Big climate win in Bend: City Council passed a Climate Pollution Fee!
On June 17, Bend City Council voted 4-1 to pass a Climate Pollution Fee, making Bend the second Oregon city after Ashland to adopt this kind of climate policy. We’ve been proud to participate in the grassroots organizing behind this effort as part of the Energize Bend coalition, alongside the local advocates, health professionals, and community members who made this win possible.
The Climate Pollution Fee targets pollution from gas appliances installed in new residential construction. It doesn’t touch existing homes, and any new home built without fossil fuel hookups is unaffected. Builders who choose to install gas appliances in new builds will pay a fee, and that revenue will fund equity-focused programs aimed at improving energy efficiency and affordability for Bend households. This new fee is closely related to the policy that Ashland passed last year, and it reflects a policy approach that’s gaining momentum across Oregon – rather than banning gas outright, cities are putting a price on the pollution it causes and reinvesting that money in the community.
At the final public hearing, Bend residents turned out to testify. Council heard from a longtime utility resource planner who noted the policy would help utilities plan smarter long-term infrastructure investments, and homeowners who spoke about the cost savings and health benefits of electrification, including reduced asthma and other illnesses linked to gas use in homes.
The fee takes effect on April 1, 2027 and there’s still work ahead! It has yet to be decided how the revenue will get invested, and those decisions shouldn’t be made without hearing from the people this policy is meant to serve. Local advocates are collecting community input right now on how the Climate Pollution Fee’s revenue should be used. If you’re a Bend resident, please take a few minutes to fill out the Community Input Survey and share what would actually benefit you and your neighbors, whether that’s lower bills, better indoor air quality, or expanded access to clean energy. If you know people who live in Bend, please pass it along. The more input the city receives, the better this policy can serve the community!
