Carbon pricing may be in Oregon's future, which would help the state reach its goals to reduce emissions and get 50,000 EVs on the road by 2020 (there are currently just over 16,000 registered in Oregon). Senate Bill 1070 (The Clean Energy Jobs bill) will be one of the biggest topics in the 2018 legislative session. At our January event, we invited Max Baumhefner from the Natural Resources Deference Council to speak about California's existing carbon pricing program and Nancy Hamilton from the Oregon Business Alliance for Climate to talk about what this may mean for Oregon. 

California has a carbon pricing system that sets a limit for the number of greenhouse emissions industrial facilities can emit. This program has generated nearly $6 billion in funds for the state, which has been allocated a number of programs; nearly one third has been allocated to the transportation sector. Low-carbon transportation is one of the programs that is receiving funding, and Max explained that these funds are dedicated to clean vehicle purchase rebates (and increasing the rebates available for low-income earners), as well as electric car sharing pilot programs, investment in renewable fuels and a financing pilot program for the purchase of used electric cars.

The Oregon Business Alliance for Climate is in support of the Clean Energy Jobs Bill. The bill would establish a similar program to California's and allocate approximately 40-55% of funds to the transportation sector, which is responsible for over 30% of the state's carbon emissions. Funds would also be allocated to impacted communities, programs to reduce greenhouse gasses, and projects that support carbon sequestration. If the bill passes, it will not go into effect until 2021 at the earliest. 

Nancy's presentation can be viewed here: