Multnomah County. This spring it’s our turn, again! During 2023, we strengthened our alliances with youth and BIPOC organizations, the local Fossil Free Eugene Coalition, the Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance and the Divest Oregon Coalition. Why? Because relationships matter and when we work together - we win! Projects next year include:
DONATE TODAY: We’re a scrappy volunteer organization that has been on the forefront of local and regional climate action since 2012. We don’t need a lot of money, but we do need some. Thanks for investing in grassroots activism - it get’s the goods! You can make a tax-deductible donation to 350 Eugene at our website or send a check made payable to 350 Eugene to 1711 Willamette St., Ste. 301 #474, Eugene, OR 97401.
CampaignsFracked Gas Resistance The fight continues… The GTN Xpress fracked gas pipeline capacity expansion was recently approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a disaster for nearby communities and our environment. This Trans Canada project has met with opposition from Senators Merkley and Wyden, Governor Kotek, Washington Governor Inslee and Senator Murray (WA). GTN Xpress represents a significant expansion of methane gas infrastructure at a time when California, Oregon, and Washington are phasing out fossil fuels. “The Commission’s decision violates the public interest and common sense, and we will file a petition for rehearing challenging this project. Since the analysis for this project was published, two major TC Energy pipelines have failed, causing safety hazards and spilling fossil fuel,” Audrey Leonard, staff attorney for Columbia Riverkeeper, said in a statement. “If this were to happen in dry, rural, fire-prone lands or in the residential areas where TC Energy’s GTN pipeline is located, it would be catastrophic.” It’s not over yet! Columbia Riverkeepers and Rogue Climate, with support from coalition allies like 350 Eugene, have filed a petition to FERC for a rehearing of their uninformed decision. Go team! Thanks and Happy Winter Solstice! Deb McGee, Fracked Gas Resistance Campaign Lead, with Co-leads Doug Bovee & Elliott Grey  Divest Oregon The goal of the Divest Oregon (of which 350Eugene is a member) is to divest the State of Oregon from fossil fuel investments. Divest Oregon is preparing for the 2024 “short” legislative session by introducing the Clean Oregon Assets Legislation (COAL) Act. LOBBY DAY JANUARY 10: Whether you’re an old pro or this will be your first time heading to Salem, come join us! You will be matched up with other constituents and a Divest Oregon representative to meet with your legislators. Sign up to go to Salem for Lobby Day on January 10, 2024. Registration here. The plan is to meet up at about 9am, do a brief training, and then head over for pre-scheduled meetings with legislators. Afterwards, we’ll debrief and have lunch together. If you’re unable to make it in person on that date, we’ll attempt to have virtual meet-ups too. Fill out this form to let us know and mark January 10th on your calendar. Questions: contact Gary Wallmark at [email protected].  Forest Defense The Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance will be holding a planning retreat in January to keep up our momentum to protect essential mature and old growth forests. A group is also convening to discuss the next forest defense training camp (Deep Roots) for this spring / summer. We’ll keep you posted. The Wall Street “Who Will Own the Forest?” Conference held in PDX in September, along with its amazing activist mobilization co-events, has catalyzed our movement. Here’s a nice (and short 1:57) recap of our beautiful rally & disruptive fun. Elliott State Forest: Some of you may have heard that OSU President Murthy withdrew the university from the Elliott State Research Forest Management project, as reported by Doug Pollock (Friends of OSU Old Growth) on November 16, 2023. Read Pollock’s blog post. Some people believe this is for the best. Stay tuned.  Building Resilience Announcing Bob Doppelt”s recent book: Preventing and Healing Climate Traumas: A Guide to Building Resilience and Hope in Communities. Find the book here.  Help the Lane County Board of Commissioners do the right thing. ACT today! Support the Integrated Material and Energy Recovery Facility (IMERF) near Short Mountain Landfill to eliminate 80,000 tons of waste per year (and reduce methane). Here's how: 1) Send your brief comments in support in an email to [email protected] by noon TODAY (12/4) or 2) Sign-up to testify at Tuesday's (12/5) 1:30 pm meeting using this link. Talking points and sample testimony from Beyond Toxics are here. (Please note: Pat Farr is on the fence, so if you live in District 4 (or not), send him a personal note TODAY at [email protected].) Thanks! Want to be part of the grassroots climate movement? Want to see real local change? 350 Eugene has been gaining influence and agency for over 10 years, leveraging our advocacy to demand long overdue climate action. We’re part of a growing progressive network, with intersecting movement objectives: a swift & equitable clean energy transition that looks to Indigenous wisdom and rights past wrongs, and stands down the fossil fuel industry and the unjust systems that empower them.
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