Hi everyone,

We’re thrilled to announce BIG news about the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF)! This summer, the Portland City Council approved an unprecedented $111 million funding package, setting 65 new community projects in motion. These grants will help the communities hit hardest by climate change generate their own solar power, build better food systems, and enter careers in the new green workforce, all with the goal of repairing racial wealth disparities and making our city more resilient to the climate crisis.

Some projects receiving this round of grants:

• Upgrading affordable housing developments and community centers like the new Street Roots headquarters with community solar arrays and battery storage that will supply emergency backup power and return proceeds to low-income households
• Energy efficiency upgrades that will slash both utility bills and greenhouse gas emissions for low-income homeowners and renters, half of whom will be people of color
• Helping BIPOC and low-income households transition from fossil fuel heating to ductless heat pumps that keep residents cool in the summer and warm in the winter while dramatically reducing their energy costs
• Converting over 4 acres of former baseball field into a diversified space offering land access, ceremonial and community spaces, ecosystem restoration, and  to Portland’s urban native community

This is the biggest distribution of PCEF money to date, and it’s only the first round. Let’s take a moment to celebrate, and to honor all the organizing that went into establishing this fund.

The PCEF coalition – a group led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities and supported by environmental allies like 350PDX – fought for years to establish this fund, shaping it from the ground up. Together, we organized Portland voters to make history with the passage of the PCEF ballot measure in 2018, establishing the nation’s first-ever municipal climate justice fund. In the years since, the PCEF coalition and our community partners have continued to work with City leaders to support the program as it continues to grow.

Those years of working hard and building trust are paying off. Thanks to this historic partnership and the leadership of Portland’s frontline communities, this fund will continue to shape our city for years to come.

Thanks for your support as this work continues,

Indi Namkoong, 350PDX Coalition Manager