Dylan Plummer’s Viewpoint (“Eugene Can Lead the State on Climate Action,” 10/14) hit just the right note against the continued and expanding extraction and combustion of methane. I live across the street from Camas Ridge Elementary School, which is set to be torn down and rebuilt in the next two years. At a recent design presentation, when the architects were asked about the total absence of solar panels, the huge parking lot that seems to encourage driving and the reliance on gas heating, they continually fell back on building codes and budgetary agreements.
Methane has 84 times the warming power of carbon dioxide. According to scientists at the Environmental Defense Fund, at least 25 percent of today’s warming is driven by methane, and one of the largest sources is the oil and gas industry. Methane is also a major byproduct of the livestock industry, and can be found bubbling up in increasing amounts from the permafrost and seafloor as the air and oceans warm. The city council must wake up to the new reality and begin Eugene-wide electrification, now, starting with public buildings like schools. We owe it to our children.
Jack Cooper
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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