Bend Community Organizations Make Strong Public Push in Support of Climate Impact Fee Policy
Advocates say Climate Impact Fee Policy is an essential, cost-effective measure to address rising greenhouse gas emissions from Bend’s buildings
Contact: Brennan Breen, brennan@energizebend.org, 303-618-7760
Date: April 15, 2026
Bend, Ore. - Last night, community members and organizations gave public testimony at Bend City Council’s Business Meeting in support of the proposed Climate Impact Fee Policy. The policy will incentivize efficient, all-electric construction and curb greenhouse gas emissions in Bend’s building sector.
According to Bend’s Community Climate Action Plan and the Oregon Department of Energy State Energy Strategy, strategic building electrification is a key pathway to affordable and equitable decarbonization. In the wake of EPA’s rescission of the Endangerment Finding, local governments are exploring new policy tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Emily Dougan, an analyst with Citizen’s Utility Board, a non-profit that advocates for consumers’ utility interests, emphasized the risk to ratepayers posed by expanding the natural gas system, “adding gas service to new buildings increases the cost of service to existing customers, and adds additional risk to them in the future… Low-income households and renters could be hit particularly hard. They could be left with all the costs of supporting the natural gas system, as those costs are spread over fewer and fewer households.”
Joe Craig similarly emphasized Cascade Natural Gas’ inability to ensure low costs for customers while meeting carbon reductions mandated by Oregon’s Climate Protection Plan, “they do not have credible, cost effective plans to decarbonize. They are over-reliant on renewable natural gas, which can only serve 5% of their customer base. They have zero operational renewable natural gas projects in the state of Oregon”
Others emphasized the direct risks and costs of relying on fossil fuels.
“I don’t think people understand what chemicals are in natural gas: formaldehyde, arsenic…” posed a concerned community member, Peggy. “What does it cost to treat a child with asthma? What does it cost when you have lung cancer? Those are the real costs.”
Brennan Breen, the Campaign Coordinator of Energize Bend, reiterated the importance of long term energy affordability and independence, “We have to divest from fossil fuels. There is no Straight of Hormuz between the sun and a solar panel.”
John Pitney, a retired pastor, impressed the importance of leadership and climate leadership, especially for young people, ““I never wanted to be a grandpa who had to explain to my grandchildren, why I didn’t do everything I possibly could to stop global warming while I had a chance… what message are you sending to Bend’s children by the policies you put in place?”
Council is expected to determine the implementation timeline for the policy, consider exemptions, and schedule the final hearing and vote on ordinance language for the policy at their work session next week on April 22.