Mayor Hales Started the Effort, Wheeler Wants to Keep it Going

Friday, March 04, 2016

GoLocalPDX News Team

Mayor Charlie Hales has been pushing hard to make Portland a leader in the United States and the globe in reducing greenhouse gases by promoting renewable energy sources. Now, Ted Wheeler is pounding support for Hales’ initiatives.

Wheeler has now “pledged” that as Mayor of Portland, “he will facilitate a process to plan for a transition toward a renewable energy future for the city.”

Wheeler’s campaign said that Wheeler is “planning discussions will proceed with the collaborative efforts of labor, environmental and social justice advocates, communities of color, the renewable energy industry, utilities, and the broader business community.”

In an opinion piece that appeared in publications across the country, Hales wrote, “I view government’s role, my role, as ensuring climate action isn’t just about being green, but also about being equitable. Improving access to the tools our cities use to fight climate change will have a twofold benefit: reducing carbon emissions and building more equitable cities.”

Wheeler Picking Up Hales Initiative

“Portland's government has focused mainly on what we are against in terms of fossil fuels. I also want to lead a discussion that focuses on what we are for,” said Wheeler. “I cannot overstate the massive opportunity here – we’re talking tens of thousands of middle-class jobs that will be created from the transition toward an economy based on more renewable energy, with opportunities in clean tech manufacturing, clean tech research and development, sustainable transportation, green building, and renewable energy infrastructure.”

Wheeler also supports increasing sustainability requirements on government buildings, utilizing the city’s new green bonding authority to finance environmentally friendly projects, reconfiguring the city’s vehicle fleet to achieve zero emissions, building out the city's alternative fuel infrastructure, increasing equitable public transit and bicycle infrastructure, incentives to attract clean industries to Portland, and advocating for carbon pricing at the statewide and multi-state level. Wheeler made clear the plans for achieving this goal should take into account the desire to not unduly impact ratepayers or lower-income residents.

Again and similar to other Wheeler campaign proposals, it does not include a timeline or a budget

“I plan to accomplish a renewable energy Portland the same way that I’ve accomplished other large and complex projects and initiatives – by bringing everyone in the community to the table for decision making; labor, environmental and social justice advocates, communities of color, utilities, and business,” said Wheeler. “I did that as County Chair when we worked on the Climate Action Plan, as Treasurer when I convened global investors to identify opportunities and challenges in finding profitable investments in the renewables sector, and I will do it again as Mayor to advance a strong and equitable energy policy.”

Related Slideshow: SLIDESHOW: Ted Wheeler Announces Portland Mayoral Candidacy on Rooftop of Revolution Hall

Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler was joined by the press and many close friends, family members, and supporters on the rooftop of Revolution Hall off of SE Stark so that he could officially make his candidacy announcement for Portland mayor in the 2016 mayoral race.

Mayor Hales Started the Effort, Wheeler Wants to Keep it Going

Related Slideshow: SLIDESHOW: Ted Wheeler Announces Portland Mayoral Candidacy on Rooftop of Revolution Hall

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