PORTLAND, Ore. (Sep. 22, 2023) - As part of this year's National Drive Electric Week, Portland General Electric is working to make the transportation electrification (TE) transition accessible to all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by rolling out a robust round of TE programs, products and customer incentives. This includes the announcement of PGE’s 2023 grant recipients for the Electric School Bus Fund and Drive Change Fund, supporting a diverse array of non-profits, school districts and local organizations. 

"Our goal is to help people make the shift to electric vehicles by making the processes affordable and accessible," said Elyssia Lawrence, senior manager and head of PGE's Transportation Electrification team. "That means we are always working to roll out more programs and support for customers who want to learn more about the transition.”

Using funds from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program, PGE’s Electric School Bus Fund and Drive Change Fund have extended another round of grant money to Oregon school districts and nonprofits to help them electrify their fleets, expand EV infrastructure, and provide TE education to underserved communities. 

Electric School Bus Fund

• In 2023, seven area school districts will receive funding to cover the incremental cost for 11 electric school buses (the difference in cost between a standard diesel bus and an electric bus) and support for charging infrastructure. 
• Since the start of the ESB fund four years ago, 12 local school districts have received funding for 30 electric school buses.

Drive Change Fund 

• In 2023, 20 local organizations will be granted funds for the purchase of 27 EVs, the installation of 53 charging ports, 75 new e-bikes, and electric forklifts, as well as an electric street sweeper. 
• Over the last five years, approximately 68 organizations have received funding for their electric transportation projects.

Among the past DCF recipients is the City of Roses Disposal & Recycling which will soon unveil its new electric Peterbilt garbage truck this fall. The 25-year-old waste and recycling company is the only African American-owned certified B Corporation in the industry, and they aim to be a sustainable leader in their field.

"It's exciting to see our grant recipients successfully complete a project, and we can witness the positive effects it has on the people in our community,” said Lawrence. “As we continue to be a part of our state's clean energy shift, we look forward to working with community members to make their transition to electrification a reality."

For customers interested in starting their own electrification journey, PGE is offering a variety of TE offerings for both residential and commercial customers: 

• Residential and Business EV Charging: PGE provides financial incentives to procure at-home EV chargers and charging stations and help encourage EV adoption at workplaces or commercial properties.
• Business EV Rebate Program: PGE provides rebates to business customers for qualified Level 2 EV chargers. The rebate is $1000 per port or $2,300 per port for multifamily dwellings.
• PGE Fleet Partner: a program that will help local businesses and organizations electrify their vehicle fleets by transitioning to electricity as a fuel, advancing Oregon’s transition to a clean energy future. 
• Municipal Charging Program: PGE is partnering with local municipalities to install Level 2 chargers in the right-of-way near multi-family housing, in residential neighborhoods with high numbers of renters, and where homes lack driveways/garages.

Visit portlandgeneral.com for more information on PGE’s Transportation Electrification transition.

About Portland General Electric Company
Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 900,000 customers in 51 cities across the state of Oregon. For more than 130 years, Portland General Electric (PGE) has powered the advancement of society, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean energy. To deliver on its strategy and meet state targets, PGE and its approximately 3,000 employees committed to partnering with stakeholders to achieve at least an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from power served to customers by 2030 and 100% reduction by 2040. PGE customers set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. Additionally, for the fifth year in a row, PGE was recognized by the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index which highlights companies committed to creating a more equal and inclusive workplace. As a reflection of the company's commitment to the community it serves, in 2022, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated nearly $5.5 million and volunteered more than 18,000 hours with more than 400 nonprofits across Oregon. For more information visit PortlandGeneral.com/news.