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Governor Ted Kulongoski and Portland Mayor Sam Adams today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded the City of Portland and State of Oregon $20 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funds for residential and commercial energy retrofits across the state. More than 150 communities submitted applications worth more than $3.5 billion for the $452 million available. The Portland and Oregon application was one of only 25 communities selected nationwide for federal dollars to produce large scale neighborhood energy efficiency.
The grant opportunity comes from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program with funding from the Recovery Act. The initiative is a direct result of the Obama Administration’s commitment to ramping up the energy efficiency industry nationally. The list of awardees was issued by Vice President Joe Biden this morning in Washington, D.C.
“With this federal award Oregon can further its position as a national leader in energy efficiency,” Governor Ted Kulongoski said. “This investment in communities across the state will help showcase to the world that transitioning to sustainable communities is not only good for the environment, but it creates economic opportunity and improves our overall quality of life.”
The centerpiece of the award is a Clean Energy Works Oregon program that will result in energy retrofitting a significant number of homes and commercial buildings across the state. Building owners and tenants will have the opportunity to pay back energy efficiency loans on their utility bills or property tax bills.
“We’re excited that the success of Clean Energy Works Portland will be a launch pad for Oregon’s energy efficiency industry,” said Portland Mayor Sam Adams. “The City of Portland thanks all the public, private and nonprofit partners that joined together to make this achievement possible. Portlanders should be proud of the national recognition that validates Portland as America’s living laboratory for the sustainability economy. This effort would not have been possible without the support of each and every member of Oregon's federal delegation, including Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Jeff Merkley, Representative Earl Blumenauer, Representative Peter DeFazio, Representative Greg Walden, Representative David Wu, and Representative Kurt Schrader. It's truly a win for all of Oregon.”
The grant application effort represents an unprecedented level of federal, state and local cooperation, as well as public-private partnership. The City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability collaborated with the Oregon Department of Energy, Energy Trust of Oregon, ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia, NW Natural, Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, Worksystems Inc., Green For All, Multnomah County, Portland Development Commission, Portland Housing Bureau, Home Performance Contractors Guild of Oregon and others to build off the successful Clean Energy Works Portland model and integrate with the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technology Act (HB 2626), passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2009.
Clean Energy Works Oregon is supported by a financial strategy that leverages federal funding by attracting significant private capital to Oregon. The proposal highlights training, workforce development, business support and contracting standards to ensure economic opportunity for low-income residents and historically underserved populations.
The $20 million award is expected to result in thousands of residential and commercial retrofits, career-pathway jobs throughout the region, and significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.
Creating More Green Collar Jobs in Portland from Mayor Sam Adams on Vimeo.
Mayor Adams, Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Jules Bailey join the press at a Clean Energy Works of Portland home energy upgrade in Portland.
