Eugene Explores New Decarbonization Strategies

Following the federal court's decision to overturn Berkeley's natural gas ban, Eugene's City Council is seeking new strategies to reduce carbon emissions. The initial attempt to ban natural gas hookups in new residential buildings faced opposition from Northwest Natural and was ultimately withdrawn. As reported by Nathan Wilk, city staff have now proposed alternative decarbonization measures, such as implementing carbon impact fees, launching educational programs, and expediting permits for electrified buildings, which other cities have successfully adopted.

Councilor Lyndsie Leech expressed enthusiasm about exploring these new approaches, emphasizing the need to understand funding requirements and regulatory actions necessary for implementation. The City Council plans to reconvene later this year to discuss potential revenue sources and the specifics of the proposed strategies. Additionally, Councilor Mike Clark suggested negotiating a franchise agreement with Northwest Natural to secure funding for building weatherization, a process that previously stalled due to decarbonization discussions.

City Manager Sarah Medary noted that Eugene might have greater regulatory authority than initially assumed, following a clarification by the 9th Circuit in January. This new understanding could influence the city’s approach to regulating natural gas distribution and further its decarbonization efforts.