The Skanner News – Portland Clean Energy Measure Will be on Ballot in November

The Portland Clean Energy Fund initiative has received enough valid Portland voter signatures to qualify for the November 2018 ballot.

The Portland City Auditor Elections Division validated 39,755 of the 55,509 submitted signatures, which is more than 5,000 over the number needed.

The announcement means that Portland voters could decide to fund $30 million in clean energy projects including housing upgrades, living-wage jobs and job training, and green infrastructure.

“The people of Portland have spoken: the time is now for good jobs, healthy homes, and a clean energy future,” said chief petitioner Reverend E.D. Mondainé, president of the NAACP Portland branch and pastor of the Celebration Tabernacle Church in North Portland.

“Our broad and diverse community achieved something truly great in submitting far more than enough signatures for this historic measure. We look forward to victory at the ballot this November.”

The Portland Clean Energy Fund would raise more than $30 million per year to support energy efficiency housing upgrades, jobs and job training in clean energy, and new solar power and green infrastructure.

The measure will prioritize funding for housing upgrades and living-wage jobs for all underserved Portlanders, particularly low-income residents and people of color.

The Portland Clean Energy Fund would be funded by a 1percent business license surcharge that would only apply to mega-retailers with more than $1 billion per year in nation-wide gross revenue.

More than 150 organizations and businesses and over 50 elected officials, public figures, and faith leaders have endorsed the Portland Clean Energy Fund Campaign.

The steering committee consists of the following members:

• Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO)
• Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC)
• NAACP Portland branch
• Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA)
• OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon
• Verde
• 350 PDX
• Audubon Society of Portland
• Columbia Riverkeeper
• Oregon chapter, Sierra Club
• Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR)