City Club to focus on energy fund proposal on November ballot

The City Club of Eugene’s meeting Friday, Sept. 25, features discussion about a November ballot measure to create the Eugene Clean Energy Fund, a program intended to provide funding for local climate projects.

The meeting will begin at noon at WOW Hall, 291 W. Eighth Ave. Club meetings are open to the public and free to attend.

The Eugene Clean Energy Fund measure, on the Nov. 3 ballot for city voters, would impose a 2% license fee on the Eugene gross profits of large retailers with more than $1 billion in annual national gross profits and at least $500,000 in annual gross profits from retail sales within Eugene. Some businesses would be excluded. 

Revenue would be placed in a dedicated fund, with recommendations for expenditures made by a nine-member committee.

Supporters argue the measure would create a substantial, dedicated source of funding to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions while expanding access to clean-energy investments and jobs. Opponents raise concerns about consumer costs, economic impacts, accountability and whether the proposal would produce measurable emissions reductions.

Speakers scheduled at the meeting include two proponents and one opponent:

• Aya Cockram is the co-chief petitioner for the measure and the Oregon Energy Transition organizer with the Breach Collective, a local climate and labor-justice organization. She also served as the coalition coordinator for the Fossil Free Eugene coalition and is a board member for WellMama.
• Timothy Herrera, who supports the measure, is a small business owner. He is the founder and managing director of the Center of Community Engagement, Neighborhood Advocacy & Research. A former University of Oregon faculty member, he has been involved with the Oregon Folklife Network, Plaza de Nuestra Comunidad and the city of Eugene, among others.
• Laura Sedwick, from the Stop the Hidden Tax on Eugene campaign, opposes the measure. She is a Eugene-area native, mother of three and longtime community member with experience in the private, public and nonprofit sectors, including work with local government, political campaigns, community advocacy, and a nonprofit organization.

The session will be moderated by Nathan Wilk of KLCC.

Friday’s program will be livestreamed and will be available later on the club’s YouTube channel. City Club meetings are rebroadcast the following Monday at 7 p.m. on KLCC, 89.7 FM, and are available later as a club podcast.

The City Club of Eugene explores significant local, state and national issues and helps formulate new approaches and solutions to problems. Membership is open to all.