Salem's per capita tailpipe emissions highest among biggest Oregon cities

Most carbon emissions released within Salem's city limits come from vehicle tailpipes, the city’s first greenhouse gas inventory found.

As the state capital, Salem draws 63% of its workers from elsewhere, the study states. And 86% of the people who work in Salem and live in the city commute by car — a higher percentage than in Oregon’s other largest cities.

As a result, Salem's per capita transportation emissions are nearly double those of Portland's, and significantly higher than Eugene's. 

The inventory, completed this month, is the first step for Salem to develop a possible climate action plan — a local plan for cutting carbon emissions to help stem climate change.

Salem is the only large city in Oregon without such a plan.

Portland, Oregon’s biggest city, was first in the nation to create a climate action plan, in 1993. Eugene, which is about the same size as Salem, approved its plan in in 2010.

Gresham, Bend, Beaverton and Medford have climate action plans. So do some small Oregon cities, including Ashland and Milwaukie.

Community groups, including 350 Salem, the local chapter of an international climate action organization, have been pushing Salem leaders to develop a climate action plan for several years.

“We argue it’s not just to reduce emissions but to prepare the city for changes that are already happening – floods, wildfires,” said Phil Carver, a co-coordinator of the group. “How might they adapt to the changes we’re seeing?”

Environmental push:Oregon House passes partial ban on plastic drinking straws

No money yet for local climate plan

City manager Steve Powers did not include funding to develop a climate action plan in his recommended budget for next year.  

It would cost at least $120,000 to develop a plan, and more to keep it updated, Norm Wright, the city’s community development director, said.

But activists are hoping the city council will include that funding before the budget becomes final. The council has scheduled a public hearing on the budget on June 10 and will vote on it June 24.

“There’s interest by all members of the budget committee and council,” Wright said. “It’s just, of course, with any budget conversation there’s the matter of priorities and limited resources.”

The greenhouse gas inventory was completed by Cascadia Partners, a Portland consulting company. It’s impossible say how much the study cost, Wright said, because it was included in the first phase of the city’s new comprehensive plan.

It looked at greenhouse gas emissions from Salem residents, visitors and employees for activities within or originating from city limits. It didn't examine emissions related to the consumption of goods that originated elsewhere. 

Overall, activities within Salem emitted 1.55 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, or 9.57 tons per capita, according to the study.

That compares with 10.4 tons per capita for Portland, and 5.7 tons per capita for Eugene.

Salem compares well on per capita emissions from energy generation, the study found. That's because Salem Electric and Portland General Electric provide a relatively clean power mix. 

Support local journalism: Stay on top of Oregon environmental and legislative news. Become a Statesman Journal subscriber and get unlimited digital access to stories that matter.

Garbage landfill vs waste incinerator

Salem’s unique waste disposal system contributes to its carbon footprint, the study found.

Marion County is home to the state’s only waste incinerator, and garbage haulers serving Salem residents east of the Willamette River are required to take waste there.

Salem residents across the river, in Polk County, have their garbage taken to Coffin Butte Landfill near Corvallis. The landfill also takes Salem waste in excess of the amount that can be handled by the incinerator.

Garbage sent to the Covanta Marion incinerator, near Brooks, produces significantly more greenhouse gas than garbage sent to the landfill, according to the report.

In 2016, Salem sent about half its solid waste – 46,250 tons – to the incinerator, resulting in 15,744 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent released that year.

It sent 46,459 tons of waste to the landfill, resulting in 2,376 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent released.  

The study also found that Salem's "robust" tree canopy, which sequesters carbon, more than cancels out emissions from agricultural fertilizers used within city limits. 

Contact the reporter at tloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6779 or follow at Twitter.com/Tracy_Loew