Context:
Current Local Attitudes:
Eugene, Oregon is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, and is situated about fifty miles east of the Oregon coast. The city is within the Marine West Coast climate zone and has Mediterranean characteristics. Eugene experiences warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. On average, Eugene receives fifty inches of rain per year. Willamette Valley farmland to the north and forests in the east, south, and west surround Eugene in trees, parks and green space. Eugene is known for its natural beauty and prevalent arts culture- the city’s slogan is “A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors”. The community is actively involved in neighborhood associations and green activism, making Eugene a city in support of climate and energy mitigation planning efforts. Eugene’s hippie counterculture past is still has a formative presence in the city, and can be seen at local festivals and events like the Saturday Market and the Lane County Farmer’s Market held every Saturday from April through November in downtown Eugene.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory: 25% Goods
14% Food
27% Energy
77%
climate change is occurring due to human activities
71%
long-term impacts will likely be catastrophic
believe
feel that
81%
climate change requires us to rethink our behavior
75%
stronger GHG emissions regulation is necessary
feel that
agree that
flows - Increased demand for summer electricity
Vision: 13% Efficiency
The current state of energy usage in Eugene is of great concern to the city. Rising temperatures, depleting natural resources, and increased fuel costs will have a major impact on the city’s future. Eugene’s local government is working to reduce the use of energy from non-renewable and sensitive sources in favor of renewable energy sources.
7% Nuclear 3% Coal 3% Wind 2% Natural Gas 1% Biomass
71% Hydro
materials, energy, and transportation
1.1% Infrastructure 7.3% Long-distance freight
- Average annual temperature increase by 8o to 12o F by 2080 - Reduced snowpack- resulting in lower stream flows in the summer - Increased demand for water for agricultural uses - Reduced summer hydroelectric power generation capacity due to lower stream
- Increased storm intensity, flooding, and wildfires - High rates of heat-related illness, exhaustion, asthma, and respiratory diseases
Energy:
Using information gathered from Eugene’s Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory published in 2007 coupled with the 2010 Greenhouse Gas Inventory for the Metro Portland Region, Eugene has analyzed the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the city. These reports, the first of their kind in the nation, have identified the major culprits-
25% Transportation
Primary Concerns:
“The City of Eugene has a long history of environmental stewardship. It is a legacy to be proud of. Our planet faces both finite resources and climate change, and the Eugene City Council has committed to an entire new level of local action.” - Mayor Kitty Piercy
1.3% Solid waste
Six Action Areas: Buildings and Energy
Food and Agriculture
Mitigation Land Use and Transportation
Consumption and Waste
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to food production, delivery, distribution, and waste disposal, increase locallygrown foods, and prepare the food system for an uncertain future
Increase urban density and mixed-use planning, improve systems for bicycles, pedestrians, transit, and electric vehicles
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the consumption of goods, improve recycling and composting programs, and adapt consumption strategies over time
State of Oregon Goal: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 75% below 1990 levels
City of Eugene Goal: Reduce overall community fossil fuel use 50% below 2005 levels
Actions Underway: Reduce energy use in existing buildings and in new construction, expand the use of renewable energy sources, and prepare buildings for the effects of climate change
2050
2020
2015
City of Eugene creates first Community Climate and Energy Action Plan
State of Oregon Goal: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 10% below 1990 levels
2030
City of Eugene completes a community greenhouse gas inventory
City of Eugene creates the first Internal Climate Action Plan
2010
2009
Eugene Mayor signs “US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement”
2007
Kyoto Protocol
2005
Oregon Legislature establishes carbonreduction goal
1997
1989
Timeline and Goals:
Completed Actions:
Increase incentives for highly-efficient new buildings aiming toward net-zero energy and carbon neutral buildings
Identify the most cost-effective opportunities for increasing efficiency in existing buildings
Expand assistance and incentive programs for building retrofits that increase energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of existing buildings
Reevaluate limitations on numbers and types of animals permitted under Eugene’s code to allow an increase in food-producing animals that can be kept by urban residents
Increase the use of on-site renewable energy systems by removing financial, infrastructural, regulatory, and perceptual barriers
Make the creation of 20-minute neighborhoods a core component of the Eugene Plan
Strengthen land use regulations to protect farm lands, especially those on high-value agricultural soils
Support the installation of a network of electric car charging stations
Prioritize the development of vegetable protein crops such as beans and grains that are suited to the Willamette Valley
Establish a permitted facility within the Eugene/ Springfield area that can accept and compost all organic materials including food waste
Increase the mileage and connectivity of bicycle boulevards and shared-use paths to encourage biking
Conduct a pilot project at the River Avenue Waste Water Treatment Plant to determine the system ability to co-digest food waste and biosolids to generate electricity
Increase the promotion of biking, walking, mass transit, carpooling, telecommuting, etc as attractive alternatives to driving
Educate businesses and residents about the role of consumption in creating greenhouse gas emissions
Health and Social Services
Address assistance programs for vulnerable and disadvantaged populations, and prepare social systems to reduce the impacts of climaterelated disasters
Adaptation Urban Natural Resources
Manage land, trees, water, plants and animals within the city, update resource management plans, and expand stormwater and drinking water management programs
Conduct a climate and energy vulnerability assessment that examines the effects or climate change on essential services (energy, food, water, health, housing, and sanitation)
Sources: All information sourced from:
Develop a climate change preparation strategy for the public health system
Manage stormwater and riparian areas to improve water quality, lower stream temperatures, increase infiltration, and improve native plant and wildlife habitat
“A Community Climate and Energy Action Plan for Eugene” from September 2010 “Community Climate and Energy Action Plan 2013 Progress Report” from April 2013 “City of Eugene Internal Climate Action Plan” “Eugene Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory” All images sourced from: “A Community Climate and Energy Action Plan for Eugene” Original images taken by Chloe Hosid
Chloe Hosid - Planning the American City - May 2015