2020 - 21 Campaigns

At the Annual conference of UU Oregon Voices for Justice, we affirmed the continuation of our four campaigns from the prior year. ​
Our Four Campaigns:

Environmental Justice

Lead:  Claudia Keith 

ORUU Voices for Justice signs letter to Oregon Energy Trust - 8-11-21

OR UU Voices for Justice signed onto a letter addressed to the Oregon Energy Trust calling on them to adjust their policies to encourage switching from the use of fossil fuel based "natural" gas to electric appliances in Oregon   Read the letter here.  Copies of this letter were to be sent to the OR Public Utilities Commissioners.

From the letter, "Members of the undersigned organizations stand together to urge Energy Trust of Oregon to change their policy regarding fuel switching in order to promote climate-smart and equitable electrification in the State. "

2021 legislation

  • This list of bills is from the First Unitarian Church/Portland, Community for Earth social justice committee.   The following list of bills is included in the Community for Earth list.
  • 100% Clean Energy for All (LC 1984) and SB 390
    Just like it sounds, 100% Clean Energy for All would transition Oregon to 100% clean energy—like wind, solar, and geothermal—within the next couple decades.
  • Healthy Homes (HB 2842)  
    Healthy Homes would help low-income communities make repairs and updates on older homes, helping to improve indoor air quality, save money on heating/cooling, and make homes more energy efficient.
  • The Oregon Energy Affordability Act (HB 2475) 
    The Oregon Energy Affordability Act would help make energy bills more affordable by providing protection from rate increases, especially for low-income households who spend a large portion of their income on energy needs. 
  • Equity and Climate in Land Use (HB2488): A bill to incorporate environmental justice, equity and climate goals into our statewide land use planning goals, to be introduced by Representatives Power and Helm and Senator Golden, Frederick, Manning and Dembrow.
  • Toxic Free Schools  HB 2406 (LC 2406): An update of Oregon’s 10-year old School Integrated Pest Management statues to prioritize children’s health, emphasize least toxic pest methods and eliminate pesticides known to cause cancer, brain-damage and hormone disruption and provide greater program oversight to the Oregon Department of Agriculture
  • Buy Clean  HB 2688  “Oregon agencies do not factor in the carbon footprint or environmental externalities of the products they purchase.  HB 2688 would create a pilot program that requires state agencies to factor in the environmental costs of certain construction materials when purchasing those materials. The program effectively incentivizes the purchase of more environmentally friendly products that are more often made locally.
  • Clean Energy For All  HB2995 Requires 100 percent of electricity sold in 2035 and each subsequent calendar year to retail electricity consumers to be clean electricity. Accelerates deadline, to 2025, for electric companies to eliminate coal from electricity supply. Extends, to 2035, ad valorem property tax exemption for alternative energy systems.  More. 
  • Disband the OR Forest Resources Institute HB2347    Eliminates Oregon Forest Resources Institute and Oregon Forest Resources Institute Fund. Establishes Sound Forestry Practices Subaccount .  Directs State Forestry Department to use moneys in Sound Forestry Practices Subaccount to develop and apply sound forestry practices in collaboration with other state agencies