Chris Olson — Candidate for City Council, District 2
Endorsed: Shade Equity Platform, CEI Hub Platform
Candidate statement:
My environmental policy priorities are centered on tackling climate change, promoting environmental justice, and building a more livable and sustainable Portland. Some of my top areas of focus are:
1. Strengthening the PCEF Tax: While many candidates are focused on protecting the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF), I believe we need to go further. I will push to increase the PCEF tax from 1% to 2% on billion-dollar corporations and send it back to the ballot. The additional revenue will fund more green projects, ensuring that Portland can invest in clean energy, green jobs, and environmental programs that benefit all residents, especially historically underserved communities.
2. Urban Trails Network: I will champion the creation of an Urban Trails Network of protected bike and pedestrian paths across the city. This initiative will reduce emissions, promote sustainable transit, and make active transportation safer and more accessible for all residents. Additionally, Investing in pedestrian-only zones will also revitalize neighborhoods, boost local businesses, and reduce traffic deaths.
3. “Tank the Tanks” at the CEI Hub: I will work to relocate the fuel tanks at the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub to safer locations dispersed across the state. The CEI Hub poses a serious environmental and public health threat, especially in the event of a major earthquake. I will also work to get rid of decaying, out-of-commission fuel tanks that are in danger of exploding and contaminating the river.
4. Shade Equity: I support increasing shade equity across the city to decrease the heat island effect, especially in industrial areas and communities of color which are often neglected by environmental policy.
5. Public Transit and No Freeway Expansions: To reduce emissions and promote sustainability, I will work with Metro and the county to expand and improve public transit infrastructure. Additionally, I will oppose any further freeway expansions, which only contribute to increased traffic and pollution, and instead focus on smarter, greener transit solutions.
6. Disaster Preparedness: I will prioritize educating Portlanders about the risks of wildfires and earthquakes. Strengthening evacuation routes, improving communication, and ensuring all communities are well-prepared are essential steps in building resilience to climate-related disasters.
There are many more environmental policies that I would support in office, but I believe the above areas are the most important, and are central to my platform.
Will you ensure the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) remains climate-focused in line with what voters intended?
Yes
