It’s 2026, and we’re looking forward to a year of gathering in community, taking action, and creating joy in the climate justice movement.

Now, let’s dive into news, actions, and team updates!

Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub Policy Project

On December 16, Portlanders showed up with amazing energy, creativity, and powerful testimony for the CEI Hub Policy Project rally and hearing at the Planning Commission. Thank you to everyone who attended, sent in comments, and helped make the rally fun and informative! To learn more about the CEI Hub, click here.

Next steps: From January 13–23, the Planning Commission will be opening up the comment period again. Send in a comment or add to what you’ve already said! This talking points document includes info and links to submit comments.

Forest Defense

The Forest Defense Team enjoyed a break between December’s atmospheric rivers to visit the Middle Big Noise Creek area in the Clatsop State Forest east of Astoria. This forest, with many trees exceeding 50 inches in diameter, is an example of complex North Coast forest habitat that the Board of Forestry and the Oregon legislature pledged to preserve over a decade ago. Like so many forests of its kind, Middle Big Noise is slated for clear cutting.

Join other Oregonians in helping the Oregon Department of Forestry align agency actions with its pledge to protect the remaining 14% of these legacy forests. Public comment will be accepted through January 31 on a draft Forest Management Plan. For info about January public hearings and a comment portal through Bird Alliance click here.

In coming months, the Forest Defense Team is planning to host several state forest tours to help people in the Metro area connect with these places of beauty and rich habitat that serve as critical carbon sinks, so rare in the western United States.  Reach out to Tyler@350pdx.org to join an upcoming Monday evening meeting.

Make Polluters Pay (MPP)

During Oregon’s legislative session, 350PDX will focus on the Oregon Make Polluters Pay coalition, advocating for the Climate Resilience Superfund bill, which would make multinational fossil fuel corporations pay for climate damages they’ve caused in Oregon. To learn more about MPP, click here.

On January 22, we’re excited to host a MPP Action Night as part of a National Week of Action! Join us on January 22 at the 350PDX workshop (3639 N Mississippi Ave) and get involved with this exciting movement! Please note, our new Action Night time: 6:30–8:30pm.

Other ways to take action:

• Sign the Oregon Make Polluters Pay petition

• 1/27: Attend a virtual Storytelling Training on the MPP Oregon bill. To register, click here.

• 2/16: Oregon Make Polluters Pay Advocacy Day in Salem. More info soon!

Speak Up for Justice, Trees, and a Thriving Climate-Friendly Economy: Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA) Hearing

On Tuesday, January 13, 4:00–8:00pm, join us at the Planning Commission (1900 SW Fourth Ave, Portland) for a hearing on the EOA. We recognize many are still working at 4:00pm, so please come when you’re available. This policy impacts many of the areas we work on relating to equity, public health, ecosystem health, and climate impacts from all of these. You can attend the hearing virtually or in person. To learn more about the EOA, sign up to give testimony, or submit written comments, click here. Later this week, we’ll be sending an email with suggested talking points!

Team Updates

Arts Team

Trees, mushrooms, beavers, and the Sun showed up last month at the CEI Hub rally and hearing!

Coming up – we have an artbuild to prepare for February’s Mississippi Street Mardi Gras parade, and you are invited!

Join us on Sunday, January 11, 1:00-4:00pm at 350PDX’s workspace (3639 N. Mississippi). We’ll be making mushrooms and owl puppets to swoosh over the parade crowds. The Mississippi Street Mardi Gras is a wonderful way to spread the word about climate in a fantastic, joyful way. It also draws in more climate work supporters and puppet makers. Can you join in the fun by being a puppeteer that night? (February 17, 5:00pm-7:00pm, a one mile march down N. Mississippi that ends near 350PDX.)

If you can puppeteer or if you will join Sunday’s artbuild, please let Donna know! Email: murph1949@aol.com

Book Club

Join our next gathering on Wednesday, January 7 at 6:30pm on Google Meet. We’ll discuss A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers, a cozy and short novella about a robot and a monk exploring the question, “What do people need?”

Save the date for our next meetings:

• Wednesday, February 4 at 6:30pm (350PDX Offices) – The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis by Osprey Orielle Lake

• Wednesday, March 4 at 6:30pm (Google Meet) – Book to be selected in February

Reach out to books@350PDX.org with any questions, RSVPs, or to join our list. See you soon!

From Zohran Mamdani’s historic win to the passage of Proposition 50 in California, it’s clear that so many Americans are eager for major change! We’re also excited that here in Portland, the parks levy has passed. As we navigate a very difficult period in our nation’s history, let us take a moment to breathe, feel hope, and gather strength for the work that lies ahead.

For this month’s Action Night, we invite you to join us at Rumble on the River on November 20. Riverkeepers of the Willamette, Tualatin, and Columbia will hold an evening of stories, strategy, and shared purpose. Hear updates on the work each organization is leading—from local restoration projects and community programs to collaborative policy efforts that defend clean water and healthy habitats across the region.

Team News

Forest Defense Team

City Council adopted the amended 2025 Urban Forest Plan! Thank you to everyone who wrote, testified, and showed up to support passing this important climate justice document. See the October 22 Resolution to read all the amendments to help assure that low-canopy, low-income parts of Portland are centered in green infrastructure climate retrofits. The agenda includes details on how your Councilors voted; the spirited discussion starts at minute 2:52. Please consider sending a thank you note to your Councilors. The final Urban Forest Plan will be available in mid-November.

On October 23, the Forest Defense team partnered with Thrive East PDX for a Green Infrastructure and Shade Equity Social at the Center Powered by Y.O.U.T.H. in outer SE Portland. Community members and representatives from 20 organizations came together to learn about pathways toward green jobs, and PCEF-funded investments to bring street trees to District 1 through programs with Urban Forestry and Friends of Trees. We look forward to sharing the report soon, and collaborating on a career fair in February that will help prepare young people to apply for seasonal jobs.

Middle Big Noise Walk

The Forest Defense team postponed our adventure to the “Middle Big Noise” timber units in the Clatsop State Forest due to weather. Keep an eye on social media for when we announce the new date.

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

CEI Hub

Thank you to the record number of people (over 1,000! ) who sent in public comments about the CEI Hub Policy Project Discussion Draft. An overwhelming majority of comments asked Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to propose an “Alternative 4 plus more” solution to draw down the amount of flammable and toxic liquid fuel stored at the CEI Hub and to prioritize our public and ecological health and safety.

Save the Date! On December 16, the Planning Commission will hold a hearing on the CEI Hub Policy Project. Along with partner organizations, we will hold a rally before the hearing, and there will be an opportunity to share your comments virtually, in person, or in writing. The rally starts at 3:00pm, the hearing will be from 4:00-8:00pm, at 1900 SW 4th Ave. Stay tuned for more details!

Data Centers + Electricity Costs

350PDX supported the passage of the POWER Act in the 2025 Oregon legislative session, along with other energy justice advocates led by our friends at Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board (CUB). The bill is designed to hold data centers accountable for their own energy costs.

This fall, regulators are considering a new framework for how PGE divides costs for its different customer groups — including a new data center customer category. This case will become the template for how data center customers are charged for energy costs for all of Oregon’s for-profit utilities. We need your help to eliminate any new data centers’ energy costs from going onto the bills of our homes and small businesses, starting with PGE.

Submit your comments by December 1 for the biggest impact! Modify and send this one-click email from CUB, or use this talking points toolkit to craft and send your own message to the Public Utility Commission on Docket UM 2377.

Host a House Party! “Make Polluters Pay” Bill

Do you want to be part of a movement to make polluters accountable for the damage they have caused to the climate, environment, and public health? We’re building a grassroots campaign to support a “Make Polluters Pay” bill in Oregon, following the successful passage of similar bills in Vermont and New York.

Along with other partner organizations, we’re helping organize house parties across the state in the next few months, to educate people about this bill and to prepare them to take action during the legislative session in February. Can you host a small (8–12 people) gathering in your home or other location? If so, please contact Cherice Bock (cherice@350pdx.org) for more information.

The best way to get involved in the Fossil Fuel Resistance Team is to join us at our next meeting on Zoom: Tuesday, November 11 at 5:30pm. Please reach out to Ben Platt for the Zoom link: benplatt59@gmail.com. You can also sign up to volunteer and receive updates on the CEI Hub campaign using this form: https://350pdx.app.neoncrm.com/forms/38

Arts Team

The 350pdx Arts Team went all out for October’s No Kings rally! Forty puppeteers showed off our puppets representing climate justice issues and threats to species, waterways, and democratic government. Highlights included new puppets grieving these losses, and a new Statue of Liberty.

Photos: Kyla Yeoman

While summer lingers in the air, we can feel the gentle tug of autumn. 350PDX has been in quite a state of transition–making it through our financial crisis and reimagining the ways we should go forward. It is such an exciting time, and the change of season feels appropriate.

We have so much to be grateful for, especially our community and amazing volunteers. You rallied around us and helped save 350PDX with your time, donations, art, advice, and words of support. Thank you. At our next Action Night, we want to show our appreciation and share our vision for a new, more inspiring and impactful 350PDX. Save the date: September 18, and look for an email with more info soon!

Also, we hope to see you at Sun Day, September 21, a national day of action that will celebrate the sun power revolution and bring us together to stand up to people and policies aiming to stop the clean energy transition. Sun Day PDX is one of 215 events happening nationwide! There will be speakers from Ecotrust, Oregon State Senate, Union of Concerned Scientists and more, a parade/march across the Hawthorne Bridge, and a “Sun Ball” from Making Earth Cool! More info here! And please see our Arts Team section below, they need folks to help with our magical puppets!

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

The 350PDX Fossil Fuel Resistance Team spent the summer learning together about different campaigns we can focus on, and we’re excited to have made decisions and rolled up our sleeves to get to work! These campaigns include: Transitioning the CEI (Critical Energy Infrastructure) Hub, Make Polluters Pay, and Fighting the Energy Impacts of Data Centers & AI. If any of these topics interest you, now’s a great time to join the team!

We’re also getting ready and excited for the 25th Rumble on the River Community Forum on Thursday, September 25th and would love for you to join us.

Rumble on the River 25 – What Can We Do About The CEI Hub?
Come learn about what’s behind and ahead with the on-going CEI Hub Policy Project and celebrate the 25th in our series of Rumble on the River community forums.

Thursday, September 25th at 1241 Lloyd Center
5:00pm The Unpresidented Brass Band performance
5:30pm Rumble Co-Sponsor Tabling & 25th Rumble Celebration
6:30pm Rumble Community Forum
More info here!

We also invite you to join us at two upcoming film screenings for the documentary Chasing Chimeras: The Lure of Deceptive Climate Solutions, happening at Cinema 21 on Wednesday, September 24 at 7 PM and at St Johns Twin Cinemas on Wednesday, October 15 at 7 PM.

JOIN THE FFR TEAM: Our next meeting is on Zoom on Tuesday, September 9 at 5:30pm. Please reach out to Team Lead Ben Platt for the Zoom link: benplatt59@gmail.com. After that, our next meeting is in-person at the 350PDX office on Tuesday, September 23.

Forest Defense Team

The Forest Defense team is continuing our work on two major campaigns: (1) increasing the tree canopy in Portland, focusing on shade equity (2) pushing for climate-smart management of the state forests through preserving legacy forest on state lands and lengthening logging rotations on plantation forests on state lands.

In the shade equity campaign we are encouraging the city to approve a strong Urban Forest Plan. The Climate Resilience and Land Use Committee will review a draft plan on September 11th. 

In the state forest campaign, we are working to raise awareness about the upcoming timber sale of a legacy forest near Astoria. If this sale, known as Middle Big Noise, goes through, 100 acres of mature, diverse forest in the Clatsop State Forest will be clear cut. We think it should be preserved for carbon storage, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat. This fall, the team is planning a hike in the Middle Big Noise area and would love to have you join us!

We are also asking Governor Kotek to appoint a new state forester who will consider climate change and ecological management as top priorities. The governor will nominate the new state forester, a position that is currently empty.

GET CONNECTED: Join the Forest Defense Team meetings on the first and third Monday of each month from 6:00-7:30 pm.  Contact volunteer team leads Felice Kelly (felice.kelly@gmail.com) or Tyler Gilmore (tyler@350pdx.org) to get involved.

Arts Team

Throughout July and August and into September, the 350PDXArts Team is turning the “World on Fire” truck into a huge float for Sun Day, September 21. The float showcases Portland’s natural resources and the many successful renewable strategies humans use for energy.

To do that, we work at the 350PDX workshop (3639 N Mississippi) 4 days a week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, from 1:00-4:00pm. We’ll continue to do so until the float is finished or until September 21, whichever comes first. Some puppets also need finishing: the dragonfly and the powerful new Mourning Mothers puppets showing grief for the changes in our world since fossil fuels. We also need a small army of puppeteers for the Sun Day rally and parade.

Please join us! Let Donna know if you can help: murph1949@aol.com. No experience necessary!

350 Washington County Team

We presented our first Electrification and Sustainability Fair in Hillsboro on August 9. Six months of planning in partnership with the City of Hillsboro and local allies came to beautiful fruition! Attendance numbers were near 500, there were more than 40 exhibitors, and lots of electric vehicles to check out. Oregon’s climate activist and 2025 Kid Governor Rosie Lanenga spoke to attendees and tried out e-bikes and scooters.

There were tons of fun activities for the whole family and free ice cream treats as well. Door prizes included a STIHL electric lawn trimmer, a two burner induction cooktop, pool parties, and more.  The event was a huge success.

Our summer potluck on August 24 was well-attended and we got to have a chat session with special guest Senator Janeen Sollman (district 15).

Our next online meeting will take place at 6:30pm on Tuesday, September 9. For the link, join us here. Our general activities include: tracking government at multiple levels around climate and environment, connecting with the Beaverton and the Tigard Climate Action teams, stewarding our Pollinator Garden at Bagley Park in Hillsboro, and more! We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our monthly online meetings (6:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month).

SW Team

Welcome to the Southwest Neighborhood Team, which includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. We work together to raise awareness of the climate emergency.

Our street corner demonstrations continue weekly in September, every Friday from 4:00-5:00pm at SW Multnomah & SW 35th Avenue. We reach hundreds of commuters with our climate action signs in a highly visible location. Street parking is available or reach us via bus or bike. We have extra signs to share!

Join our upcoming outreach event. We will be promoting our Climate Action Now yard signs at the Hillsdale Farmers Market from 8:30am to 1:oopm. on Sunday, October 5. To sign up for a 2-hour shift please contact Pat at patk5@msn.com.

GET CONNECTED: Join our monthly Zoom meeting on Monday, September 15th, from 6:30-7:30pm. To get involved, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com.

_________________

350PDX is  excited to welcome the Portland chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) to the 350PDX Workshop! DSA shares many of our commitments to justice, community power, and art as a tool for liberation. We’re proud to build partnership and solidarity while also stewarding our space and resources wisely. Welcome to the workshop—we’re glad you’re here!

As we make the space more welcoming, we’re on the lookout for a few things to help warm up the vibe—barstools to increase our seating options, and especially floor lamps or string lights (because fluorescent lights are not friends with coziness)! If you’ve got any of these items to spare, we’d love to hear from you.

With so much gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica

Welcome to our July newsletter! Before we share exciting campaign updates and sizzling summer events, we want to express our gratitude for the incredible support and generosity from our community over the past several weeks. We’ve now passed the halfway mark of our goal, and testimonials from volunteers and donors are coming in daily, all expressing what 350PDX means to them and why we all need to step up to support. (Check them out here – it’s an inspiring read!)

We’re starting the first day of the month with an exciting announcement: two committed 350PDX supporters have joined up to create a $35,000 matching fund because they believe in our work and in you. Starting today and for the next 10 days, all donations to 350PDX will be doubled, up to $35,000!

DONATE TO 350PDX

Upcoming Events

Summer’s in full swing and July is a busy month! Stay up to date on all the ways to get involved with 350PDX on our calendar. Here’s some big events we’re especially excited about:

Wednesday, July 16 – Rabble Rouser: a Training in Joyful Resistance and Collective Action (feat. Pattie Gonia)! Our 350PDX Arts Team will be hosting a Puppet Workshop as part of this event, along with many other useful trainings in grassroots organizing, lobbying, mutual aid, and more. Dinner is included, too! If you want to attend and help table for 350PDX, you can get in for free. Reach out to dineen@350pdx.org for more info!

Thursday, July 17 – 350PDX July Action Night & Pedalpalooza Ride! Join us for a two-part Action Night that you won’t want to miss! We will be focusing on bringing joy, curiosity, and thoughtful attention to our urban canopy and its inequities which fall along lines of historical racism and income disparities.

6:00 pm Urban Shade Equity Pedalpalooza Ride  – Meet at Lents Park (SE Corner Lents Park near SE Steele St & SE 92nd Ave) We will ride by the newly constructed Trees In the Curb Zone Pilot Project and experience the differences in shade canopy as we make our way to Laurelhurst Park. Kids welcome, though they should be able to keep up with a pace that’s casual for adults. It’s a one-way (not a loop) ride ending at Laurelhurst Park.

7:30 pm Action Night – Laurelhurst Park – Picnic Spot A (Near SE Oak St & SE 35th Ave) We will meet up with the riders for refreshments, speakers, and information from partner organizations. We’ll take some time to celebrate recent shade equity wins and take action to support a more equitable urban forest. There will also be a very exciting SILENT AUCTION raising funds for 350PDX with prizes from local businesses (SymbiOp, Clever Cycles, Oaks Park, Alder Creek Kayaks, and more). 

RSVP (not necessary but helpful for planning).

Come to both the bike ride and Action Night, or just Action Night!

TEAM NEWS

Forest Defense Team

Shade Equity:

The forest defense team is hosting the 4th annual Urban Shade Equity Pedalpalooza Ride! See info above!

Starting this month, City Council will be reviewing the Portland Urban Forest Plan – which is critical for protecting, preserving, restoring, and expanding the urban forest in an equitable and sustainable way. Stay tuned for if/how we will get involved.

State Forests:

Our state forests are primarily managed as production forests. To shed light on what this state forest management actually looks like beneath the canopy, our team is going to be following the “Middle Big Noise” timber sale. The coast range is very productive and efficient in carbon fixing, which is important for ecology, habitat, and water quality, but also for offsetting global climate change. As we track this sale, we will be heading out to the land, bringing awareness, and demonstrating what State Forest management means on the ground.

Protecting Forest Park:

PGE has appealed the city council’s decision, which prevented them from clearcutting almost five acres of Forest Park for new energy transmission lines. Crag Law Center is supporting 3 environmental groups defending the city’s decision, and will present their case to the Land Use Board of Appeals.

Industrial Biomass: 

Two big wins in the industrial biomass industry:

First, the various proposals from Mike Less to sell off public lands have been struck down. If this went forward, it would have cleared the way for Drax and other climate villains to turn our forests into wood pellets to be shipped overseas. Second, our allies fighting biomass plants in California have defeated Golden State Natural Resources — which proposed to build two industrial-scale wood pellet plants and a storage and export terminal in Northern California. Read the press release here.

GET CONNECTED: Join the Forest Defense Team meetings on the first and third Monday of each month from 6:00-7:30 pm.  Contact volunteer team leads Felice Kelly (felice.kelly@gmail.com) or Tyler Gilmore (tyler@350pdx.org) to get involved.

Climate Policy Team

State legislative session concludes.

Oregon’s legislative session finished up with a flurry of activity late Friday night, passing several of our priority bills. Concerningly, the session did not result in large-scale progress on climate justice priorities, and it ended without the approval of a transportation package that’s needed to fund the Oregon Department of Transportation for the next 8 years.

That said, several of the bills we advocated for did pass, and none of the bills we opposed moved forward. Bills that passed included HB 2081 (requires the Treasury to analyze and manage climate risk in our state’s PERS investments), as well as several bills related to a more efficient electrical grid and to utilities oversight and affordability. Farmworker disaster relief received a bit of funding as well. Read more about the results for our priority bills here.

Though this was a difficult budget year amidst a challenging political situation at the federal level, we are disappointed our lawmakers chose to delay necessary actions to transition to a more sustainable social and economic system. Putting off climate justice today will only become more costly tomorrow. Thank you for working together as a community to speak up about these important topics!

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

June was a successful month! We finished the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) comment period and submitted thousands of comments against Zenith’s Air Contaminant Discharge Permit. In the final days of the comment period we personally delivered 3,095 handwritten comments to the DEQ! Now we await DEQ’s decision. 

We also co-hosted a fantastic Rumble on the River at Green Anchors, along the banks of the Willamette. It was the 24th Rumble community forum in our series, with over 100 people in attendance! Thank you so much for joining us.

GET CONNECTED: The Fossil Fuel Resistance Team meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm, rotating between meeting in-person and virtually on Zoom. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, July 8 at 5:30pm and is virtual. It’s a great time to jump in! Please RSVP to dineen@350pdx.org for the Zoom link. New to the team? Our team leads can also meet with you 1:1 before our meeting for an orientation, if you’d like! Just reach out to dineen@350pdx.org

Community Development

The 350PDX Book Club meets Wednesday, July 2nd, for our virtual meeting from 6:30-8:00pm. Our July book choice is We Will Be Jaguars by Nemonte Nenquimo. If you’ve read the book, or just want to join for an enriching conversation about climate justice and resistance movements in the Global south, feel free to attend!

We’ll meet in person on August 6th at the 350PDX office to discuss The Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang.

More info about both meetings and RSVPs can be found on the 350PDX Book Club page.

Volunteer Spotlight

Lizy Johnson

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter, and for being part of the 350PDX community. Before we close our July newsletter, we’d like to remind you of our matching fund. A $50 donation now becomes $100 to power climate justice organizing when we need it most. We know it’s a tough time for many — and that’s why this opportunity is so powerful. Your gifts now go twice as far, starting today and until July 10. 

With so much gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica, Katie

Check us out on XRAY FM’s The Commons.

Did you know we are now on Bluesky? Please follow for news, events, action alerts, and more!

Earth Month brought so many joyful moments—from an  Earth Day parade to a huge win for Forest Park to a powerful exhibit by PNCA students showcasing outstanding Stop Zenith art. We are deeply grateful for these experiences.

We are also aware that we’re living in a time that is incomprehensibly difficult for so many, and we find ourselves discussing how to balance that awareness with daily life. On May 15, we’ll gather for Action Night. As part of our story-sharing activities, we’ll reflect on how we’re processing the current moment, hear how stories can supercharge our action, and share ways to help others and our planet. Join us!

Upcoming Events

Public hearing for Zenith’s application for a new air quality permit, Monday, May 12 at 6:00 pm at University of Portland. More info below in our Fossil Fuel Team update!

350PDX Action Night: Stories, Actions and Belonging, May 15, 6:00pm, at 350PDX. Let’s share about how we first gave thought to climate change and decided to do something. Let’s discuss the urgency of now–what’s going on federally is huge and overwhelming. How can we can make a tangible impact in our local city government and within our neighborhoods? These are just some of the questions we’ll reflect upon. Join us!

“Keep Oregon Nuclear-Free” Day of Action, May 19. Join 350PDX and partner organizations who will be advocating to keep Oregon free of new nuclear power plants. Check out our Climate Policy Team update below for RSVP & info!

City Council Climate Chats: Our next chat will be in District 3 with Councilor Angelita Morillo! RSVP here for this event on May 22 at 5:30pm.

Team News

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

Next week is a huge moment for our team and our entire local movement to Stop Zenith. Monday, May 12 at 6:00pm is the only in-person public hearing that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will be holding during this current comment period on Zenith’s application for a new air quality permit. We need to do everything we can to make sure this permit is DENIED, and one clear way we can do this is by filling the Buckley Center Auditorium at the University of Portland to show DEQ the force of our amazing movement. RSVP here! Wear red. We’ll have pizza , a brief rally, and a chance to sign up to testify. The hearing begins at 6:30pm and goes until 9:00pm. DEQ will have a station for people to sign-up to provide a 2-minute testimony. For help with writing your testimony, refer to these great talking points from our friends at Columbia Riverkeeper. (You’re also more than welcome to join us, wear red, and be in the audience cheering others on as they testify!)

If you can’t make it next Monday but still want to make your voice heard, there will be another option! DEQ is holding a virtual-only public hearing on Thursday, May 15 at 6:00pm. RSVP for the virtual May 15 session here. You can also use this easy online form to send in an official public comment about this permit HERE.

Our team in the news: Catch us on the air on KBOO’s Locus Focus! Last week, our Campaign Director Dineen Crowe was in conversation with Samantha Hernandez from Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility for “Zenith Energy’s Tortured Tale in Portland.”

Join the team: Our next meeting is on Tuesday, May 13, 5:30pm on Zoom. We will debrief and recap the public hearing happening the evening before and plan what’s next. After that, we meet again on Tuesday, May 27, 5:30pm in person at 350PDX, 3639 Mississippi Ave. We’d love for you to join us! Reach out to dineen@350pdx.org to get plugged in.

Forest Defense Team

The Forest Defense Team has been active this month on the city, state, and national levels! Team members rallied to stop PGE from clear-cutting 5 acres of Forest Park. (Thanks to the Arts Team for the awesome tree puppets that made the front page of the Oregonian!) Portland City Council voted 12-0 to take the first steps to block this project! The final vote is scheduled for May, so write your city councilors and urge them to protect Forest Park.

We have also been active in the state legislative session, opposing a bill that threatens to increase logging in state forestland at the expense of clean water and carbon sequestration. We urge you to reach out to your state legislators and ask them to oppose HB3103, which would increase logging in state forests in the coast range.

Finally we’re joining in the national campaign to oppose Trump administration efforts to weaken the Endangered Species Act by reducing protections on valuable habitat. Comment on that proposal here.

Get Connected: Join the Forest Defense Team meetings on the first and third Monday of each month from 6:00-7:30 pm.  Contact volunteer team leads Felice Kelly (felice.kelly@gmail.com) or Tyler Gilmore (tyler@350pdx.org) to get involved.

Climate Policy Team

Thank you to our 2024–2025 climate policy and media assistants!

This year, Reed College and University of Portland have had a partnership with us where we get to host work study students, and students get job experience and opportunities to use what they’re learning in school. This year, we’ve been joined by the following climate policy assistants: Andy Laurila (finance), Charlie Welling (divestment), Emma Niemela (buildings), Max Hanley (transportation), Natalie Severson (city), Santiago Nolasco Galicia (energy), and Sima Fasihi (CEI hub). Alex Silva joined us as a climate communications and media assistant. We want to take this opportunity to recognize what these folks are adding to the climate justice movement. They’ve helped us track bills, serve on coalitions, plan lobby days, draft public testimony, pull off events, document events, and much more. Thank you all for the amazing work you’ve done this year!

City Council Climate Chats: 

Thank you to Councilors Avalos, Green, Dunphy, Kanal, Novick, and Pirtle-Guiney for meeting with us so far! We’ve partnered with Oregon League of Conservation Voters to host City Council Climate Chats with constituents and city council members. By having a dozen or so constituents gathered with councilors, we’ve been able to cover a lot of questions as well as dive more deeply into issues we care about, hear councilors’ perspectives, and share our community’s concerns and hopes.

RSVP here for our next chat: District 3 with Councilor Angelita Morillo! If you are a D3 constituent and can’t make it, fill out the form and we’ll let you know about future events in your district.

If you’re not a D3 constituent, you can fill out the following forms and we’ll let you know about future events happening in District 1, District 2, or District 4. (Not sure what Portland District you live in? Here’s a map!)

“Keep Oregon Nuclear-Free” Day of Action May 19

Join 350PDX and partner organizations who will be advocating to keep Oregon free of new nuclear power plants, particularly until there is a plan to deal safely with the waste. The “Keep Oregon Nuclear-Free” Day of Action will have both in-person and virtual options, so you can go to Salem for the full day, or sign up to attend a virtual meeting with your legislators.

Thirteen pro-nuclear bills were introduced this session, but only two are still active: HB 2038 and HB 2410. These bills divert funding from energy efficiency, renewable energy, and storage technologies that are safer, less expensive, and faster to deploy.

RSVP now for the Day of Action on Monday, May 19. For those who can make it to Salem, you will connect with fellow advocates over coffee, followed by a brief lobby training session to help you feel confident and prepared. Then, we’ll head to the Capitol together for scheduled meetings with your legislators. For those joining virtually, a training will be provided, along with talking points for your meetings with legislators. After you register, you will receive more information about food, carpools, legislator meetings, and everything else you need to know to advocate about this important issue.

If you’re not able to attend the Day of Action, you can let your legislators know you care about this by sending this email, urging them to oppose HB 2038 and 2410.

Climate Justice Lobby Day a Success!

We held our first joint Climate Justice Lobby Day with 350 Eugene on April 29! It was fun to get to advocate with another 350 group, share some statewide priorities, and connect with our friends in Eugene. 350PDX met with nineteen legislators from the Portland area, sharing our priorities for this legislative session. Though there are many important matters before the legislature, our encouragement helps remind them to remain vigilant on the climate crisis. Together, we can build a more climate friendly transportation system, reduce building emissions, address climate risk in our public employee retirement portfolio, and increase energy affordability across the state.

Community Development

Our 350PDX Book Club’s book for June is Climate Optimism: Celebrating Systemic Change Around the World by Zahra Biaban. We will meet on June 4, from 6:30-8:00pm at the 350PDX office, with potluck-style snacks and drinks.

Did you know the 350PDX Book Club is now meeting every month? We alternate between virtual and in-person meetings the first Wednesday of each month! Sign up here to get on the mailing list, check our website for updates on meeting times and book selections, and reach out to books@350pdx.org with any questions!

The Arts Team

350PDX’s Arts Team is finishing a busy month of parades, artbuilds, and fun. A couple of weeks ago, we marched through SE Portland in the Earth Parade.

This Saturday, May 10, we will bring our climate justice puppets to the St John’s Parade. There’s still time to volunteer to be a puppeteer for Saturday! We also need people with vehicles to load up a few puppets that morning from 350PDX (3639 Mississippi Ave) and take them to N Lombard, then bring them back again. Can you help? Please let Donna (murph1949@aol.com) know.

Important: there is no artbuild this month (May). We’re all worn out, plus it’s Mother’s Day–a holiday also know as Mother’s Peace Day established by Julia Ward Howe, and we can celebrate that!

Our next Artbuild is June 8, 1:00-4:00pm, 3639 N Mississippi. We’ll finish puppets, begin puppets, and do a deep clean and reorganization of our art space. If you can join in the fun, please let Donna know. We’d love to see you there.

350 Washington County Team

Our next online meeting will take place at 6:30pm on Tuesday, May 13. For the link, reach out to debbygactivism@gmail.com.

We’ll share information on Washington County campaigns, as well as policy work we’ve been accomplishing in this busy legislative session. We’re taking on a big new project to put on an Electrification and Sustainability Fair in Hillsboro in August; lots of planning is happening in partnership with the City of Hillsboro and with local allies.

Our general activities include: connecting with the Beaverton and the Tigard Climate Action teams, stewarding our Pollinator Garden at Bagley Park in Hillsboro, and more! We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our monthly online meetings (6:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month).

SW Neighborhood Team

Our team includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. We work together to raise awareness of the climate emergency.

Our street corner demonstrations continue weekly in May, every Friday from 4:00-5:00pm at SW Capitol  Highway & SW Sunset. We reach hundreds of commuters with our climate action signs in a highly visible location. Street parking is available, or reach us via bus or bike, we have extra signs to share!

Our outreach efforts extend beyond the street corner. We will be tabling at SW Sunday Parkways on May 18 and distributing Climate Action Now yard signs. To volunteer with us at SW Sunday Parkways, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com

GET CONNECTED: Join our monthly Zoom meeting on Monday, May 19th, from 6:30-8:00pm. To get involved, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com.

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter, and for being part of the 350PDX community.

With gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica, Katie

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