Climate Prosperity, Inc. Pilot Regions

Portland Metro

What are we doing?

We are creating a roadmap to a robust regional green economy that produces new jobs and talent, products and technologies, and energy and cost savings. Our roadmap will knit the region’s numerous economic development and climate-related initiatives together, providing a framework to drive rapid transformation.

We’re focusing on growing our region’s markets, innovation, companies and talent – building from our existing areas of expertise: Green Development, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Transportation & Energy Storage.

Why are we doing it?

The shoots of our green economy are already starting to show. The Portland region has a long-standing history of progressive land use and transportation planning. We developed the nation’s first climate plan in 1993 and have reduced our emissions significantly. The Pew report on The Clean Energy Economy identifies Oregon as one of only three states that have a large and fast-growing clean energy economy. Plus, our population is known for being early adopters and eager consumers of new, clean technologies.

All of this goes to show that the Portland region is heading in the right direction, yet our enthusiasm lacks clear intention and cohesive structure. We’re moving at too slow a pace. The challenge we face is to fully engage our people, jurisdictions, investments, and industries to catapult us into the next generation of Climate Prosperity.

Who’s involved?

A working group of public and private sector leaders are working to develop our strategies and launch our Greenprint:

Climate Solutions
DSW Collection
Formos, Inc
Greenlight Greater Portland
Lane Powell
Metro
Nike
Oregon Business Council
Oregon Institute of Technology
Portland Bureau of Planning & Sustainability
Portland Development Commissions
Portland Sustainability Institute
Worksystems, Inc.

What are the latest developments?

The working group has been developing the Portland Metro Greenprint.

In summer 2009, the working group developed an inventory of regional initiatives, organized by the twelve sections of the Climate Prosperity framework.
November 2009 brought four engagement meetings, where over 130 representatives from regional organizations helped gather information and develop ideas to inform the Greenprint.
The Working Group has continued to engage the region, from one-on-one conversations to presentations to regional organizations.
The Greenprint is in its final stages of completion – strategy development and synthesis are currently under way.
The Greenprint is in its final stages of completion – strategy development and synthesis are currently under way.
A new leadership and governance model for the implementation of the Greenprint is under development.

What are the next steps?

Finalize the Greenprint and re-engage regional stakeholders for buy-in and comment.
Create and adopt a regional governance structure for Greenprint implementation: to include a leadership council and staffing plan to track and drive forward Climate Prosperity goals.
Launch the Greenprint.

Contact:
Liz Hopkins lhopkins@pdxinstitute.org