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February 2022

LOSN Board Note: The City of Lake Oswego is one of our principal partners in moving the city and community forward on sustainability and in addressing climate change. This newsletter features the goals of the city and the Sustainability Advisory Board.

A Growing Sense of Urgency

Climate change and sustainability were top community priorities for addressing according to the City's commissioned survey last fall. As the impacts of climate change grow, and we see the dangers from unsustainability inherent in our modern lives, our organization is even more motivated to focus on helping the city make rapid progress on addressing these areas and helping our community with a transition to a more sustainable life.

This year LOSN is increasing our focus on:

  • Advocacy - for city policies covering topics such as more sustainable housing as well as on the development of new city services infrastructure such as the new wastewater treatment plant
  • Education - for community members
  • Collaboration - through work with partners and city boards
  • Showing up – testifying at and attending the city council and community meetings where our input can help keep sustainability in focus
  • Leveraging our expertise and influence - promoting sustainability and climate action

Summary for the Council Goals Setting Session

Our City Council spent much of Saturday February 12th working on their annual goals and priorities which will be finalized and adopted in early March. In keeping with the community priority of investment in climate action and sustainability (from Fall 2021 survey - link here), many of the priority initiatives are directly related to sustainability and most touch on sustainability in some way.

Combating climate change remains one of the council goals with continuing to work on the city’s Sustainability and Climate action Plan as a key initiative. Two other new initiatives under this goal include increasing the availability and use of green energy in the community and updating the Urban and Community Forest Plan. This is great news and a goal that LOSN will continue to actively support.

Another of the city’s goals was investment in parks, natural areas and recreational amenities. Under this goal, the council carried over its initiative to complete key parks projects including the new recreation and aquatic center (LORAC), Golf course, trails, and Rassekh Park. New initiatives included adopting a natural resource plan for city property, adopting a new agreement with LOSD for fields and facilities, and creating a holistic health and well-being process with city departments and community partners.

LOSN is actively following the City’s work on the wastewater treatment plant. This continues to be an important initiative that the council rated as a high priority.  We have been encouraging the city to make this huge multi-decade energy-intensive investment, as sustainable as possible - to include solar, water-reuse, and investigate other sustainability opportunities. 


Image: concept of Wastewater Treatment Facility – courtesy of LO Lowdown

Housing is a critical sustainability issue. Affordability addresses one of the key sustainability tenants of equity. Urban design and density allow for walkability and greater transportation options. The council has two initiatives that address this important issue: 1 - working on key housing initiatives (HB 2001/2003 and housing projects) and 2 - Updating the Foothills District plan. 

Many of the other initiatives relate to (or touch upon) sustainability:

  • Funding strategy for pedestrian safety (transportation options)
  • Improving emergency management capabilities (climate resiliency)
  • Adopting an Economic Development Strategy (community fiscal health)  
  • Fostering DEI (social equity)

The council worked together to come up with a set of goals and initiatives which when acted upon will move our city forward in becoming more sustainable.


SAB Has Ambitious Goals for 2022

In 2022, the Sustainability Advisory Board* (SAB) put forward an ambitious set of goals which LOSN strongly supports. 

The SAB goals are as follows:

  1. Advocate for Sustainable Design of the Wastewater Treatment Plant
  2. Improve resiliency and adaptation strategies in the City’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
  3. Protect and Preserve Trees and Natural Resources
  4. Accelerate the Transition Away from Gas-Powered Landscape Equipment
  5. Advance the Adoption of Electric Vehicles
  6. Host a Community-wide Earth Day Celebration (see Save the Date notice below)

The first three goals were identified as key council initiatives and the next two are consistent with the council's initiatives in promoting green energy in the community.
 
LOSN is looking forward to collaborating with the SAB to attain these goals through this year. Click here for more on the SAB Goals for 2022.

*The Sustainability Advisory Board’s primary objective is to promote a more sustainable community that balances the three pillars of sustainability: social equity, the economy and the environment. The SAB works with the guidance of Amanda Watson, the City's Sustainability Program Manager.


What are other local governments doing?

Cities and counties are where the action is: they are where we live. The political orientation of cities and urban counties tends to favor climate action -- a lot is happening on this front. Cities can impact our lives by providing safe walking and bike routes, and investing in clean energy.

One example of change in the Northwest is the rapid growth of new policies reducing the use of natural gas, a key source of methane, one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases. Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and Multnomah County oppose the use of fossil fuels in new public buildings. Bellingham, Shoreline and King County are prohibiting natural gas in all or most new commercial buildings. The city of Eugene is exploring a rule that would prohibit all new construction from using natural gas. Discussions about how to limit methane are occurring in Bend, Ashland, Milwaukie, Portland and Salem.

Here is a link with more details about the new city policies. 


Featured Partner Webinar: Health Impacts of Gas Appliances

Panel:  How gas hurts our climate and our health
When:  Thursday, February 24, 2022
Time:    7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Where - on Zoom: Registration link

A recent Stanford University study found that gas stoves emit far more methane than previously thought. 

Representatives of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility (OPSR) and co-authors of the 2021 report, "Methane Gas: Health, Safety, and Decarbonization," join us to discuss the environmental and health impacts of so-called "natural" gas.

Panelists:

  • Melanie Plaut, MD - OPSR Healthy Climate Action Team & 350PDX Fossil Fuel Resistance Team
  • Theodora Tongas, PhD, MS - OPSR Healthy Climate Action Team
  • Ann Turner, MD - OPSR Healthy Climate Action Team
  • Samantha Hernadez - OPSR Climate Justice Organizer

LOSN Board Note: We are launching Electrify LO in March with a Kickoff Forum on April 7th. As part of that project, we are creating partnerships around the state, and one of our partners, Southern Oregon Climate Action Now, is having a webinar that we'd like to share.
LOSN Forum: Accelerating the Transition to a Clean Energy Economy

Speaker:  Brian Stewart, founder of Electrify Now
When:      Thursday, April 7, 2022
Time:        6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where - on Zoom: Registration link

Are you alarmed about the climate crisis and trying to figure out what you can do to help slow global warming? Through our new Electrify LO program we will show you step-by-step how to transition your home to clean, renewable energy. This transition will not only reduce your greenhouse gas emissions but can make your home healthier, save you money, and improve your home’s performance. Your comfort and quality of life will not be compromised.  

Join us for the kickoff of Electrify LO on April 7 when Brian Stewart, founder of Electrify Now presents “Accelerating the Transition to a Clean Energy Economy.” For a sneak preview, check our new project website.

Brian has over 30 years of experience in product design, manufacturing, innovation and sustainability. He began his career as an industrial designer at IDEO and has held various senior leadership roles in footwear and apparel product creation at NIKE Inc. While at Nike, he was the Vice President of Sustainable Innovation where he directed projects and created tools to deliver on corporate sustainability goals. He has spoken at group events and made presentations about the benefits of electrification at Nike, adidas, Google, Grid Forward and numerous other organizations around the U.S.


Save the Date: Community-wide Earth Day Celebration

When:  Sunday, April 24, 2022
Time:    11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where:  Lakeridge Middle School, 4700 Jean Rd, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035 (map)
What:    Groups throughout our community will be present at the fair with sustainability information, how you can get involved, and take action. 

The City of Lake Oswego’s Sustainability Advisory Board is partnering with the Lake Oswego School District, the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network, and the Oswego Lake Watershed Council to host the first Lake Oswego Sustainability Resource Fair.


Seeking Instagram contributions

Going to an LOSN event? Have a sustainability tip?
Please tag us @losustainabilitynetwork on Instagram and we will like or share your post! And don't forget to follow us!


Exciting Update on our Wave Energy Forum

On Feb 14th, OPB reported: US Department of Energy awards $25M for wave energy testing at first-in-nation Oregon facility

Check out the forum we held last June on this exciting project.



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