Native American Youth and Family Center employees are excited about their new electric vehicles, made possible by the Drive Change Fund.
The PGE Drive Change Fund
Since its inception in 2019, the Drive Change Fund has awarded millions of dollars to projects, including new electric vehicles and chargers, to help electrify transportation in Oregon.
Since its inception in 2019, the Drive Change Fund has awarded millions of dollars to projects, including new electric vehicles and chargers, to help electrify transportation in Oregon.
Got an electrification project that needs funding?
From transit buses and passenger vehicles to electric bikes and community service vehicles, the PGE Drive Change Fund is all about electrifying transportation in Oregon. Do you have a local electric vehicle adoption, EV charging infrastructure or education project you would like us to fund? Get in touch.
2021 Drive Change Fund winners
Through our Drive Change Fund, millions of dollars have been awarded to organizations throughout Oregon who are helping build a clean energy future.
Electrifying transportation
Transportation is the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon.
We are committed to reducing those emissions by accelerating access to — and adoption of — electric vehicles for everyone. Community organizations, nonprofits and businesses can apply for grants to advance electric vehicle adoption, EV charging infrastructure and/or education in communities PGE serves. In 2020, $2.3 million was granted to 12 local community-based organizations to expand access to electric transportation for everyone, specifically focused on helping environmental justice communities. The Drive Change Fund (DCF) is funded through the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program.
How the Drive Change Fund works
Eligible project types include:
Purchasing electric vehicles
including e-bikes, light, medium, and heavy duty vehicle types.
Purchase and install PGE approved chargers .
Installing electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).
Education and outreach campaigns.
Innovative projects accelerating the adoption and awareness of transportation electrification.
Preference is given to projects:
Hosted by a public or non-profit organization.
Utilizing full battery electric vehicles (BEVs)
Engaging directly with environmental
justice communities.Providing a substantial education, environmental, and economic benefit to the community and PGE customers.
Funding timeline and process
The Drive Change Fund grant application process is open from May 2 through July 1, 2022.
This is an open and competitive application process. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a third party, in accordance with established evaluation criteria. Award funding is limited and will differ from project to project based on applicant request and available funding.
Key milestones
*tentative date
Date | May 2, 2022 |
|---|---|
Milestone | PGE begins accepting applications. |
Date | June 17, 2022 |
Milestone | Application milestone – deadline for PGE site assessment. |
Date | July 1, 2022 |
Milestone | Application closes at 5 p.m. PDT. |
Date | June 30, 2024 |
Milestone | Deadline for project completion. |
Applying to the Drive Change Fund
“We are extremely grateful to PGE for providing us with a Driving Change Fund Grant. The funding allowed us to not only purchase two electric vehicles for our Meals 4 Kids program but install three electric vehicle charging stations in our Central Office parking lot. Employees and volunteers who own electric vehicles can charge while they work. And, we have been able to expand the reach of our Meals 4 Kids program in a green way, which helps maintain our standing as one of 100 Best Green Workplace in Oregon.”
– Suzanne Washington, CEO of Meals on Wheels, 2020 Drive Change Fund award recipient
Get started
Make sure your project meets the requirements.
Review the program resources below to make sure your project meets the DCF requirements, preferences, goals, and scoring criteria.
Rally the troops.
Gain support within your organization and with project partners and community members.
Ask for help.
Communicate with the Grants Manager and Technical Experts with any questions. Site assessments are available to aid in developing a project scope. Reach out at pgedrivechangefund@pgn.com.
Get organized.
Put together your project details, discuss available funding sources, and develop a project timeline.
Turn it in on time.
Complete and submit your application between May 2 and July 1, 2022.
Program Resources
We’re here to answer any questions you have at PGEDriveChangeFund@pgn.com.
For light-duty electric vehicles visit PlugStar
For medium and heavy-duty electric vehicles visit Drive to Zero