PEACE HOUSE

Ashland City Council will deliberate and vote on a pollution fee ordinance aimed to incentivize developers to build new homes with efficient, electric appliances. The goal of the pollution fee is to ensure that the majority of new built homes in Ashland are built with the health of residents and the climate in mind. The ordinance is designed to improve indoor air quality and remove health risks caused by gas appliances in the home, while contributing to Ashland’s climate goal of reducing emissions. If the ordinance is passed, those who choose to install gas appliances in newly constructed homes will be charged an up-front fee based on the lifecycle of each gas appliance and its carbon emissions. The fee would not impact existing homes. This will be the first policy of its kind in Oregon.