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News Release

Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Announces 2025 Community Grants Recipients - 11/25/25

Portland, Ore. – The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) is proud to announce the latest round of awards from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). City Administrator Jordan has approved $64.4 million in funding for 60 nonprofit-led projects, advancing Portland's transition to a more sustainable and equitable future.

 

This year's Community Grants cycle drew 216 proposals, reflecting strong community vision and interest in delivering meaningful climate action across the city. The full 2025 Community Grants Funding Awards report is available on the PCEF website.  

 

"We are grateful to the Portlanders who shared their ideas and to the organizations leading this work across the city," said PCEF Program Manager Sam Baraso. "Together, these community-led projects demonstrate the power of collective action to advance the City's climate goals while creating lasting benefits for Portland's communities."

Building climate resilience in Portland

Authorized through the 2023 Climate Investment Plan (CIP), PCEF's Community Grants program funds nonprofit organizations working to advance an equitable, community-centered transition to a clean energy future. These investments help Portland advance its climate action goals while strengthening community resilience. City Administrator Jordan approved $64,353,695 in awards and contingency funds, supporting 60 community-led projects. These include 51 implementation grants and nine planning grants.

 

The approved projects offer PCEF priority communities healthier homes, lower utility bills, job training and living-wage opportunities, better access to fresh food, and stronger community connections. The estimated lifetime reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for projects (not including regenerative agriculture) is estimated to be roughly 76,204 metric tons CO2e.

2025 Community Grants portfolio quick facts

  • Energy efficiency and renewable energy – 15 grants
  • Transportation decarbonization – 12 grants
  • Regenerative agriculture/Green infrastructure – 15 grants
  • Workforce and contractor development – 15 grants
  • Other community climate initiatives – 3 projects 

Recommended portfolio development: Our process

The application review process included eligibility screening, technical review, financial review, and applicant vetting. From there, applications that passed were assigned to a scoring panel consisting of three to five people drawn from PCEF Committee members, program staff, community members, and subject matter experts. The final recommended portfolio was developed based on application type, ranking of application scores, funding allocations for each program area, and overall proposal strength. Several projects were awarded partial funding based on evaluation of implementation feasibility and eligibility of measures.

 

The next round of Community Grants will open in 2026.

About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) oversees a world-renowned waste and recycling system and leads the country in its commitment to digital equity, open data, and protecting communities in the application of technologies. Staff collaborate with partners on neighborhood, economic, historic, and environmental planning and provide research, policy, and technical services to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as policies and actions to address climate change. The bureau also oversees the innovative Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF).

About the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) initiative was passed by 65% of Portland voters in November 2018. It provides a consistent, long-term funding source and oversight structure to ensure that our community's climate action efforts are implemented to support social, economic and environmental benefits for all Portlanders, particularly communities who have been historically under-resourced. The initiative was supported by a broad coalition of groups and individuals and represents the first environmental initiative in Oregon led by communities on the frontlines of climate change.

Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Announces 2025 Community Grants Recipients - 11/25/25

Portland, Ore. – The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) is proud to announce the latest round of awards from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). City Administrator Jordan has approved $64.4 million in funding for 60 nonprofit-led projects, advancing Portland's transition to a more sustainable and equitable future.

 

This year's Community Grants cycle drew 216 proposals, reflecting strong community vision and interest in delivering meaningful climate action across the city. The full 2025 Community Grants Funding Awards report is available on the PCEF website.  

 

"We are grateful to the Portlanders who shared their ideas and to the organizations leading this work across the city," said PCEF Program Manager Sam Baraso. "Together, these community-led projects demonstrate the power of collective action to advance the City's climate goals while creating lasting benefits for Portland's communities."

Building climate resilience in Portland

Authorized through the 2023 Climate Investment Plan (CIP), PCEF's Community Grants program funds nonprofit organizations working to advance an equitable, community-centered transition to a clean energy future. These investments help Portland advance its climate action goals while strengthening community resilience. City Administrator Jordan approved $64,353,695 in awards and contingency funds, supporting 60 community-led projects. These include 51 implementation grants and nine planning grants.

 

The approved projects offer PCEF priority communities healthier homes, lower utility bills, job training and living-wage opportunities, better access to fresh food, and stronger community connections. The estimated lifetime reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for projects (not including regenerative agriculture) is estimated to be roughly 76,204 metric tons CO2e.

2025 Community Grants portfolio quick facts

  • Energy efficiency and renewable energy – 15 grants
  • Transportation decarbonization – 12 grants
  • Regenerative agriculture/Green infrastructure – 15 grants
  • Workforce and contractor development – 15 grants
  • Other community climate initiatives – 3 projects 

Recommended portfolio development: Our process

The application review process included eligibility screening, technical review, financial review, and applicant vetting. From there, applications that passed were assigned to a scoring panel consisting of three to five people drawn from PCEF Committee members, program staff, community members, and subject matter experts. The final recommended portfolio was developed based on application type, ranking of application scores, funding allocations for each program area, and overall proposal strength. Several projects were awarded partial funding based on evaluation of implementation feasibility and eligibility of measures.

 

The next round of Community Grants will open in 2026.

About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) oversees a world-renowned waste and recycling system and leads the country in its commitment to digital equity, open data, and protecting communities in the application of technologies. Staff collaborate with partners on neighborhood, economic, historic, and environmental planning and provide research, policy, and technical services to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as policies and actions to address climate change. The bureau also oversees the innovative Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF).

About the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) initiative was passed by 65% of Portland voters in November 2018. It provides a consistent, long-term funding source and oversight structure to ensure that our community's climate action efforts are implemented to support social, economic and environmental benefits for all Portlanders, particularly communities who have been historically under-resourced. The initiative was supported by a broad coalition of groups and individuals and represents the first environmental initiative in Oregon led by communities on the frontlines of climate change.