I was appalled, but not surprised, to read the recent Oregonian/OregonLive editorial on the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, given the editorial board’s long running efforts to undermine PCEF, (“Editorial: Drop the sanctimony, City Council, and put a new Clean Energy Fund measure on the ballot,” June 14).
In 2023, reporter Gosia Wozniacka documented that the larger-than-anticipated PCEF funds raised by that point were still less than 1.5% of the money needed to fulfill Portland’s net-zero-by-2050 climate ambitions. Yet the board acts as if these are excess funds and advocates that they be raided for other purposes. This is dangerous for Portland, as PCEF is not only an economic activity engine, but also critical for protecting our most vulnerable community members in the event of disaster or climate chaos.
Climate change is happening faster than anticipated. The city needs to rapidly reduce emissions and develop climate resiliency; otherwise, there will be even higher prices to pay both in terms of human suffering and economic impact.
We should all be grateful for the foresight that went into developing this unique source of funding to complement general fund dollars. Voters had the wisdom to put this fund in place; PCEF’s work must continue and the program must be maintained for the voters’ original purposes. We must not take steps backward!
