The public information about Bend’s policy planning has a grave omission: the risks to the people of Bend from irresponsible gas expansion.

Why do numerous environmental, health, and business groups want the pollution fee? All of us should responsibly reduce or eliminate our fossil fuel use. We’ve already reached the first climate tipping point, putting us in a climate crisis of massive proportions. Moreover, there are even more compelling reasons to reduce gas use.

Numerous studies show the health risks for asthma, lung, and heart disease from gas pollution inside the home. A gas stove, even turned off, not only releases toxic pollutants into the kitchen, but they spread through the entire dwelling, even into the bedrooms and living areas.

A pollution fee, paid by polluters, would generate income to help low to moderate income families to install clean energy. There is a reason why Affordable Housing authorities build electric homes: they are safer, healthier, and cost less to operate. In many cases, they cost less to build. If people and developers still want to install gas appliances, the pollution fee uses a common formula, to calculate the social damages that occur and translate them into a “fee”.

These damages are often borne by historically marginalized communities who live in older homes with gas appliances. They pay with their health, and may develop long term chronic lung and/or heart disease from exposure to toxic pollutants in gas. When big damages occur, like damaging fires or explosions, the restoration is often paid by taxpayers.

But there is something even more disastrous that should be considered. We should not underestimate the ever present danger of the 60 year old GTN pipeline expansion on Bend’s Eastside…that runs right through Stevens Ranch subdivision, close to a middle school. A life threatening explosion can occur anywhere in the gas piping system. Are we going to ignore this?

One whistleblower who spent time inspecting the GTN Pipeline in Oregon, stated:

“We’ve got some serious issues. We’ve got pipes sitting on rocks with bends and cracks,” he said. “We’ve got pipe that’s falling apart in sheets. We’ve got a company that knows about these conditions and fails to be proactive about repairing them.”

Many say current industry-crafted safety regulations are not enough. Studies of the over 1,851 pipeline incidents in similar pipelines of 60 years old paint a similarly grim picture. They stated that even 943 to 1,800 ft from the pipeline is not far enough to avoid death.

An explosion on a gas transmission pipeline in Carlsbad N.M in August 2000 killed 12 people 675 ft away.
In Belling ham, 3 young boys were killed when a gas pipeline burst
In 2023 an explosion caused a 25 foot fire in a rural area in a similarly aged pipeline in Virginia.
In 2024, A worker in a pizza place in Bend ended up in the ICU when an oven gas connection exploded
What would happen if such a powerful explosion happened in Bend’s dry desert? It would be far more catastrophic …. for Bend residents and businesses.

We believe the city of Bend can and must protect the residents from these extremely damaging outcomes. Thirty thousand new homes in Bend that increase gas use will make this dangerous pipeline even more vulnerable. Lessening our dependence on dirty, planet-destroying fossil fuels is the first step. Oregon’s senators and the governor have already opposed the expansion of this dangerous pipeline. Oregon is on a path to clean, affordable renewable energy. The gas industry, however, has no interest in reducing gas volume. They have little interest in safety or maintenance regulations. This is why we urge the city to exercise their right to control access to dangerous, toxic, and dirty fossil gas. It starts with a pollution fee.

Diane Hodiak is executive director of 350Deschutes.