Eugene, Oregon Voters to Decide 'Big Business Climate Fee': 2% Levy on Billion-Dollar Firms for Clean Energy Fund
Voters in Eugene, Oregon, will decide on November 3 whether to impose a 2% fee on the in-city profits of companies with at least $1 billion in national gross profits and at least $500,000 in profits within Eugene, creating a local clean energy fund. According to Canary Media's October 20 report, the measure is expected to raise $15 million to $37 million per year for renewable-energy and efficiency programs, clean energy job training, and green infrastructure such as tree planting, prioritizing low-income and historically marginalized communities. Profits from groceries, medicines, residential garbage and recycling, and healthcare services are exempt. If it passes, companies would start paying into the fund in 2029. Eugene's proposal follows Portland, Oregon, which pioneered a similar 1% fee in 2018; that fund now raises nearly $200 million a year and has collected $1 billion for climate projects. More than 100 environmental organizations, labor unions, local businesses and elected officials back the Eugene measure, including U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley. The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce and Oregon Business & Industry oppose it, calling it a 'hidden sales tax' that would raise prices. Amy Winton, owner of the Mexican restaurant Pandita, said she hopes to apply for a grant to switch her restaurant's gas equipment to electric. (GSM, based on Canary Media reporting)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 从 Skinner Butte 俯瞰 Eugene 市中心；Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 2.0，作者 Rick Obst
