Seasons Greetings from the Grassroots

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:

• Work with city council and staff, along with the Sustainability Commission, to enact policy that reduces climate pollution (e.g., no more parking mandates, a moratorium on new gas stations, increased housing density, more bus rapid transit), and metrics that show Climate Action Plan 2.0 progress,
  
• Educate the community on real climate solutions (like heatpumps!), while debunking industry misinformation, through inventive ads and creative public messaging,
  
• Advocate for concrete and attainable state legislation during this short session, including a bill to divest PERS funds from coal,
  
• Pressure the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) to promote solar, exclude small modular nuclear reactors in their plans, expand EV charging, and improve access to incentives for low income customers,
  
• Support UO students to demand the university’s Thermal Taskforce take bold steps to transition off fossil gas,
  
• Assist the Eugene Airport with research on options to build a solar resiliency hub, 
  
• Fight for a city-wide Climate Justice fund to accelerate the clean energy transition for underserved communities,
  
• Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our forest conservation allies to protect our precious biodiverse, carbon sequestering and storing mature and old growth forests through advocacy and direct action, and more.
  

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.

​Helped submit a record number of comments to the US Forest Service's rulemaking process to include protecting trees for the climate

​State advocates at a roundtable meeting with Oregon Treasurer Read to press for a strong Decarbonization Plan

Campaigns

Fracked 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!

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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.
Support 350 Eugene with a donation today! Thanks for being in this fight with us!