Take Action!
We’re nearing the finish line! For months, youth organizers and community members have been demanding that Ashland draft the Climate and Clean Air Policy Package and put it on the agenda. Thanks to our organizing, on Tuesday, January 21, the Ashland City Council will finally discuss a draft policy to implement an essential piece of the youth-proposed Climate & Clean Air Policy Package: a Pollution Fee ordinance that will encourage new homes to be built fully electric. This comes after over two years of community pressure, and now we need to show up louder than ever to make sure that it passes. Will you be there?
Give testimony and support youth led climate action on Tuesday, January 21 at 5:30 PM!
What is the Pollution Fee ordinance, and why do we want it?
The Pollution Fee is an essential component of the Climate & Clean Air Policy Package that would bring many climate and health benefits to our city.
It would incentivize building new homes with energy efficient electric appliances, by charging a fee for those who choose to install gas appliances. That means most newly constructed homes would have clean air and affordable energy. Passing this ordinance is an important win for the city, and will pave the way for Ashland to continue to work towards meeting its climate goals.
The Climate & Clean Air Policy Package
The Ashland Youth for Electrification Campaign is advocating for Ashland City Council to pass the Climate & Clean Air Package, a group of policies that would reduce fossil fuel use in the city.
This will improve air quality, support youth climate action, and increase energy efficiency and affordability in our communities.
The Climate & Clean Air Package will include:
- A low NOx emissions standard to limit indoor air pollution in new homes.
- A pollution fee for connecting new homes to gas hookups. The fee would fund energy-efficiency upgrades for low-income households in Ashland.
- No new gas pipes along public streets and sidewalks in Ashland starting by the end of 2025.
- A resolution to reduce fossil fuels in existing homes and new commercial and industrial buildings in the future.
Reasons to pass the Climate & Clean Air Policy Package
Clean Air and Public Health
Everyone deserves to breathe healthy air inside their homes.
The use of fossil fuel gas to power home appliances is a significant source of harmful indoor air and climate pollution. Passing a limit on the amount of toxic pollutants that new homes can emit is an opportunity to improve the health of our communities.
Studies show the long-term health risks of living with household gas appliances like gas stoves, which produce pollutants like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, and more–even when they are turned off. Living in homes with gas appliances increases the risk for childhood asthma (by 42%), blood cancers, heart disease, and dementia, among other concerning health hazards.
Affordable Energy
Our communities need access to affordable and efficient ways to heat and cool our homes.
Building new homes with efficient electric appliances is cheaper, and saves money for tenants on utility bills. This is crucial to consider as we build more much needed affordable housing in our community.
A Livable Future
Youth and our communities want clean air and a livable future!
The Climate & Clean Air Policies would reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions from new residential construction, and will put the city on track to take action on the the commitments listed in the Ashland Climate and Energy Action Plan.
According to the Oregon Department of Energy, residential and commercial buildings account for about one-third of Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions, and direct use of fossil gas creates 14 percent of the state’s GHG emissions.
Media
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