City Council Work Session - 2/11/2026 - 4:00 PM

The City of Bend, Oregon City Council held a work session on February 11, 2026, focused primarily on discussing the development of an electrification fee and incentive program as part of the city's broader climate action plan. Staff and consultants presented detailed analyses on potential fee levels based on the social cost of carbon, projected revenue generation ranging from approximately $1 million to $2.5 million annually, and the associated impacts on carbon emissions and housing prices. Council members debated various fee levels, with preferences ranging from a low 10% fee to a 50% fee of the calculated maximum, emphasizing concerns about affordability, local data accuracy, and the need for flexibility given evolving energy grid conditions. The council agreed to pursue a 20% fee level using the social cost of carbon and to conduct public listening sessions to gather community feedback on fee design, exemptions, and implementation timelines. They also discussed forming an ad hoc committee to develop recommendations on incentive programs after further stakeholder engagement. Additionally, Pacific Power provided insights on grid capacity and infrastructure upgrades needed to support electrification. The session concluded with a brief transition to a transportation safety action plan update, focusing on data-driven safety improvements and public engagement strategies.