‘Pennies for Climate Action’: Tualatin implements optional charge to mitigate climate change

‘Pennies for Climate Action’: Tualatin implements optional charge to mitigate climate change

Published 9:30 am Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Homeowners will be charged 99 cents each month, unless they visit the city website to opt out of the fee, to help fund the implementation of the Tualatin Community Climate Action Plan as part of its “Pennies for Climate Action” program.

“The Tualatin Community Climate Action Plan is a roadmap of actions we can take as a community to achieve our citywide goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” according to a statement from the city. “This new program will serve as one of several dedicated funding sources for achieving this goal and implementing the plan.”

That utility bill amount will be used in part to help pay for the city’s first Tualatin climate action program manager position with any additional funds raised used to help pay for yet-to-be-determined issues attached to the climate action plan.

In mid-December, the city hired Amanda Watson as Tualatin’s first climate action program manager.

Utility customers can opt out of the 99-cent charge — but must actively do so to not be charged — by visiting tualatinoregon.gov/finance/webforms/pennies-climate-action

Those having difficulty with the webform, can call the city’s utility billing department at 503- 691-3056 or visit city offices at 18880 S.W. Martinazzi Ave.

Adopted in May 2024 by the Tualatin City Council, the Community Climate Action Plan provides a comprehensive framework to reduce climate pollution and prepare the community for the local impacts of climate change that have already begun to experience, according to the city. Examples of such changes include more extreme heat and more intense winter storms.

“This plan provides a road map for how the community can address the current and future impacts of climate change in Tualatin,” Tualatin Mayor Frank Bubenik said in a statement. “The actions included in the plan will help ensure that our community is a healthy, resilient, and thriving place to live now and for generations to come.”