News items for February 9, 2024

The former U.S. post office site on the edge of downtown Portland is empty. But why? Photo: Michael Andersen/Sightline.

• 1. A housing agenda for OR: More homes without higher prices

  The usual way to get more homes built is to wait for prices go up. But there is another way.

  Sightline Institute Abundant Housing, legislation

• 2. WA House passes bill allowing even-year local elections

  “Letting Washington cities hold their elections on the same ballot as national elections would put them in the same position as cities in nineteen other U.S. states: free to choose what’s best for them,” said Alan Durning, executive director of Sightline Institute.

  The Urbanist Democracy, Elections

• 3. The ‘daunting’ path to net zero for Canada

  Canada’s road to net zero by 2050 will be bumpy. Beyond driving electric cars and erecting windmills, there are many complexities and conundrums in striving to reduce emissions by 2050.

  The Tyee Emissions, Renewable Energy

• 4. The unlikely coalition behind Biden’s LNG pivot

  Climate activists led the charge against LNG exports, but they’re not the only ones celebrating Biden’s pause.

  Grist Environmental policy, Liquefied natural gas

• 5. WA’s pollution tax raised $2 billion. Can it survive the backlash?

  Washington state’s ‘cap-and-invest’ program has generated billions to transition to clean energy. But the toll on gas prices has rattled some voters.

  Washington Post Cap-and-Trade, Environmental policy

• 6. Canada OKed a port expansion in orca habitat. Now it’s going to court

  Conservation groups say the feds contravened endangered species law when they approved Roberts Bank Terminal 2 in Metro Vancouver, which would double the capacity of Canada’s largest port.

  The Narwhal Endangered species, Environmental policy

• 7. Podcast: How OR is working toward shelter and housing goals

  Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s office said this week that the state has exceeded its goals for the 2023 homelessness state of emergency. Over the last year, more than 1,000 new low-barrier shelter beds were added, nearly 2,000 people were housed, and almost 9,000 households were given aid to prevent them from becoming homeless.

  Oregon Public Broadcasting Homelessness, Policy

• 8. Climate scientist wins defamation lawsuit

  The verdict comes amid heightened attacks on scientists working on climate change, vaccines, and other issues.

  Washington Post Climate Denial, Climate science

• 9. CA sea otters nearly went extinct. Now they’re rescuing their coastal habitat

  Once hunted to the edge of extinction, the California sea otter has staged a thrilling comeback in the last century. Now, a team of scientists has discovered that the otters’ success story has led to something just as remarkable: the restoration of their declining coastal marsh habitat.

  NPR Habitat, Wildlife

• 10. Condors are coming back to the PNW

  Condors were once fairly common in the Columbia River Basin. Now, the Nez Perce Tribe is on a path to reintroduce what Lewis and Clark called “Vultures of the Columbia.”

  Columbia Insight First Nations, Wildlife

More News from February 9, 2024

• Why Exxon is suing its shareholders

  A recent lawsuit could reflect the oil and gas industry’s growing legal strategy to escape accountability for fueling the climate crisis.

  DeSmogBlog Climate Action, Climate Denial

• OR lawmakers have more to spend to tackle housing, addiction crises

  Governor Tina Kotek has proposed a $500 million package to spur housing development and another $100 million that would go toward homeless services—including ensuring shelters can remain open as pandemic-era spending dries up.

  Oregon Public Broadcasting Affordable housing, Homelessness