An Oregon town will impose a fee on new buildings seeking to hook up to natural gas following years of advocacy by youth climate groups. The Ashland City Council approved the controversial policy despite pushback from utility companies and unions, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
Piper Banks, a high school senior and member of the Rogue Climate Action Team, said of the fee, “It’s hoping to push Ashland to make sure we’re meeting our climate goals and addressing the climate crisis within Ashland,” per OPB.
The main opponent to the ordinance was Avista, an energy company that serves the area. Similar initiatives in Eugene, Oregon, and Berkeley, California, were defeated due to the intervention of gas companies, but the Ashland City Council stood firm…