Eugene voters’ November election ballot includes a gem of a measure, Measure 20-388, the Eugene Clean Energy Fund. A yes vote will result in millions of dollars a year dedicated to help Eugene build clean energy projects and create clean energy jobs.

It is the brainchild of a local coalition representing Eugene-based organizations, including Beyond Toxics and 350Eugene. It was inspired by a similar program, the Portland Clean Energy Fund, which has been going since 2018 and has invested $1.7 billion dollars for clean energy projects.

The fund will be managed by a panel of experts appointed by the Eugene City Council. Council will also make final decisions about where the money goes. The measure’s popularity with Eugene folks was clear when over 14,000 signatures were gathered in only a few months — an effort I proudly took part in.

How do millions of dollars come into Eugene you ask? The project is based on the concept of license fee that the city would impose on businesses that operate in Eugene. To qualify for the fee, a business would have to make over $1 billion a year nationally and $500,000 a year here in Eugene. Small businesses in Eugene are exempt. A number of other business types are also exempted from the fee including groceries, credit unions, construction firms and a number of others.

These are times of rapidly worsening climate dangers. Heat domes in Europe this summer likely are responsible for 35,000 heat-related deaths. Heat has fueled the “super” El Niño this year, causing extreme weather events and disasters.

Meanwhile, Eugene has only managed a 10% reduction in emissions since 2010, way behind its promise of a 50% reduction by 2030. The Eugene Clean Energy Fund offers a way for Eugene to reduce emissions and increase climate resilience, especially for our most vulnerable communities. I urge a yes vote on Eugene Measure 20-388!

Barbara Stebbins
Eugene