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On June 3, the Bend City Council voted 5-1 to advance the proposed Climate Pollution Fee on natural gas appliances in certain new residential construction, with a final adoption vote scheduled for June 17. Mayor Pro Tem Megan Perkins cast the lone vote against the ordinance.
Throughout the two-year process, the Bend Chamber has consistently opposed the fee because it adds new costs to housing at a time when affordability remains one of our community's most pressing challenges. As outlined by Chamber CEO Sara Odendahl in a recent Bulletin letter to the editor, the policy places additional financial burdens on the very housing types Bend is working hardest to expand, including middle-income and workforce housing.
The Chamber has also raised concerns about energy reliability, the pace of electrification, and the cumulative impact of new regulations on housing production and affordability. While we support the transition to cleaner energy and the investments utilities are making to decarbonize the grid, that transition will take time. As long as electricity generation continues to rely in part on fossil fuels, the emissions advantage of electrification is reduced. Whether this fee will deliver meaningful climate benefits relative to its impact on housing affordability and economic growth has yet to be clearly demonstrated.
We appreciate Mayor Pro Tem Perkins for thoughtfully representing these concerns and for recognizing the significant public engagement this issue generated. The Chamber will continue participating in implementation discussions and advocating for policies that support the City’s environmental goals while protecting housing affordability, and energy reliability for Bend residents and businesses.
