Dylan Plummer, Sierra Club, 541-531-1858, dylan.plummer@sierraclub.org
Eugene, OR — Hundreds of students will march out of school and gather in downtown Eugene on Friday, March 3 to protest NW Natural's first-in-the-nation effort to overturn Eugene's recent ordinance to phase out fossil gas in new homes.
Eugene became the first city in Oregon, and the 97th city across the nation, to vote to phase out fossil fuel hookups in new homes in a move that cuts climate pollution, improves air quality, and lowers building costs. Immediately following the historic vote, NW Natural announced an effort to overturn the policy using a ballot referendum – a blatant attempt to protect the utility’s profits by increasing fossil fuel dependence.
Ella Van Wyk, a student at Churchill High School, said:
"As a young person concerned about my future and the longevity of my hometown, I am appalled that NW Natural is working to mislead the public and roll back Eugene's climate policy. The City made binding commitments to transition off of fossil fuels and reduce polluting climate emissions almost ten years ago with widespread support from young people like myself. Now, a giant fossil fuel corporation is leading a campaign to undermine basic policies that are in place to protect my future."
Activists say NW Natural, which has a long track record of misleading customers and public officials, can use millions in corporate dollars to mount and then influence the vote on pro-gas ballot measures. Community members speaking with canvassers paid by NW Natural have already reported they were told misleading and false information about Eugene's electrification policy, including that research about the health harms of natural gas is "fake news." The utility also created and funded a fossil fuel front group, “Eugene Residents for Energy Choice,” to masquerade as local grassroots opposition to the clean energy transition for homes.
Avery McRae, a student at South Eugene High School, said:
"We are striking to show fossil fuel corporations, and those that enable them, that we will not stand for their anti-democratic and deceptive efforts to avoid regulation. The youth of Eugene will accept nothing less than a full transition off of polluting fossil fuels as required by the Climate Recovery Ordinance. NW Natural, you aren't fooling anyone. You're not going to win this fight."
What: Students to protest NW Natural’s effort to roll back climate policy in Eugene. Speakers will include high school and college students and Jerrel Brown with the NAACP Eugene Springfield, with more still to be announced.
When: On Friday, March 3, 2023, students will begin marching from their high schools and the University of Oregon at 12:20 p.m., and converge at Kesey Square downtown for a rally at 1 p.m.
Why: Students will call on NW Natural, and allies like the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, marketing firm Funk/Levis, and Travel Lane County to abandon efforts to derail local climate policy. Read more background on this campaign here.
Interviews:
- Avery McRae, South Eugene High School Student and Juliana v. United States youth climate plaintiff
- Jerrel Brown, Environmental and Climate Justice Organizer with NAACP Eugene-Springfield
- Dylan Plummer is Sierra Club's Senior Campaign Representative for Building Electrification and a longtime organizer of Fossil Free Eugene
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.