Alan R.P. Journet Ph.D.
Cofacilitator
Southern Oregon Climate Action Now
February 23rd, 2026

SOCAN Comments supporting HB4144

Co-Chairs Neron-Misslin & Levy and members of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means sub-committee on Natural Resources:

I write as cofacilitator of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN), the oldest grassroots climate organization in the Rogue Valley now representing some 2,000 Southern Oregonians. We are concerned about the climate crisis and seek federal, state and local action to address it. We are rural and coastal Southern Oregonians who live on the frontlines of the warming, reducing snowpack, heatwaves, drought, rising sea level and the increasing wildfire risk that these trends conspire to impose on us. Because of our concern, we pay close attention to efforts nationally, statewide, and locally that impact our collective efforts to address the climate crisis. As our logo above indicates, the focus of SOCAN is to promote action through science while encouraging that this be undertaken through a social justice lens.

As we move towards a more rational statewide energy policy, we will be relying ever more on energy storage via batteries (e.g. Sollogoub & Dalmazzone 2025). Indeed, batteries are described as the most valuable way to assist our aging electricity grid as we undergo the energy transition we need (SEIA 2025). We are also well aware that there are huge benefits to be gained from recycling batteries in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing energy consumption and water usage (e.g., Machala et al. 2025). The Battery Recyclers of America (BRC undated) identify a wide array of benefits associated with recycling used batteries.

Given our commitment to the promotion of renewable energy, and the critical role that battery storage will play in that transition (e.g., Rosenow 2024), we strongly support HB4014 and urge its passage.

Respectfully Submitted

Alan Journet Ph.D.
7113 Griffin Lane
Jacksonville
OR 97530-4392
[email protected]
541-500-2331
541-301-4107

BRC undated Why Should We Recycle Batteries? (5 HUGE benefits). Battery Recyclers of America. https://www.batteryrecyclersofamerica.com/why-recycle-batteries/?srsltid=AfmBOoo16Hvo3135tMscSrNJM4EQnKIvM_Ya-Oaj5F7mbKt026XBtaf0

Machala M, Chen X, Bunke S, Forbes G, Yegizbay A, de Chalender J, Azevedo I, Benson S, Tarpeh

W. 2025 Life cycle comparison of industrial-scale lithium-ion battery recycling and mining supply chains nature Communications https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56063-x

Rosenow J. 2024 The role of batteries in the energy transition: A key to the future? Medium. https://medium.com/@jan.rosenow/the-role-of-batteries-in-the-energy-transition-a-key-to-the-future-655fa602f8c4

SEIA 2025 Why Batteries Are the Electric Grid’s Most Powerful Asset. Solar Energy Industries Association. https://seia.org/blog/why-batteries-are-the-electric-grids-most-powerful-asset/

Sollogoub C, and Dalmazzone D. 2025 The essential role of batteries in the energy transition. Polytechnique Insights https://www.polytechnique-insights.com/en/columns/energy/the-essential-role-of-batteries-in-the-energy-transition/