Fossil-Fuel-Free Multnomah County

Now is the time for Multnomah County to step up to the plate like other cities and counties across the U.S and in Oregon that are exploring new laws to regulate gas and provide clear pathways for clean buildings.

It’s clear that we must move away from fossil fuels, including methane gas. Methane gas from fracked gas is fueling the climate crisis like we have seen firsthand in Oregon with the extreme heat waves we have had for two summers now, and wildfires that have devastated communities around the state. Now is the time for Multnomah County to step up to the plate like other cities and counties across the U.S and in Oregon that are exploring new laws to regulate gas and provide clear pathways for clean buildings. You can join us right now to take action and demand Multnomah County do the same.

When developers build new buildings hooked up to gas infrastructure, community members can be locked into using gas for decades to come. We need our political leaders to stand up for the climate and our health by making a just transition away from fracked gas and methane.

Dear Multnomah County Commissioners and the Office of Sustainability,

I am concerned about the dangers of methane gas in the buildings in our community. Burning methane gas in our homes creates dangerous conditions and risks our health. Methane from our stoves, heaters, and fireplaces creates air pollution levels that would be illegal outdoors because it can cause conditions like asthma and heart failure. With electrification comes the opportunity to create a just transition to homes and buildings that are safer, healthier, more resilient, and powered by renewable energy—instead of buildings that lock us into using fossil fuels for decades to come. Dozens of cities, including New York, Seattle, Denver, and San Francisco, have already said no to methane in new buildings. In Oregon, Eugene recently passed a law and Lane County is exploring new ways to regulate gas. It's time for Multnomah County to do the same.

Electrification can bring social, economic, and environmental benefits to Multnomah County residents, including improved air quality; reduced energy use and greenhouse gas emissions; buildings that are more comfortable and energy efficient, with lower energy costs; jobs in HVAC, electrical work, and construction; better health and safety; and a pathway to meeting the county’s climate goals.

I urge you to begin the steps of phasing out methane gas from all new construction of residential and commercial buildings in Multnomah County, and of justly phasing out gas appliances in existing buildings.

Thank you,

Photo credit: Sky Bear Media