Voters will decide whether to place a fee on billion-dollar corporations to fund clean energy jobs EUGENE, Oregon — The Eugene Clean Energy Fund, backed by environmental organizations and labor unions, has officially qualified for the November 2026 ballot, after the Eugene City Recorder certified that the campaign had submitted enough valid signatures. This milestone is the result of a four-month grassroots effort powered by volunteers, community organizers, and social and environmental justice organizations who canvassed events, knocked on doors, and turned out at every stage of the campaign process to get this measure in front of voters. “Gathering such a large number of signatures in less than 100 days is a testament to the energy and support behind this campaign,” said Aya Cockram, Co-Chief Petitioner and Oregon Energy Transition Organizer with Breach Collective. “Building on the momentum we created in the signature gathering phase, we are confident that our community will vote yes on the Eugene Clean Energy Fund so that we can meet the climate and economic crises with locally tailored programs with widespread benefits.” A “yes” vote for the Eugene Clean Energy Fund initiative in November will place a 2% Large Retailer License Fee on corporations like Amazon and Walmart that earn more than $1 billion in profits annually in the United States, and over $500,000 in profits within the City of Eugene. Funds will be allocated through a community-led process to projects supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency,clean energy jobs training, apprenticeships, and contractor support, green infrastructure; and future innovation. This initiative is projected to generate at least $15 million annually to invest back into the Eugene community. “ECEF is for all current and future Eugenians. Our city needs more bike lanes, trees, resilience hubs, good jobs and healthy homes for working families. This November, Eugene voters have the opportunity to hold corporations accountable and invest in our shared clean energy economy future,” said Joel Iboa, Co-Chief Petitioner and Executive Director of Oregon Just Transition Alliance. The initiative is closely based on the 2018 Portland Clean Energy Fund initiative, which passed with 65% of the vote and has since invested over $1.7 billion into climate, sustainability and clean energy projects in Portland. The initiative would establish a committee made up of appointed City residents to allocate the revenue generated by the fee to be spent on clean energy, sustainability, and climate resiliency projects across Eugene, with a focus on ensuring benefits to low income and historically marginalized communities. “I am excited to vote ‘yes’ on the Eugene Clean Energy Fund this fall,” said Lin Woodrich, Active Bethel Community Co-Chair and endorser of the initiative. “Especially for West Eugene, I look forward to seeing the positive impact ECEF will have in uplifting a community that has long borne the burden of corporate pollution. It is well past time that corporations pay their fair share of the costs of climate change. This measure is a meaningful step toward protecting our community and safeguarding our future, and one I believe everyone can get behind.” Today’s qualification officially marks the beginning of the second phase of this campaign. With the Eugene Clean Energy Fund now guaranteed to be on November’s ballot, organizers are shifting focus to voter education, gathering pledges to vote yes, and turnout on election day. The Eugene Clean Energy Fund campaign is led by environmental justice and climate organizations Beyond Toxics, Oregon Just Transition Alliance, Breach Collective, Oregon League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club, and has been endorsed by over sixty organizations, labor unions, local businesses and elected officials, including the Eugene Education Association, Senator James Manning Jr., Tacovore, Hummingbird Wholesale, and former Mayor Kitty Piercy. Read more about the campaign here. Find a full list of endorsing individuals and organizations here. Find free-to-use photographs here.
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