Climate Pollution Fee

Asked the council to postpone the vote and revise the ordinance language to clearly match the intent discussed throughout the process.

Renter with asthma; noted renters have no choice of appliances and urged a strong fee.

Lifelong all-electric homeowner; urged council to think globally and act locally.

UA Local 290 rep for the Northwest Coalition for Energy Choice; argued the grid can't handle electrification, coal plants would work harder, and asked why residents don't get to vote on the new tax.

Bend resident; said community members are excited about the policy and thanked the council in advance.

Construction workers' rep; said thousands oppose the '20% appliance tax,' questioned whether Pacific Power's higher-carbon electricity undermines the fee's premise.

Second comment: argued heat pumps cut carbon even on fossil-fuel electricity, all-electric homes are already cheaper, and the fee preserves choice.

CoEnergy Propane president; asked council to postpone, saying the ordinance's broader 'gas appliance' language goes beyond the council's original direction on natural gas.

Cascade East Association of Realtors; asked for delay, a pilot project with local builders, and a middle-housing exemption.

Central Oregon Builders Association; opposed due to housing affordability, asked for 80-120% AMI exemption and repeated offer of a pilot program.

Grandfather speaking for future generations; called the fee a courageous small step and criticized Cascade Natural Gas.

Asked council to answer questions on grid plans, solar incentives, and the EPA social cost of carbon before voting; said climate is best left to national authorities.

Bend Chamber of Commerce CEO; said the fee conflicts with housing affordability goals, asked for middle-housing exemptions up to 120% AMI, sunset/review provisions.

Retired emergency nurse; focused on public health harms of gas stoves and indoor nitrogen dioxide exposure.

Born-and-raised Bend young voter; said the federal government has failed on climate and urged council to act locally.

Retired utility executive; praised the market-based design and urged using revenue for retrofits of lower-income homes.

New homeowner with all-gas appliances; said replacing them is far more expensive than a couple thousand dollars and wants new residents able to live their values.

Environmental Center youth intern; described climate anxiety, wildfire smoke, hailstorms and skipped ski seasons.

Shared a personal story of childhood food insecurity and urged strong climate action now.

Caldera High School junior and climate activist; said passing the fee shows young people their voices are heard.

Cited IPCC warming projections and Bend's 28% residential emissions share.

Chemical engineer; cited cheaper all-electric construction, $192/year energy savings, and 42% asthma risk from gas stoves.

350Deschutes board member; noted Bend's 20% fee (~$2,000) is modest versus Ashland's 100% (~$10,000).

Thanked council and staff, questioned the opposing coalition's research sources, and called the policy an important first step.

Four-year resident; said the fee advances equity and urged council to increase the fee beyond 20%.

Lifelong Bend renter and union member; said the climate crisis has worsened over three years of work on this policy and also opposed ALPRs.

Homeowner and clean-tech advisor; praised the fee for leveling the playing field and incentivizing innovation.

Cascade's Spector urged delaying the fee until HB 2021 compliance is proven, exemptions for affordable housing and dual-fuel systems, and a multi-year pilot if it passes.

COBA's Mosher proposed a 2-3 year side-by-side pilot program with production builders, exemption up to 120% AMI, and warned of supply chain issues like Washington state faced.

ECC's Breynaert backed only the deed-restricted exemption, a reduction (not exemption) for dual-fuel and solar, opposed RNG exemptions and the pilot, and urged a July 1, 2027 start.

Energize Bend's Breen opposed housing exemptions and the pilot, warned about stranded gas assets, questioned CNG's RNG compliance plans, and pushed for an April 2027 start.

UA Local 290's Burger supported exemptions for deed-restricted housing, dual-fuel, and RNG, suggested pushing implementation to 2029-2030, and floated solar and future hydrogen exemptions.

BEDAB's Evons asked for clarity on the emissions statistics and supported affordable housing exemptions, dual-fuel projects, and gathering more data for the fee structure.