By a margin of 65.1 percent to 34.9 percent, Portland voters approved Measure 26-201, a tax on large businesses that will fund clean energy programs and job training in an effort to meet clean energy goals set by the city.

The measure, which appeared on ballots as the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Initiative, but which was called the Portland Gross Receipts Tax by its detractors, will levy a 1 percent tax on businesses that make over $1 billion in gross revenues nationally and $500,000 locally.

Groceries, medicine and health care services would be exempt.

Proponents — including environmental and social justice advocacy groups like the Sierra Club's Oregon Chapter, the Coalition of Communities of Color and the NAACP of Oregon — have said the program would raise roughly $30 million a year for Portland's Climate Action Plan, which calls for using clean, renewable energy for 100 percent of the city's power needs.

Those opposing the measure — most notably the 1,900-member Portland Business Alliance — have argued the tax is regressive and businesses would likely pass their costs on to consumers, raising prices on goods across all income levels in the city.

The City Club of Portland, which endorsed the measure, conducted an analysis that found no evidence the tax would affect prices for consumers. The editorial boards of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Willamette Week both called for a no vote on the measure, saying the language is too vague to be effective and that tax policy should be left to the Legislature.

-- Kale Williams

503-294-4048