Climate Solutions 2025 Legislative Agenda

Nora Apter

January 10, 2025

Updated: January 10, 2025

In 2025, the Oregon Legislature must address urgent barriers to meeting our state's existing clean energy and climate goals while supporting community resilience and protecting people from growing climate harms and rising utility bills.

Transportation Package for a Thriving Oregon

Transportation remains Oregon's largest source of climate pollution. Alongside Move Oregon Forward coalition partners, Climate Solutions is advocating for a 2025 transportation package that leverages revenue solutions to sustainably fund clean, safe, affordable transportation options across the state. In addition to engaging through the Joint Committee on Transportation workgroups, Climate Solutions is leading conversations to advance electrification components of the package, including:

Zero-Emission School Bus Act (LC 1772): Supports Oregon schools in the transition to zero-emission school buses by setting clear targets, providing financial and technical assistance, and prioritizing communities disproportionately affected by air pollution.
Amping Up Oregon (LC Pending): Remove barriers to building charging infrastructure for trucks, buses, and cars and sustainably fund rebate programs for EVs and medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles.

Energy Affordability & Protecting Utility Ratepayers

Oregon households struggle to keep up with rapidly rising utility bills in the face of ever-worsening climate impacts. In partnership with the Building Resilience coalition, Climate Solutions aims to advance an energy affordability package that will help drive down utility bills and increase access to life-saving clean technologies, like heat pumps.

Get the Junk Out of Rates (LC 1806): Protects Oregonians from shouldering the costs of a utility’s political lobbying, advertising, and industry association fees.
POWER Act: Protecting Oregonians With Energy Responsibility (LC 1547): Ensures that large energy users, like data centers and crypto operations, do not unfairly burden Oregon households with their grid and transmission costs.
One Stop Shop 2.0 (LC 1823): Bolsters the state’s existing program to help Oregonians access financial incentives for electric heat pumps and other home efficiency upgrades.
Community Transparency in Home Hydrogen Delivery Act (LC 1953): Promotes transparency for households and communities by requiring public utilities to seek Public Utility Commission approval before delivering hydrogen into people’s homes.

Innovative Transmission Solutions for 100% Clean Energy

To meet Oregon's 100% clean electricity mandate, serve existing power needs, and create resiliency on our electricity grid, we must address a number of barriers. Climate Solutions and our partners in the Oregon Clean Grid Collaborative are advocating for innovative solutions to bolster transmission capacity and reliably and affordably deliver clean energy to Oregonians.

Grid Enhancing Technologies (LC 1902): Expands transmission capacity by requiring utilities to deploy cost-effective technologies to existing infrastructure.
Oregon Transmission Authority (LC 3681): Addresses permitting and investment gaps of transmission buildout by establishing a Transmission Authority to support innovative financing and coordinated planning.

Economic Growth & Community Vitality

Oregon has made important progress in recent years to adopt new policies and programs to cut climate pollution, promote community resilience and affordability, and drive economic and job growth statewide. In order to stay on track, the legislature must ensure that existing, popular programs are sufficiently funded and prioritize additional investments and policies to enable Oregon to lead at the forefront of the global transition to a clean energy technology future. Building on the 2024 Clean Tech Task Force recommendations, the legislature can position Oregon to attract billions of dollars in investment and thousands of high-quality, family-wage manufacturing jobs statewide.

Clean Tech Leadership (LC 3353): Drives economic growth and family-wage job creation in advanced manufacturing of clean energy technologies through strategic incentives, workforce development, and procurement.
Climate Resilience Budget: Prioritize investments to ensure that existing, popular climate and resilience programs are adequately funded to stay on track to deliver their intended climate, health, and cost-saving benefits, including:
- Community Renewable Energy Grant Program (ODOE)
- Rental Heat Pump Program Rebates (ODOE)
- Community Heat Pump Program Incentives (ODOE)
- Community Resilience Hubs (ODHS)
- Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program/Charge Ahead Rebates (DEQ)
- Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Rebates (DEQ)

Author Bio

Nora Apter

Oregon Director, Climate Solutions

With over a decade of experience in public policy and environmental advocacy at the state, federal, and local levels, Nora champions ambitious, equitable policies that protect Oregon’s climate, strengthen community resilience, and support local economies. At Climate Solutions, she is dedicated to fostering the long-term success and resilience of the Oregon policy team.

Nora is committed to leveraging state policy as a blueprint for climate innovation and leadership. She believes in the power of coalitions to drive meaningful change and is passionate about building collaborative relationships and diverse partnerships to achieve a healthy, just, and thriving future for Oregon’s communities and climate.

Before joining Climate Solutions, Nora served as Director of Programs and Climate Program Director for Oregon Environmental Council (OEC). In these roles, she led dynamic teams and broad coalitions to advance lasting solutions to Oregon’s environmental challenges, spearheading statewide advocacy campaigns to secure landmark climate policies and solidify Oregon’s leadership in climate action. Earlier in her career, Nora spent eight years in Washington, D.C. defending and expanding federal environmental protections. As Deputy Director of Federal Affairs for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), she guided legislative and administrative strategy across a wide-ranging environmental policy portfolio. Prior to NRDC, Nora served as a Legislative Aide to U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon.

Nora earned a B.A. in International Affairs and Economics from Lewis & Clark College in Portland. She serves as a Commissioner on the Oregon Climate Action Commission, where she helps shape strategies to achieve Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Outside of work, Nora loves spending time with friends and family, exploring Portland’s vibrant food scene, seeing live music, and adventuring in Oregon’s natural landscapes.