The Oregon Legislative Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction announced on Tuesday the committee will host four public hearings where Oregonians will be able to voice their opinions and ask questions about the Cap And Trade Bill - House Bill 2020. 
 
Please attend the public hearing in Medford on February 23!
 
• Medford: Saturday, February 23
– City Council Chambers, Medford City Hall (9 am-12 pm)

MEDFORD City Council Chambers
City Hall (Medford)
411 West 8th Street,
Medford

 
Oregon legislators have made passing a cap-and-trade bill a top priority this session. Two weeks ago, the Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction introduced the cap-and-trade bill for 2019 - House Bill 2020. This bill caps emissions from businesses that emit > 25,000 tons of carbon and requires those "regulated" businesses, fuel companies, and utilities to buy down their carbon emissions. This, in turn, will generate revenue to fund climate projects in Oregon.
  
On Monday, businesses testified about the impacts of HB 2020. To summarize, cap-and-trade will increase the cost of living and working in Oregon - all residents will bear the cost of fuel increases and increased natural gas rates. It's projected to immediately drive up the cost of gas by $0.16 per gallon, and natural gas customers will face double digit rate increase in the first year of the program! 
  
We need your help to explain the impacts of this policy to Oregon legislators!

SPECIFIC POINTS:

-Oregon is already a leader in renewable energy and low carbon-emissions.
-House Bill 2020 would increase the cost of gas, heating and food, but it won’t make a difference in global climate change.
-If Oregon passes a cap-and-trade law, the price of fuel would increase by at least 16 cents per gallon. Natural gas rates would increase for Oregon families and home-grown businesses by double digits in the first year.
-Experts caution that HB 2020 would drive Oregon to have the third-highest gas prices in the country. As drafted,
-HB 2020 penalizes companies that make or grow things in Oregon.
-Oregon companies would pay higher energy and operating costs that would result in fewer living-wage jobs. This is concerning in rural areas.
-HB 2020 would raise hundreds of millions of dollars of new revenue without any accountability for how the money would be spent.
-The bill has significant negative impacts on local businesses and Oregon families.

PLEASE Tell Our Representatives to Please protect our community and vote ‘no’ on HB 2020.

You can do so in Medford, Saturday February 23rd!