Eugene's Home Electrification Efforts

Author: Nathan Wilk (KLCC / Northwest News Network / OPB)

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Published: July 4, 2026

Three years after Eugene, Oregon pulled its proposed ban on new natural gas hookups in low-rise residential buildings, the city has made little measurable progress on home electrification. The original 2023 ordinance was abandoned after a Ninth Circuit ruling struck down a similar California ban on federal preemption grounds, effectively creating a legal wall for such bans nationwide.

In the time since, neighboring Oregon cities Ashland and Bend have moved forward with alternative approaches. Rather than outright bans, both cities passed carbon pollution impact fees on new gas appliances, a model that sidesteps the legal vulnerabilities associated with bans while still creating financial disincentives for fossil fuel hookups. Ashland's fee, the first of its kind in Oregon, went into effect in early 2026. Bend's similar fee is set to take effect in April 2027.

Eugene, by contrast, has seen little forward movement. According to a city spokesperson, Eugene's sustainability team has not been tasked with any electrification work since the 2023 ordinance was rescinded. The city currently offers no financial incentives for energy efficiency or fuel switching, directing residents instead to third-party resources.

Despite this, advocates remain cautiously optimistic. The Eugene City Council recently voted to hold a public hearing on a home energy score ordinance, which would require sellers to disclose the energy efficiency of their properties. Additionally, a ballot initiative called the Eugene Clean Energy Fund is currently gathering signatures, which if passed would charge retail companies operating in Eugene and direct that revenue toward decarbonization efforts.

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