From our friends at Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN)
As a result of Governor Brown’s 2020 Executive Order 20-04, we have a chance to encourage the Department of Environmental Quality to deliver a program that puts the state on track to do its share to address the climate crisis. DEQ has developed a Climate Protection Program that could put the state on a substantial downward greenhouse gas trajectory.
While it has positive components, this program could be stronger. We have several opportunities to encourage DEQ to beef up its proposal. The draft rules were released in Early August and are open for a 60-day comment period – ending October 4th. It is especially important for rural voices to identify themselves as such and urge strengthening. We have several opportunities to help push the needle. Please engage in as many as you can by at least urging a strong Climate Protection Program. If you wish to go the extra mile, please read to the end and follow the links. The main opportunities are as follows:
1) A group of organizations flying under the banner of “Climate Protection Advocates” has petitioned and been granted a meeting with Governor Kate Brown. This will occur on September 13th. To help us make our case for strengthening the program, we are asking Oregonians to contact Governor Brown and urge her to pressure DEQ to strengthen the draft program. We are asking these comments to be submitted by September 17th via the Governor’s web page on Energy or via snail-mail, Office of the Governor, 900 Court Street NE, Suite 254, Salem, OR 97301-4047. Find more information here.
2) DEQ is holding a Hearing on Sept. 22 from 4 to 7 pm during which oral public testimony will be offered. Those wishing to testify will probably have 2 or 3 minutes. Find more information here.
3) The Environmental Quality Commission (to which DEQ reports and is responsible) will be the entity ultimately deciding whether the Climate Protection Program becomes the enforceable state climate program. EQC holds a Hearing on September 30th from 4:00 – 7:00 when public testimony again is possible. Those wishing to testify will probably have 2 or 3 minutes. Find more information here.
4) Submit written comments to DEQ by Oct. 4 here or via snail mail: Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs, 700 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 600 Portland, OR 97232-4100. Find more information here.
WIth Renew Oregon, we have organized a virtual comment-writing workshop from 6 to 7 pm on Sept. 16. If you wish to attend, please visit the SOCAN calendar to register and receive the ZOOM URL.
There is much more information on this effort here.
Thank you for all you can do. We don’t have many opportunities to make a difference, but this is one. Please join us to offer as many comments as you can and please forward this to anyone or any group you think might be interested.
Alan Journet
Co-facilitator, Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN)
https://socan.eco or al**@**can.eco