PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland General Electric Company (NYSE: POR) announced this year’s PGE Drive Change Fund is now accepting applications in support of transportation electrification projects for community-based organizations. This year’s $2.25 million in grants are funded by sale of Oregon Clean Fuels Program credits, which PGE aggregates on behalf of customers who charge their electric vehicles at home. Last year’s winners represent organizations delivering important community benefits, including food assistance, health care, affordable housing and other social services.

“Oregon’s electric transportation future is for everyone,” said John McFarland, Chief Customer Officer for Portland General Electric. “We thank customers who charge their electric vehicles at home and the Oregon Clean Fuels program for making these community-focused grants possible. The PGE Drive Change Fund is one piece of what must be a concerted effort to make electric vehicles and other forms of transportation available to all as we build Oregon’s clean energy future.”

Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) Executive Director Paul Lumley said of the 2019 Drive Change Fund award they received, “It has been transformational for NAYA to be awarded the PGE Drive Change grant and to receive this new fleet of all electric and hybrid plug-in electric vehicles, knowing that we will be doing our part to affect climate change. Having to change our operations due to COVID-19, these energy efficient vehicles are even more important to us–we can provide our community with socially-distant food-delivery services while lifting up the spirits of our employees who are driving these vehicles.”

Quick Facts:

• The PGE Drive Change Fund supports projects that benefit residential customers in PGE’s service territory and advance transportation electrification in one or more of these categories:
  • The acquisition of electric vehicles,
  • Education and outreach campaigns,
  • The installation of EV charging infrastructure, or
  • Other innovative projects that advance transportation electrification.
• The fund has $2.25 million available, and a single project can receive no more than 1/3 of the total available funds ($750,000).
• The grants provide up to 100% of eligible project costs, although projects that leverage other funding sources are preferred.
• Applications can be submitted between July 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020.
• Successful projects will provide a direct community benefit and meet the needs of underserved communities while advancing electric transportation options for everyone.
• Grants are awarded through an open and competitive application process and evaluated by third-party vendors in accordance with eligibility guidelines, preferred project standards and established evaluation criteria.
• For more information about eligibility and the application process, please visit the PGE Drive Change Fund website.

The PGE Drive Change Fund started in June 2019 as part of PGE’s participation in the Oregon Clean Fuels Program. PGE participates in the program as a provider of low-carbon transportation fuel, and the funds from the sale of credits PGE receives are used to promote and support transportation electrification. The Oregon Clean Fuels Program, administered by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, aims to reduce the carbon intensity of Oregon’s transportation fuels. Under Governor Kate Brown’s recent Executive Order to address climate change, the Clean Fuels Program became the most ambitious in the nation, with goals to achieve reductions in average carbon intensity of transportation fuels used in Oregon by at least 20% (relative to 2015) by 2030, and at least 25% by 2035.

About Portland General Electric Company: Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon, with operations across the state. The company serves 899,000 customers with a service area population of 1.9 million Oregonians in 51 cities. PGE has 16 generation plants in five Oregon counties, and maintains and operates 14 public parks and recreation areas. For over 130 years, PGE has delivered safe, affordable and reliable energy to Oregonians. Together with its customers, PGE has the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the U.S. PGE and its 3,000 employees are working with customers to build a clean energy future. In 2019, PGE, employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $4.7 million and volunteered 32,900 hours with more than 700 nonprofits annually across Oregon. For more information visit portlandgeneral.com/cleanvision.

West Coast Clean Transit Corridor Initiative would create jobs in economic recovery and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from freight transportation

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland General Electric and Pacific Power joined other electric utilities in Washington and California today in announcing the results of a study of how to support electric trucks on I-5. The West Coast Clean Transit Corridor Initiative, a study commissioned by an unprecedented collaboration among the utilities, recommends adding electric vehicle charging for freight haulers and delivery trucks at 50-mile intervals along Interstate 5 and adjoining highways.

“The future of Oregon’s transportation is electric, and utilities have an essential role to play in building the infrastructure needed to support a cleaner energy future,” said Aaron Milano, Product Portfolio Manager for Transportation Electrification at Portland General Electric. “Laying the groundwork for an electric I-5 will help the West Coast meet its climate goals, provide cleaner air for our communities and provide new economic opportunities as we make the transition to electric vehicles and trucks.”

The report recommends expanding state, federal or private programs that provide funding for transportation electrification, which could further accelerate electric truck adoption and expand economic opportunities constructing charging sites. PGE and Pacific Power already offer grant programs and are developing infrastructure programs that support non-residential electric vehicle charging, but more support will be needed to reach transportation electrification levels identified in the study and to meet state climate goals.

“We’re fortunate to have such great alignment in the West around discussing and planning for our shared energy future,” said Eva DeCesaro, Senior Product Manager for Transportation Electrification at Pacific Power. “Pacific Power and the other study sponsors are looking beyond our local service areas and working together toward regional solutions that meet the changing and diverse needs of the people we serve. The WCTC initiative roadmap will help us navigate this audacious journey toward significant changes around transportation electrification and could have lasting, positive impacts for generations to come.”

Transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon, making the electrification of freight transportation a critical part of meeting the state’s climate goals. Oregon-specific highlights of the study include:

• By 2030, it’s estimated that medium- (MD) and heavy-duty (HD) electric trucks could make up nearly 25% of MD trucks and 5% of HD trucks for a total of 8% of all trucks on the road in California, Oregon and Washington.
• The study’s final report proposes a phased approach for electrifying the I-5 corridor. The first phase would involve installing 27 charging sites along I-5 at 50-mile intervals for medium-duty electric vehicles, such as delivery vans, by 2025. Then, later, 14 of the 27 charging sites would be expanded to also accommodate charging for electric big rigs by 2030.
  • Of the 27 proposed sites, five are in Oregon.
• An additional 41 sites on other highways that connect to I-5 are being proposed for electrification. Those highways include I-84 in Oregon.

Other initiative sponsors are Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Northern California Power Agency, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Puget Sound Energy, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, San Diego Gas & Electric, Seattle City Light, Southern California Edison and Southern California Public Power Authority.

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About Portland General Electric Company: Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon, with operations across the state. The company serves 899,000 customers with a service area population of 1.9 million Oregonians in 51 cities. PGE has 16 generation plants in five Oregon counties, and maintains and operates 14 public parks and recreation areas. For over 130 years, PGE has delivered safe, affordable and reliable energy to Oregonians. Together with its customers, PGE has the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the U.S. PGE and its 3,000 employees are working with customers to build a clean energy future. In 2019, PGE, employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $4.7 million and volunteered 32,900 hours with more than 700 nonprofits annually across Oregon. For more information visit portlandgeneral.com/cleanvision.

About Pacific Power: Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 773,000 customers in 243 communities across Oregon, Washington and California. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, serving nearly two million customers in six western states as the largest regulated utility owner of wind power in the West. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net.