Equity Advisory Committee

​​​​ ​​​Ashley A​​udycki (she/her), Rogue Climate

​As the South Coast Coordinator at Rogue Climate, Ashley Audycki values uplifting South Coast voices for climate justice and protecting key climate resources in the Coos Bay Estuary. Her passion for connecting people with their environment and mobilizing for climate justice stems from a lifetime of involvement in community education and outreach programs. Before joining Rogue Climate in 2019, Ashley established the outreach program at Coos Head Food Co-op, managed the Coos Bay Farmers Market, and served an AmeriCorp term at the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. Ashley received a BA in Environmental Studies and Political Science from UC Santa Barbara, and an environmental leadership award for her work on several food justice initiatives.

Shelley Beaulieu​ (she/her), Dragonfly Consulting

Shelley Beaulieu, Principal of Dragonfly Consulting, is a passionate advocate for bringing resources to communities historically underserved and marginalized by programs. Shelley is a consultant and engineer with 20+ years of experience in energy efficiency program design and delivery, policy support, project management, research and data analysis, with a focus on residential and affordable housing. Shelley also serves as the Board Secretary and member of the Community Alliance of Tenants, a tenant-led tenants’ rights organization.

Charity Fain (she​/her), Community Energy Project

Charity Fain has over 25 years of experience building stronger communities in the U.S. and around the world. As Executive Director of the Community Energy Project, she is responsible for the overall direction, leadership, and management of the organization to fulfill the mission that everyone deserves a safe, healthy, and efficient home, regardless of income. In this effort, she designs programs that provide free home services focused on safety, health, and energy efficiency for low-income Oregonians. Charity leads CEP’s advocacy efforts at the city and state level to push for climate and energy justice. Charity also participated on the Rules Advisory Committee for the Climate Protection Program. Prior to CEP, Charity’s professional experience focused on increasing civil engagement and political participation around the world. She studied International Relations and Russian language at The American University.

Kyna L. Harris (she/her), Orego​n Public Health Institute

Kyna L. Harris is the Program Director at the Oregon Public Health Institute. Prior to working for OPHI, her work focused on school age and early learning advocacy, community engagement and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She holds a master’s in business administration and is a certified Community Health Worker. Kyna serves as a member on a board of directors for a foster care agency and a head start/early head start organization. She has also served on several neighborhood advisory and planning initiatives pertaining to traffic, safety, neighborhood revitalization, technology equity, and participated on the Rules Advisory Committee for the Climate Protection Program.

Mark Healy ​(he/him)

Mark Healy lives in Coos Bay and Dorena, Oregon. His current interests and activities include kelp restoration, working toward having a more resilient and sustainable life such as growing vegetables, planting fruit trees, installing a heat pump, and storing water for crop use. He works with agencies and non-profit organizations that are involved in ocean health, carbon dioxide reduction, and other climate resilience efforts. Currently, he is on the Coquille Tribal Council appointed Climate Resilience Task Force. He initiated tribal surveys and made recommendations on energy sovereignty, ocean health, fire resilience, and food sovereignty. He worked with the Oregon Department of Energy on the Oregon Energy Strategy as a member of the Environmental Justice and Equity Panel and participated on the Rules Advisory Committee for the Climate Protection Program. He is dedicated to doing his part to decrease our carbon footprint in Oregon and is willing to assist in any way to achieve these goals.

Cheyenne Holliday (she/her),​ Verde

Cheyenne Holliday is a born and raised Oregonian who grew up on a small farm outside of Portland where her family rescues and rehabilitates horses. She has a background in Conflict and Dispute Resolution and has worked as a conflict resolution specialist, facilitator, and mediator. She works at Verde as the Director of Policy and Advocacy to focus on policy development, education, and outreach around economic, environmental, and racial justice issues at both the statewide and national level.

Kevin V. Howard (he/him), Clim​ate Changes Everything LLC

Kevin Howard is the Principal Consultant for Climate Changes Everything, LLC, an Oregon certified Minority Business Enterprise specializing in providing climate risk management and sustainability advisory services to commercial banks, corporations, and state & county entities. Kevin currently serves on Oregon's Off-Shore Wind Roadmap Roundtable. Prior to his consulting work, Kevin had a successful 30-year career in commercial banking culminating as the Climate Risk Qualitative Lead for U.S. Bank. Kevin has obtained the Sustainability and Climate Risk certification administered by the Global Association of Risk Professional and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. Kevin serves on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Columbia Gorge conservation group, and on the Board of Wildlife at Heart, a non-profit organization committed to community education and advocacy on behalf of endangered species in the Pacific Northwest.

Jamie Pang (she/her), Oregon Just Tr​ansition Alliance

Jamie Pang is currently the Deputy Director of Programs at the Oregon Just Transition Alliance. She has worked for over 15 years in the nonprofit, natural resources sector and holds a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School, with an emphasis in environmental law and policy. She’s addressed issues ranging from human health to environmental justice and climate and energy, with a focus on crafting policies that create meaningful change for frontline communities. Prior to joining OJTA, Jamie was the senior environmental health Program director at Oregon Environmental Council, where she developed the Toxic Free Cosmetics Act, and served on the Racial Justice Council’s Environmental Equity Committee. Jamie has also challenged utility rate increases and wildfire negligence cases in San Diego, California, and has served on the board of directors at a couple climate and health-focused nonprofits here in Oregon.

​Donald Williams, From the Ligh​t Consulting

Donald Williams is an enrolled Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Tribal Member, and Principal Consultant/Owner of From the Light Consulting, a first-of-its-kind Tribal member-owned energy consulting firm. He has been working in the energy sector for 10 years. During this time, he has gained valuable experience ranging from technical grant writing, project management, development, and consultation to tribal, state, federal agencies and NGOs. Donald advocates transmission, transportation decarbonization, renewable energy policy, and Tribal Energy sovereignty in the Pacific Northwest Tribal communities.

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​Meeting 4, June 17, 2026

Meeting 3, Feb. 17, 2026

• Meeting 3 agenda​
  

• Meeting 3 slides​
  

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The committee plays an important role in determining what types of emission reduction projects are supported by community climate investments and where the projects are located. The committee provides feedback on the selection of third-party entities and their work plans ahead of DEQ approval. 

DEQ has prioritized building a committee with representatives from multiple regions with lived experience, involvement, or expertise in the following areas:

• Environmental or economic justice 

• Climate change impacts and experience 

• Air pollution and/or health and community impacts 

• Clean, renewable energy, or energy efficiency 

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from fossil fuels 

• Transportation decarbonization 

• Residential and commercial building decarbonization 

• Industrial decarbonization 

• Community engagement, advocacy, or outreach 

• DEQ will appoint at least one committee member that represents a federally recognized tribe or tribal interests. 

 
Committee members are committed to: 

• Addressing climate change and its impacts 

• Improving access to cleaner, renewable fuels in Oregon 

• Reducing pollution and improving health for all communities 

• Uplifting traditionally underrepresented communities 
  

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​​Objectives of the Committee

The Community Climate Investment (CCI) Equity Advisory Committee (EAC) will assist DEQ in implementation of Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 340 Division 273 by providing feedback on what types of greenhouse gas emission reduction projects are supported by community climate investments and where those projects are in Oregon. The committee will also provide feedback on third party community climate investment entity applications and other submittals. The committee will help 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 are asked to provide feedback and suggestions to DEQ as individuals, but also on behalf of their respective organizations, or communities. Committee members will 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 who submitted interest and were selected by DEQ from across the state. DEQ may open a recruitment for additional committee members at any time. Members represent multiple regions with lived experience, expertise and/or interest in the following areas:

• 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.​
  

2026 Equity Advisory Committee Members

Respo​nsibilities

Committee members are public officials and are serving a one-year term. Committee members can serve up to three years. Members are asked to disclose any potential or actual conflicts of interest. Each committee member is responsible for updating any potential or actual conflict of interest as needed via an online form. 

Members are expected to attend each meeting to maximize engagement. If the member is unable to attend a meeting, an alternate may be considered, if appropriate. It is the responsibility of each member to prepare their alternate of any relevant issues and committee discussions to achieve the meeting goals.

If the member is unable to attend a meeting, DEQ will prioritize meeting with that member individually to share what was covered and seek feedback 

Members agree to the following:

Operational agreements: (procedures or structures the committee agrees to use)

• Prepare for and set aside time for the meetings to be as present as possible.
• Try and arrive 10 minutes early so we can start on time and address any technical issues.
• Communicate with DEQ staff if you are unable to make the meeting.
• Connect regularly with communities, membership, partners, etc. to inform them and gather input on community climate investments process, potential projects, and opportunities for engagement.
  
• Avoid representing to the public or media the views of any other committee members or on behalf of the committee.​
  

Relational agreements: (how the committee agrees to engage with one another)

• Be curious, open, and respectful.
• Take space/make space – if you are usually quiet challenge yourself to take more space, and if you usually talk a lot be mindful to make space for others to speak.
• Avoid jargon, acronyms, and industry language – use inclusive language that is accessible for people with varying inside knowledge.
• Speak from your own experience – use I statements rather than generalizations. 

Deci​sion Making

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

A minimum of 50% attendance is required to hold a meeting. If there is a time where the committee would like to make a more formal decision or recommendation, this requires 80% of the committee in attendance. 

D​EQ

DEQ is committed to making the most effective use of committee members' time by:

• Establishing clear committee member goals, meeting goals, timelines, and agendas.
• Providing materials for meetings as soon as they become available online.
• Starting and ending meetings on time and ensuring the committee stay focused on intended outcomes.
• Encouraging robust dialogue while ensuring that all perspectives are heard.
• Ensuring participants adhere to meeting agreements.
• Providing support and any resources members need to be prepared and empowered to represent themselves and any community of which they belong.
• Conducting outreach and engaging with environmental justice communities and supporting members with community outreach and engagement if so desired. 

Meet​ings

The committee will meet approximately 6 – 8 times over the course of the year, primarily on Zoom. It is possible that 1 – 2 meetings be held in person, at various locations throughout the state. Meeting materials will be posted on the Equity Advisory Committee webpage. When new materials are posted, email notifications are sent to people who are signed up for Climate Protection Program updates. DEQ will provide 2 week notice to the public of committee meetings. The public is welcome to attend and listen to committee meetings. There will be time held at some meetings for public comment. Comment from the public will also be possible through written format and will be shared out to the committee. 

Committee members must not meet with more than 50% of the committee's members when discussing committee business. Committee business will be conducted at the committee meetings.

Public Records and Confidentiality

Committee communications and records, such as formal documents, discussion drafts, meeting chats, meeting summaries and exhibits are public records and are available for public inspection and copying. DEQ does not assume responsibility for protecting proprietary or confidential business information shared during committee or subcommittee meetings. However, the private documents of individual committee members generally are not considered public records if DEQ does not have copies.​