Carmen Rubio — Candidate for Mayor
Candidate statement:
As mentioned above, the newly reformed PCEF is just now underway. I am particularly proud of how we were able to fast track funds for greener affordable housing and tree planting and maintenance – and that we are getting the city’s first e-bike program off the ground. In addition, very recently, we awarded the first round of grants totaling about $90 million. That is a very significant level of investment out the door with more than $650 million to come over the next four years. We learned in its early years how important grants oversight is, and how much time it takes for a fund of this size – the team is working on hiring enough people to manage the fund responsibility and transparently. Making sure PCEF delivers on its goals will continue to be a priority of mine as Mayor.
I also want to see through my work with Portland’s industrial sector. This is the hardest sector to decarbonize, and it includes Portland’s largest point source of carbon emissions. We need to be working with the sector to push them toward greener business practices to the benefit of our climate and clean air. And I need them working with each other to create circular economic practices, which will help overall and also support future job growth.
I also believe very strongly in pulling every lever we can at the local level to push the traditional fossil fuel industry toward transition. I worked to update the city’s Renewable Fuels Standard to facilitate the transition away from traditional fossil fuels – the most ambitious plan in the country. I fought for zoning code amendments to limit the expansion of traditional fossil fuels at the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub – again, because we need to do all we can to influence the market and transition to lower-carbon fuels. And most recently, for increased safety and accountability, I supported the new state requirements for seismic upgrades in the CEI Hub and am working with Commissioner Sharon Meiren on risk bonding. I also brought to City Council the acceptance of federal FEMA funds so that we can hire more staff to explore further planning and zoning efforts related to the CEI Hub. This work will be a focus of mine as Mayor.
Finally, it’s clear to me that we also need to weave together and elevate the city’s environmental work. Multiple bureaus run various environmental programs, and it’s clear that we need to do a better job of how it all works together to ensure we are good stewards of our water resources, in particular. Yes, clean drinking water, but also making sure the water that returns to our river is clean – and that our environmental and conservation overlays zones are appropriately applied. This is in addition to a need for a clear commitment to restore, protect and increase access to the Willamette River.
Will you ensure the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) remains climate-focused in line with what voters intended?
Yes
