Solutions
Case Study: Oregon’s Hydrogen Public Notice Bill (SB 685)
The hydrogen blending controversy in Oregon first surfaced in West Eugene, where strong community outcry successfully halted a utility’s blending project. NW Natural, Oregon’s largest natural gas company, sought to begin blending hydrogen into residential pipelines in 2022. Soon after, residents in Southeast Portland discovered that NW Natural had begun blending hydrogen into their home…
Case Study: Door-to-Door Canvass in Northwest Indiana
Northwest Indiana has long been one of the most industrialized corridors in the country. The cities of East Chicago, Hammond, and Whiting, situated on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, are dominated by oil refineries, steel mills, and chemical plants. The BP Whiting Refinery, one of the largest in the U.S., anchors the area—bringing jobs,…
Case Study: Scattergood Generating Station – A Battle Over Hydrogen Greenwashing
The Scattergood Generating Station, located in Playa del Rey near Los Angeles International Airport, has become a defining case for understanding how fossil fuel industries are attempting to prolong the life of gas-fired power plants under the guise of “clean hydrogen.” The struggle around Scattergood illustrates both the power of grassroots environmental justice (EJ) advocacy…
Pathways For Action: Affording Our Clean Energy Future
Across the country, households are struggling to pay for mounting energy costs. From state to state, the costs of everything from mitigating wildfires to integrating new data centers loads are driving up utility bills. States now face an urgent need to address energy costs—and to do so in a lasting way that ensures long-term bill…
Community Solar: A Critical Tool for Energy Justice
Community solar projects can play a critical role in a just and equitable transition to cleaner electricity by allowing community members who could otherwise not install solar to participate in the renewable energy transition. Installing community solar has many benefits for community members as well as the grid. It can make a community’s energy system…
Adding Fuel to the Fire: How the Republican Spending Bill Guts Climate and Environmental Justice Programs and Compounds Harm to Communities Across the US
On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”: the massive spending bill that is expected to be the landmark legislative accomplishment of the first year of the President’s second term. The climate, environmental, and energy provisions of H.R. 1 are a concerted…
Know Your Rights During Disasters: FEMA & Immigration Enforcement
Recent changes in the federal government have renewed concerns and fears over potential immigration enforcement actions during disasters. This has raised questions among some community members about whether they should pursue emergency assistance during and following disasters. This document summarizes what we know now in a Q&A format about immigrant eligibility for emergency services. A…
Heating Up: Higher Utility Bills and Fewer Options for Assistance for Washington & Oregon Customers
It is summer and energy bills are rising along with temperatures, increasing many people’s concerns about keeping the lights—and air conditioning—on. Despite comparatively low electricity rates in the Pacific Northwest fueled by hydroelectric sources, energy costs are rising and the associated financial burden on low-income households is quite high in Oregon and Washington. Meanwhile, federal…
Key Reminders Amidst the Uncertainty of the Trump Administration
Given the constantly shifting legal and political terrain, our team has distilled nine key points to keep in mind as you work to center racial justice in your climate efforts. Download the guide for a breakdown of the current moment, truths we can’t ignore, and steps to continue advancing racial justice in your work. Leading…
Facing Disaster Alone: FEMA Rollback Threatens to Overwhelm States
Despite its central role in preparing for disasters and coordinating the federal response, the Trump Administration announced an intention to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency—thrusting states into uncertainty as they enter the summer hurricane and wildfire season. The sudden withdrawal of heretofore reliable (though often insufficient) federal support leaves states—and in particular their most…
