Bend City Council is considering a “climate pollution fee” that would discourage natural gas hookups in new residential construction.
The proposal is modeled on a similar policy that was enacted a year ago in Ashland. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by charging for gas furnaces, stoves, and water heaters, with the revenue going toward the city’s low income energy assistance program. The fee would not apply to existing homes or buildings.
Dave Burger, business representative for United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290, acknowledges the direct impact on jobs would be small. Right now, gas hookups in Bend are the work of five three-person crews employed by Hanging H under contract with Cascade Natural Gas. Each crew includes a heavy equipment operator represented by Operating Engineers Local 701, a laborer in Laborers Local 737, and pipefitter/fuser in Local 290. Meanwhile about 185 workers at Cascade Natural Gas itself are represented by International Chemical Workers Union Council/UFCW Local 121-C; they also put pipe in and do repairs.
But Burger is also president of the Oregon Building Trades Unions and co-chair of the Central Oregon Workforce Investment Board, and as such he says his mission is to keep Bend affordable for working people.
“I’m fighting for people that are not even union members, that are just trying to make a living and get on their feet and start families here in Central Oregon.”
Bend City Council has been developing the proposal since last year, and hired outside consultant BrightLine Group to run the numbers on different electrification policy options. The resulting report, released Oct. 22, found that installing and operating electric appliances for heating, cooling, and cooking is somewhat more expensive than installing and operating natural gas versions. And that’s not counting the city fee that would add to the cost of homes that use ga. Citing City figures, Burger said the fee as initially proposed could add nearly $14,000 on average to the cost of a new home. Bend City Council is considering reducing that fee amount by as much as four-fifths, and is also looking at possible exemptions for affordable housing.
Burger will represent the local labor movement at an April 8 roundtable the city is organizing to hear from stakeholders. The roundtable is meant to give Bend City Council advice on exemptions to the fee. Other participants will include representatives of Pacific Power and Cascade Natural Gas and members of city advisory committees on the environment, economic development, and affordable housing.
Bend City Council is set to have its final work session April 22 on the policy. Then it would adopt the fee after a public hearing at a special meeting in late May or early June.
