Equity Advisory Committee — Oregon DEQ Climate Protection Program

Objectives

The Community Climate Investment (CCI) Equity Advisory Committee (EAC) assists DEQ in determining what types of greenhouse gas emission reduction projects are supported by community climate investments and where those projects are located in Oregon.

The committee helps ensure that projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote benefits to environmental justice communities, and accelerate the transition from fossil fuel to low carbon energy sources in Oregon.

Committee members review, provide feedback, and make recommendations on:

CCI entity (recipients of community climate investments) applications
CCI entity work plan development to support environmental justice communities in Oregon
Additional submittals by CCI entities such as annual reports or amended workplans
Community outreach and engagement with environmental justice communities

Environmental justice communities are defined as communities of color, communities experiencing lower incomes, communities experiencing health inequities, tribal communities, rural communities, remote communities, coastal communities, communities with limited infrastructure and other communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes and adversely harmed by environmental and health hazards, including seniors, youth and persons with disabilities.

Guiding Principles

Committee members are committed to:

Fostering accountability and transparency for community climate investments
Prioritizing and centering our traditionally underrepresented and marginalized communities
Reducing climate pollution and other types of air pollution in our communities
Building energy resiliency by improving access to cleaner, renewable fuels in Oregon
Improving health in our communities

Membership

The committee is made up of individuals and organizations selected by DEQ from across the state, representing multiple regions with lived experience, expertise and/or interest in:

Reducing climate and air pollution from fossil fuels
Climate and air pollution impacts and experience
Environmental or economic justice
Energy efficiency, clean or renewable energy
Residential, commercial, or industrial decarbonization
Transportation decarbonization
Community outreach, engagement, and/or advocacy

2025–2026 Committee Members

Name	Organization
Ashley Audycki	Rogue Climate
Shelley Beaulieu	Dragonfly Consulting
Charity Fain	Community Energy Project
Kyna Harris	Oregon Public Health Institute
Mark Healy	Coquille Climate Resilience Task Force Member
Kevin Howard	Climate Changes Everything LLC
Jamie Pang	Oregon Just Transition Alliance
Metzin Rodriguez	Unite Oregon
Xitlali Torres Verde
Donald Williams	From the Light LLC

Responsibilities

Committee members are public officials serving a one-year term (up to three years). Members are expected to attend each meeting to maximize engagement.

Operational Agreements

Prepare for and set aside time for the meetings to be as present as possible
Arrive 10 minutes early to address any technical issues
Communicate with DEQ staff if unable to attend
Connect regularly with communities, membership, and partners to inform and gather input on community climate investments
Avoid representing the views of other committee members or on behalf of the committee to the public or media

Relational Agreements

Be curious, open, and respectful
Take space / make space — challenge yourself to speak up if usually quiet; be mindful to make space if you usually talk a lot
Avoid jargon, acronyms, and industry language — use inclusive, accessible language
Speak from your own experience — use "I" statements rather than generalizations

Decision Making

DEQ will seek consensus from committee members whenever possible when reviewing and providing recommendations on program decisions and materials. All members are encouraged to share their individual opinions. The committee's discussions help inform DEQ staff as they make final decisions related to CCI entities, workplans, projects, reports, and other submittals.

Meetings

The committee meets approximately 6–8 times over the course of the year, primarily on Zoom, with 1–2 meetings held in person at various locations throughout the state.

Meeting materials are posted on the Equity Advisory Committee webpage. The public is welcome to attend and listen to committee meetings.