Boardman Residents Asked to Weigh In on Oregon’s Climate Action Plan

State officials are hitting the road, and Boardman is on the map. The Oregon Department of Energy and the Department of Environmental Quality are seeking direct public input on how to get the state’s climate efforts back on target, with a focus on hearing from communities like ours in Eastern Oregon.

The initiative comes as recent reports show Oregon is not currently on pace to meet its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals. The state aims to slash emissions 45% below 1990 levels by 2035 and hit net-zero by 2040. Achieving these targets will require strategies that work for every corner of Oregon, including right here in Morrow County.

“This isn’t just a Portland or Salem conversation,” said a state outreach coordinator. “The solutions have to work for agricultural centers, transportation hubs, and rural industries. What works in Boardman might look different than what works on the coast, and we need to hear those local perspectives.”

Residents can participate through upcoming virtual workshops or by submitting written comments online. Organizers specifically want to hear about priorities for clean energy projects, support for local businesses adapting to new regulations, and ideas for protecting our natural resources along the Columbia River.

For Boardman, a community deeply connected to agriculture, data centers, and river commerce, the state’s climate roadmap will directly impact local jobs and infrastructure. This is a chance for local voices to help shape policies affecting energy costs, transportation, and economic development for years to come.

Details on how to participate are available on the Oregon Department of Energy’s website. The public comment period is open through the end of the month.