In just under 100 days, volunteers in Eugene, Oregon collected enough signatures to put a clean energy measure directly in front of voters. The Eugene Clean Energy Fund officially qualified for the November 2026 ballot this week after the City Recorder confirmed the campaign had met the signature threshold needed to move forward.

The campaign brought together environmental groups, labor unions, and community organizers who knocked on doors, attended local events, and worked tirelessly to gather support. Their work paid off — now the decision is in the hands of Eugene residents.

If voters say "yes" in November, large corporations like Amazon and Walmart would pay a 2% fee on profits earned in the United States — but only those making over $1 billion annually and more than $500,000 right there in Eugene. That money would go toward renewable energy projects, energy-efficient buildings, job training programs, and green infrastructure like bike lanes and trees in neighborhoods that need them most. Economists project the fund could bring at least $15 million into the community every single year.

Aya Cockram, Co-Chief Petitioner and organizer with Breach Collective, called the signature drive a testament to community energy. "Building on the momentum we created, we are confident that our community will vote yes so that we can meet the climate and economic crises with locally tailored programs with widespread benefits," she said.

The Eugene measure takes direct inspiration from Portland's Clean Energy Fund, which passed in 2018 with 65% of the vote. That fund has since invested over $1.7 billion into climate and clean energy projects across Portland.

Joel Iboa, Co-Chief Petitioner and Executive Director of Oregon Just Transition Alliance, said the fund represents a chance to hold big corporations accountable. "Our city needs more bike lanes, trees, resilience hubs, good jobs and healthy homes for working families," he explained. "This measure is a meaningful step toward protecting our community and safeguarding our future."

The campaign is led by organizations including Beyond Toxics, Oregon Just Transition Alliance, Breach Collective, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and the Sierra Club. More than sixty groups — from labor unions to local businesses — have already endorsed the measure.

With the measure now locked onto the ballot, organizers are shifting focus to educating voters and encouraging people to show up at the polls next November.