Oregon lawmakers approve bills to promote solar, ‘green-zoning’

Two new bills would give more Oregonians a chance to go solar and move to more livable communities.

As the session closed in June, the state Legislature passed two bills aimed at climate change. The Solar for All bill establishes a new rooftop solar rebate program, making solar more accessible and affordable to Oregonians. The Green Zoning bill promotes environmentally responsible development by removing, in cities with more than 10,000 people, bans on “middle housing”—medium-sized parcels that contain up to four housing units.

“Both of these bills are critical to the fight against climate change,” said Environment Oregon State Director Celeste Meiffren-Swango. “Solar for All will help Oregonians move away from fossil fuels, while Green Zoning promotes compact urban development to help reduce home energy use, sprawl and transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.”
Environment Oregon also supported the cap and invest bill that failed to pass the state Senate this spring.

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Photo: Environment Oregon’s John Ammondson and Celeste Meiffren-Swango look on as Gov. Kate Brown signs the Oregon Environmental Protection Act into law. Credit: Staff