Rubio and Gonzalez Spar Over Clean Energy Fund
Rubio and Gonzalez Spar Over Clean Energy Fund Willamette Week
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The Future of the Portland Clean Energy Fund
In a meeting of the Portland City Council’s chiefs of staff on March 21, Shah Smith, who serves as chief to Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, asked to schedule a public work session on the future of the Portland Clean Energy Fund. That tax on large retailers, intended to fund climate-preparedness infrastructure, is flush with cash and overseen by Commissioner Carmen Rubio.
Absent from that meeting, however, was Rubio’s chief of staff. Council etiquette calls for the commissioner in charge of a program to schedule a work session.
When Smith followed up with his fellow chiefs that day in an email with potential dates, three offices—not including Rubio’s—took issue with his request because Rubio’s office wasn’t present for the discussion.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 13: Climate Action
In a statement, Rubio says Smith’s attempt to schedule a work session without her office on board was sneaky. Rubio said: “I can only conclude that this was by design. Commissioner Gonzalez, my other colleagues and every other person I’ve worked with throughout my career knows that I take a collaborative approach to tough issues.…And given that has always been my approach, it will continue.”
Gonzalez, the most conservative member of the council, has said for the past several months that he’d like to take PCEF back to voters for major changes, an idea reviled by progressives who championed the tax six years ago.
Gonzalez and Rubio are, not coincidentally, the two leading candidates for Portland mayor.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
The article discusses the Portland Clean Energy Fund, which is a tax on large retailers intended to fund climate-preparedness infrastructure. This directly connects to SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. It also relates to SDG 11, which focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Additionally, the article mentions the fund’s purpose of addressing climate change, aligning with SDG 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- SDG 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:
1. Increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix, as the Portland Clean Energy Fund aims to fund climate-preparedness infrastructure.
2. Reducing the adverse environmental impact of cities, particularly in terms of air quality and waste management, as the fund focuses on climate-preparedness infrastructure.
3. Integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning, as the fund is intended to address climate change impacts.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, the article does not provide specific quantitative indicators. Possible indicators could include:
- Percentage increase in renewable energy generation in the city’s energy mix.
- Air quality index improvements in the city.
- Reduction in waste generation and improvement in waste management practices.
- Inclusion of climate change measures in city policies and planning documents.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. | – Percentage increase in renewable energy generation in the city’s energy mix. |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. | – Air quality index improvements in the city. – Reduction in waste generation and improvement in waste management practices. |
| 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | – Inclusion of climate change measures in city policies and planning documents. | |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | – Inclusion of climate change measures in city policies and planning documents. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: wweek.com
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