Grand Strategic Actor

City of Beaverton Oregon

Proposed testimony

By approving the Climate Action Plan, Beaverton began the process of implementing a new strategy and become a Grand Strategic Actor.  All of the steps outlined in the following implementation process align with the role of a Grand Strategic Actor.

What I’m trying to do here is find common ground with you.

Beaverton has the capacity and resources, time and space, and scalable technology to deliver the future today.  An emerging Climate Grand Strategy happens with rapid deployment of scalable solutions to achieve net zero emissions across every city in the world.  Beaverton has a role as a Grand Strategic Actor over the next five years.  

As fossil fuels decline, renewable energy and electric transportation forecasts show continued growth and expansion to create a fully functioning electric economy.

This Clean Energy Disruption over the next five years will be the fastest, deepest, most consequential disruption of energy and transportation in history. By analyzing and anticipating the consequences of this disruption, we can learn that the benefits to humanity will be immense, but to seize the upside, we will need to mitigate the downside.

What I’m trying to do here is find common ground with you.

Beaverton’s Implementation Process

First, on November 12, 2019, Beaverton approved the Climate Action Plan that set a zero-emissions goal.  In 2017, Beaverton approved an Active Transportation Plan to support human powered movement.

Second, this year Beaverton will update the Community Vision Plan and integrate the detailed action items from the Climate Action Plan into the community visioning process.  Also, the Active Transportation Plan will inform the updated Community Vision Plan.  This step implements a climate brand: "Delivering the Future Today."

Third, Beaverton supports innovative policies. In 2020, Beaverton will declare a Climate Emergency (already declared by over 1,000 other cities, regions and countries) this innovative policy statement will identify Beaverton as a Climate Grand Strategic Actor. 

When Beaverton declares support for an Oregon Green New Deal this reinforces Beaverton’s support for innovative polices. When Beaverton creates a Climate Advisory Committee this reinforces Beaverton’s support for transparency.  

These innovative policy statements, along with the Climate Advisory Committee and community visioning process, create a transparent system of feedback with the community to support implementing the Climate Action Plan.

What I’m trying to do here is find common ground with you.

Fourth, Beaverton will identify private funding for a majority of the investment required to complete high impact action items from the Climate Action Plan.  For example:

1. The infrastructure funding for solar energy, battery storage and micro-grid for the new Public Service Center was primarily funded through PGE. 
2. PGE will install new public EV charging stations at the corner of Broadway and Canyon
3. PGE delivers wind energy for charging the electric bus in Beaverton.
4. Beaverton’s Active Transportation Plan includes a list of funding sources for biking and walking infrastructure.  

Many private companies investing for their future, will support Beaverton Delivering the Future Today.

Finding common ground where we move forward together.