Monica Samayoa
Monica Samayoa is an award-winning climate and environmental journalist.
Her work has covered how communities in Southern Oregon continue to recover from wildfires, as well as the decades of groundwater pollution in Eastern Oregon and its impacts to the communities. She's also closely examined how urban planning in Portland makes heat domes particularly deadly for marginalized communities. Recently, she’s been covering the renewable energy transition, climate solutions & adaptations, the human impacts of climate change and environmental justice.
Before OPB, Monica was an on-call general assignment reporter at KQED in San Francisco. In 2017 she studied abroad in Sydney, Australia, where she attended the University of Technology Sydney to finish her degree. There, she was able to get her first taste of radio while producing and hosting for 2SER, Sydney Educational Radio.
Monica holds a bachelor's degree in broadcast and electronic communication arts from San Francisco State University.
In her free time, Monica likes to spend time with her family and friends and travel to the world. So far she has traveled to 17 countries.
Latest Stories
Oregon lawmakers approve limits on utility rate hikes
The Fairness & Affordability in Residential Energy Act, or FAIR Energy Act, will limit how often a for-profit utility can request rate increases and will require gas and electric utilities to submit annual reports on costs and how those increases impact customers.
Oregon Department of Energy officially launches new heat pump program
The Oregon Department of Energy is now accepting applications for the agency’s Heat Pump Purchase program, which offers qualified residents up to $2,000 in rebates.
Chemeketa Community College launches program to boost Oregon’s renewable energy workforce
The Oregon Department of Energy awarded Chemeketa Community College more than $600,000 to increase its renewable energy workforce.
Multnomah County’s Office of Sustainability avoids significant budget cuts after outcry
Multnomah County’s Office of Sustainability avoided deep cuts. A commissioner had proposed eliminating 4 out of 5 positions in the office to fund other programs. The office will see funding reductions equating to 1.5 full-time positions.
Portland is offering another 10,000 free air conditioners to boost climate resilience
Portland Clean Energy Fund’s Cooling Portland is offering 10,000 more free air conditioners to qualified city residents through 2026.
Oregon Legislature passes ‘POWER Act,’ targeting industrial energy users like data centers
House Bill 3546, known as the POWER Act, is now headed to Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk. It could lead to higher rates for industrial electricity customers that currently pay much less per kilowatt hour than residential customers.
Oregon Department of Energy is looking for contractors for a new heat pump program
For a limited window after the program opens, qualifying Oregonians may be able to cut the price of a home heat pump installation by a combined $4,000.
Climate advocates rally to oppose budget cuts at Multnomah County’s Office of Sustainability
Dozens of groups called on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners to oppose a proposal that would gut the Office of Sustainability.
Oregon slowed enforcement of its clean truck rules. Now federal Republicans could axe the rules entirely
Oregon's chances to implement stricter vehicle emission regulations could de derailed by the federal government, after a vote by the U.S. Senate.
Oregon officially reopens popular EV rebate program
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has reopened the Clean Vehicle Rebate program, which now offers three rebate options.
