Portland, Ore.— Today, Sept. 11, 2024, Portland City Council unanimously approved the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) recommended portfolio for Request for Proposals (RFP) 3 of the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), which consists of 71 grants totaling nearly $92 million.
PCEF received 230 proposals for projects in response to its third RFP, which was open from November 2023 through Feb. 15, 2024.
RFP 3 portfolio grant funding categories
This third round of RFPs is part of the 2023 Climate Investment Plan (CIP). PCEF’s Community Responsive Grants program invests in nonprofit led projects that equitably address Portland’s climate action needs. RFP 3 marks the first community responsive grant funding opportunity under the CIP. As part of this initiative, PCEF staff recommended that City Council approve $91,916,334 to support 71 projects in the RFP 3 grant portfolio.
Total requested funding authorization
| RFP 3 grant funds | $85,107,717 |
| Contingency funds | $6,808,617 |
| Total | $91,916,334 |
The impact
Among the numerous testimonies given during the first hearing on Sept. 5, 2024, organizations spoke to the positive impact PCEF funding has created for climate justice work and the far-ranging community benefits.
Workforce Development Manager for Oregon Tradeswomen Courtney Hamilton said that the many of their graduates from their pre-apprenticeship program have risen to leadership roles in their careers. “We have been breaking barriers for more than 25 years,” Hamilton said. “With the support of the PCEF fund, we will be able to continue breaking these barriers now and into the future.”
PCEF funding will also provide critical improvements in low-income, multifamily housing in Northeast Portland that will reduce energy costs, improve residents’ health and comfort, and increase the longevity of buildings to reduce displacement. “That’s real money in the pockets of low-income households that they can use for necessities such as groceries, childcare, and health care,” said Margaret Salazar, CEO of Reach Community Development. The impacts of PCEF funds are really about the long view, she explained. Making critical improvements today allows their organization to be good stewards for tomorrow.
Application review process and scoring criteria
The application review process included eligibility screening, technical review, and applicant vetting prior to applications moving to scoring panels and ultimately, the recommended portfolio. Applications were scored on criteria specific to their project type. Scoring criteria and information is publicly available online.
Scoring panels
Applications that passed the screening for eligibility, technical feasibility, and applicant vetting were assigned to a scoring panel. Each panel consisted of three members, including PCEF Committee members, program staff, and/or subject matter experts, with efforts made to ensure diversity and gender balance. Applications needed to receive more than half of the available points to be considered for funding. A calculated GHG impact score was also factored into the overall application score.
Recommended portfolio development
The recommended portfolio was developed based on a ranking of application scores, the allocations for each fund area, and the strength of proposals. All eligible applications submitted for funding can be viewed on the online portal.
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 of color and low-income residents. The initiative was supported by a broad coalition of groups and individuals and represents the first environmental initiative in Oregon led by communities of color.
PLEASE NOTE: This is an invite for media only and should not be published
Portland, Ore.— Congressman Earl Blumenauer and the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) are pleased to invite members of the Portland media to an event celebrating the listing of Erv Lind Field on the National Historic Register for its significant contributions to women’s sports history and to the LGBTQ+ community.
WHO: The event will feature e following speakers:
Portland Parks and Recreation Director Adena Long will serve as event emcee. The event will also feature a commemorative softball game featuring members of the Rose City Softball Association.
WHAT: Honoring the addition of Erv Lind Field to the National Register of Historic Places.
WHERE: Normandale Park – Erv Lind Stadium – NE 57th Avenue and Hassalo Street
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 6, Speaking event from 1 to 1:30 p.m., commemorative softball game from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
RSVP: RSVP to Magan Reed (Magan.Reed@portlandoregon.gov).
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).
City of Portland joins area partners in a Tualatin-led effort to increase publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure throughout northwest Oregon
Portland, Ore.— This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the City of Tualatin and area partners will receive $15 million to bring publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure to the region as part of the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program).
These funds will be used to install up to 500 publicly accessible level 2 networked EV chargers at approximately 125 unique sites across 17 different cities. This will focus on residents at multifamily buildings and to support other Oregonians without access to home EV charging. While no decisions have been made yet on how this money will be allocated to each jurisdiction, City of Portland staff is currently considering options for future level 2 EV chargers, informed by ongoing engagement with community partners.
Staff with Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) partnered with several Oregon cities and Forth, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the equitable advancement of clean transportation. Cities joining this effort include Beaverton, Forest Grove, Gresham, Hillsboro, King City, Lake Oswego, McMinnville, Milwaukie, Newberg, Oregon City, Salem, Sherwood, Tigard, Woodburn and Wood Village, in support the City of Tualatin’s grant application.
“This grant will help Portland and other local cities make significant strides on climate goals and support equitable access to EV infrastructure for all of our communities,” said BPS Interim Director Eric Engstrom.
Portland General Electric also committed to $200,000 in funding from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program to provide a matching grant supporting education and outreach activities.
The CFI Program was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects. The grants announced this week seek to create American jobs and ensure more drivers can charge their electric vehicles where they live, work, and shop.
About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) develops creative and practical solutions to enhance Portland’s livability, preserve distinctive places and plan for a resilient future. BPS collaborates with community partners to provide comprehensive land use, neighborhood, district, economic, historic and environmental planning, and urban design; research, policy and technical services to advance green building, energy efficiency and the use of solar and renewable energy, waste prevention, composting and recycling, and a sustainable food system; and policy and actions to address climate change.
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