Chapter Directors:

Erik Wohlgemuth
Alex Wall
Van Katzman

ABOUT

E2’s Pacific Northwest Chapter was founded in 2009 and has since grown to 900 members supporters. Since it’s founding, the chapter has advocated for policies in both Oregon and Washington State that reduce climate pollution while sending strong market signals to drive clean energy innovation, job growth, and investment.  Recent efforts have focused on economy-wide carbon pricing, including a broad effort to pass Cap and Invest in Oregon, as well as work supporting carbon pricing voter initiatives in Washington.  E2 has also supported efforts to create and implement Low Carbon Fuel Standards in both states.

OUR ISSUES

  • Growing the clean energy economy
  • Reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions
  • Improving carbon sequestration on the Pacific Northwest’s natural and working lands
  • Decarbonizing the transportation sector
  • Expanding the Western Climate Initiative

OUR WORK

  • In February 2019, over 80 E2 Oregon members and supporters signed onto a letter in support of HB 2020, Oregon’s Cap-and-Invest carbon pricing proposal, which would provide Oregon with a cost-effective path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while driving investment to Oregon’s clean energy economy, working and natural lands, and rural and low-income communities.
  • In February 2019, a delegation of 20 E2 Oregon members and supporters traveled to Salem for meetings with 49 legislative offices and senior staff of the Brown administration, advocating for passage of a strong Cap-and-Invest carbon pricing program.
  • In March 2019, an E2 member had a letter to the editor published in the Seattle Times in support of a clean fuels standard for Washington State.
  • In December 2018, E2 released Clean Jobs Oregon 2018, a report that detailed employment in the state’s clean energy economy, including energy efficiency, renewable generation, and clean fuels and vehicles.
  • In December 2018, E2 hosted a briefing for legislators and staff in Salem, Oregon. The briefing included an overview of Clean Jobs Oregon, an economic analysis of carbon pricing programs across North America, and perspectives on a Cap-and-Invest carbon pricing program from an investment strategist.
  • In January 2019, an E2 member testified before the Washington House Committee on Environment & Energy in support of a clean fuels standard proposal, delivering the business case for reducing the carbon-intensity of transportation fuels.

RECENT SUCCESS

  • In 2019, E2, primarily through the production of our clean energy economy jobs report, engaged with the coalition that helped pass Washington’s SB 5116, which requires Washington’s utilities to be self-generating 100% clean energy by 2045. Also in 2019, Washington passed an electric vehicle tax incentive extension and a bill to increase the energy efficiency of large commercial buildings.
  • In 2016, E2 elevated the business voice to help pass Oregon’s Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Act, which transitions Oregon’s largest utilities off coal-fired electricity by 2030 and requires those utilities to generate 50% of their electricity from clean energy sources by 2040.

GET INVOLVED

Interested in learning more? Want to help us advance our climate and clean energy goals in the Pacific Northwest?

Reach out to Advocate Zach Amittay at zamittay@e2.org to start receiving updates on E2’s work in your area – including attending upcoming regional events, participating in our advocacy campaigns, receiving our email newsletters, and more!