As one of the few environmental groups in Lake Oswego, we take our responsibility seriously. We feel compelled to do as much as we can to promote a safe future, and advocacy can make a big difference.

Public policy can accomplish some things that individual actions cannot.

• It can support individual action by removing barriers to positive actions. For example, think about the public policy that allows people to sell excess solar to the grid.
• It can accomplish environmental goals faster. Think about the Clean Air Act, which dramatically reduced pollution by requiring filters in cars and factory smoke stacks.

What is LOSN Advocacy?

At LOSN, we have an advocacy team whose purpose is to review, initiate and promote new policies that build sustainability in Lake Oswego. Here are some of our activities:

• We review and support what others are doing at the state level. What are the environmental groups or local organizations supporting? We can add our voice.
• We initiate and promote ideas for Lake Oswego. LOSN has introduced a number of new concepts to Lake Oswego. For example, LOSN was the original supporter of the city’s climate action plan. We had heard of other cities that were adopting these plans and we thought LOSN should have one – so we promoted it.
• We follow a rigorous vetting process within LOSN. A new policy proposal must run quite the gamut before we decide to support it. Each idea is vetted through our advocacy team – sometimes that takes multiple discussions. We often consult and work with other LOSN committees. Before we make our final decision, we get a consensus yes vote from our entire board.
• We have an advocacy policy to ensure that our internal conversations and community outreach are respectful and productive.
• We have partners. There is strength in connection, and we work closely with Respond to Racism, Oswego Lake Watershed Council, MCAT (Mobilizing Climate Action Together, a subgroup of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and others.
• We create campaigns to support our favored policies. We mobilize individuals to support, organize letter writing campaigns and talk to local policy makers.

Here are some of the important issues we have worked on:

• Protecting the city Sustainability Advisory Board and program against budget cuts (in place)
• A climate action plan for the city (in place)
• Electric school buses for the Lake Oswego School District (story below)
• Affordable housing in Lake Oswego (housing will be ready for occupancy soon)
• Exploring ways to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers (ongoing)
• Review of new facilities: the wastewater treatment plan and the recreation center
• State incentives for heat pumps, energy efficiency and electric vehicles (many of these are in place)
• State laws regarding waste management (new laws are in place)
• Improving state climate goals (defeated last year – up again at the state legislature)
• The state climate protection plan (ongoing)

What are we working on now?

• Affordable housing policies for Lake Oswego
• Phase out gas-powered leaf blowers in Lake Oswego
• Testifying in favor of state issues.

How can you get involved?

• We are always looking for new committee members
• We are exploring the idea of providing local advocacy training

Electric school buses are coming!

For five years, LOSN has been advocating for electric school buses in our community. Now four will arrive this coming year thanks to a PGE grant awarded to the Lake Oswego School District (LOSD).

Read more about the electric school buses coming to Lake Oswego.

In the coming years, LOSD may evaluate how and when to transition the entire bus fleet to electric. In the meantime, LOSN will continue to promote electric school buses as a healthy, sustainable choice.

Lake Oswego School District: An Electric School Bus Case Study

We have found that impacting policy and making big changes takes a combination of time, often years, and creative problem solving. Sometimes people in leadership aren’t interested in our ideas, and we need to be persuasive. Sometimes we are engaged with public opposition or confusion.

Electric school buses provide an example of an issue we worked on that took time, engagement and persuasion. In this case, the people in leadership were very open to the idea of electric school buses because they are quieter, cleaner and healthier for students, and better for the environment. All the major work was done by the Lake Oswego School District (LOSD), and the credit belongs to them, but LOSN worked to create interest in the issue, supported the school board’s efforts and did public outreach.

In 2019, LOSN board member Duke Castle, heard that some school districts in the US were starting to use electric school buses. Duke has been promoting electric vehicles for years in Lake Oswego and was excited about the prospect of getting electric school buses in Lake Oswego. He contacted LOSD board member John Wallin, who expressed interest.

At that time, electric buses were 3 to 4 times more expensive than diesel and would require greater electric capacity for charging than was available at the former Lake Grove bus barn location. The district had acquired land in the Lakeview industrial park that would meet their needs for a bus barn. Duke spoke with Tony Vandenberg, LOSD Executive Director of Project Management, who was in charge of developing the new facility.

Duke researched and found that private companies like Highland Electric offered financing for electric school buses. A representative from that company told LOSD that their new location would be a good site for electric school buses.

Some of the neighbors near the proposed new site of the bus barn were concerned about noise and added pollution, so the LO Planning Commission did not approve the new location in 2019. The issue was tabled as the school district searched for a different location. By 2023, the district realized that the location they’d found in the Lakeview industrial park was the only one that suited their needs and went back to the Planning Commission.

After more research and discussion, and weighing the pros and cons, the LOSD board unanimously agreed to move forward. That’s when LOSN’s advocacy team got involved. Recognizing this location for the bus barn provided the only path forward for electric buses, we sent an action alert to our mailing list asking for comments to support electric school buses. Many comments were sent to the Planning Commission. In the end, the Planning Commission and City Council concurred with the school district. Almost five years after this project began, the bus barn is now operating in the new location.

Hear from the Electrification Experts