Ben Scott next to the outdoor unit of his ductless heat pump In 2024, Electrify Ashland Now volunteer Ben Scott accomplished something exciting: he crossed the finish line of his home-electrification journey. By switching his car, appliances, and HVAC system from gas to electric energy sources, he now has a home that runs almost entirelyContinueContinue reading “How One Volunteer Went All Electric”
Author Archives: ashlandclimatecommunications
City Council Moves Forward on Energy Programs
The December 3 Ashland City Council meeting was the scene of a rare “win-win-win” lovefest. The steps taken by the City Council on December 3 aligned with the Ashland’s Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) in a multitude of ways: Overall Goal 1. Reduce community greenhouse gas emissions. CEAP Strategies Supported: BE-1. Support cleaner energyContinueContinue reading “City Council Moves Forward on Energy Programs”
How to Celebrate a More Sustainable Holiday Season
Community, caring for others, and hope: these values are at the core of the winter holidays. But this time of year is also characterized by consumerism — from pressure to give that perfect gift to decorations galore. Between Thanksgiving and New Year, Americans throw out 25 percent more waste than we do the rest of theContinueContinue reading “How to Celebrate a More Sustainable Holiday Season”
Let’s Take Some Bold Steps
Housing costs are a challenge in Ashland – the right energy policies can help. Here’s some big news: Beginning in 2025, our city electric utility will have access to $10 million to help homeowners and businesses make energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades that will reduce their utility bills, improve their living environment, and reduceContinueContinue reading “Let’s Take Some Bold Steps”
Welcome to Our New Ashland Energy Policy Series
The City is getting ready to up its game in energy conservation. We’ve got ideas! The City of Ashland appears to be getting ready to make headway on several important issues simultaneously – reducing the cost and improving the quality of life for Ashlanders who are just getting by while also moving our community alongContinueContinue reading “Welcome to Our New Ashland Energy Policy Series”
Ashland Solar Cooperative launches first project
True South Solar workers at work on a solar power installation. Photo provided by Ashland Solar Cooperative. This story was originally published on Ashland.News on November 14, 2024. Project could power at least 18 households By Isobel Whitcomb, Ashland Climate Collaborative Solar power plays a key role in Ashland’s plan to achieve net zero carbonContinueContinue reading “Ashland Solar Cooperative launches first project”
Green Gift Ideas for the Holidays
With the holidays right around the corner, the crew at Ashland Climate Collaborative wanted to share a few of our favorite things… Portable induction cooktops for gas stove owners who aren’t ready to convert. Induction cookware to go with the new cooktop! Electric yard tools – yes to gas-free gardens! A local landscaper ownerContinueContinue reading “Green Gift Ideas for the Holidays”
Heating our Homes: A Path to Net Zero
Doug Piper, a member of the Electrify Ashland Now! action team, shares his insights on how to rid our homes of gas furnaces by 2050. A gas furnace produces more pollution than almost anything else we use — an estimated four to eight tons of carbon emissions per year. That’s equivalent to the emissions ofContinueContinue reading “Heating our Homes: A Path to Net Zero”
Will Ashland get a new water treatment plant?
Ashland’s Water Treatment Plant during the 1997 flood before the landslide came tumbling down. Note the raging torrent in the foreground. Photo from City of Ashland The Ashland Climate Collaborative has not taken a position on the water treatment plant ballot measure 15-234 Below is the opinion of our Water Conservation Team. New Ballot MeasureContinueContinue reading “Will Ashland get a new water treatment plant?”
Ashland was named the fifth best U.S. town for biking — Can we do better?
Davis 1967-first bike lane. Photo via Getting Around Davis. (View original photo source.) Gary Shaff, Chair of the Streets for Everyone action team, shares his insightful take on what Ashland offers bicyclists — and what would make our town safer and more accessible for all. In a recent article, Outside Magazine ranked Ashland as the fifthContinueContinue reading “Ashland was named the fifth best U.S. town for biking — Can we do better?”
Working toward net-zero: Co-op replacing gas stoves with induction ranges in back-line kitchen
Stanley Butler, assistant kitchen manager of the prepared foods department at Ashland Food Co-op, stirs a pot heated by a new inductive heating appliance. The co-op is working to phase out gas-burning appliances. Chris Byrne photo This story was originally published on Ashland.News on August 29, 2024. The switch to all-electric cooking for deli foodContinueContinue reading “Working toward net-zero: Co-op replacing gas stoves with induction ranges in back-line kitchen”
Newly installed ‘bike boxes’ intended to make Ashland and Walker intersection safer for all
Ashland’s bicycling infrastructure recently got an upgrade — four bright green ‘bike boxes’ were recently installed at the intersection of Ashland Street and Walker Avenue.
Silent but Deadly
Earlier this year, ACC board member Rick Barth had a scary experience. Rick, who has devoted years to helping Ashland residents transition away from methane (“natural” gas), discovered that one of his last remaining gas appliances, his gas water heater, was leaking deadly amounts of carbon monoxide into their garage. That discovery led him toContinueContinue reading “Silent but Deadly”
Dry Farming
By Patricia Acklin, Chair, ACC Water Conservation Action Team There is growing interest in the American West in a technique called dry farming, which allows growers to forgo irrigation. This does not mean growing plants without water. Instead, dry-farmed plants use water already stored in the ground (which is also different from rain-fed agriculture). DryContinueContinue reading “Dry Farming”
Streets For Everyone: 2023 in Review
2023 in Review ACC’s Streets For Everyone (SFE) Action Team had an incredible 2023! Throughout the year, we identified several opportunities to advocate for safer streets and a connected and protected bike network through town. We asked you to speak up, and you did – in unprecedented numbers. And it made a huge difference –ContinueContinue reading “Streets For Everyone: 2023 in Review”
We need safety improvements on ODOT-controlled portions of Ashland Street
May 20, 2023 Streets for Everyone recently wrote to the Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization to request several critically important safety improvements on the ODOT-controlled sections of Ashland Street. These improvements would help achieve a continuous network of safe, practical and efficient bicycle routes in Ashland, complementing upcoming improvements the City is making on AshlandContinueContinue reading “We need safety improvements on ODOT-controlled portions of Ashland Street”
Say YES to Protected Bike Lanes on N. Mountain
Attention Ashland Transportation Committee! Please move forward to add protected bike lanes on North Mountain. May 23, 2023 We are writing to the City of Ashland Transportation Commission on behalf of the vocal constituency of Ashland residents who support moving forward expeditiously to create a protected, connected bicycle network. We implore the City to moveContinueContinue reading “Say YES to Protected Bike Lanes on N. Mountain”
We can create safe routes to school in Ashland
May 2023 The City of Ashland was recently awarded Safe Routes to School (SRTS) planning assistance from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Through this program, staff from City of Ashland, Ashland School District, and ODOT are working together to create a SRTS Plan that identifies street improvements near Ashland Middle School, Ashland High School,ContinueContinue reading “We can create safe routes to school in Ashland”
Marsh Helps Deliver Major Climate Wins for Oregon
As Chair of the House Committee on Energy and the Environment, District 5 Representative Pam Marsh was well-positioned this year to help ensure passage of legislation ranging from fire recovery and economic stimulus to “distinctly Oregonian” climate solutions. “There were five key priorities that we needed to come out with,” Rep. Marsh explains. “And weContinueContinue reading “Marsh Helps Deliver Major Climate Wins for Oregon”
Off-site Solar is a Win for Ashland Food Co-op
Solar energy production in Ashland took major leaps forward in 2021. In April, True South Solar completed a major solar installation for the Ashland Food Co-op. At 528-panels, this array has a solar energy production capacity of 197 kilowatts — possibly the largest single rooftop array in Ashland. SOU also recently significantly expanded its solarContinueContinue reading “Off-site Solar is a Win for Ashland Food Co-op”