Portland, Ore. — Portland General Electric Company (NYSE: POR) announced this year’s PGE Renewable Development Fund is now accepting applications in support of local clean energy projects. This year’s $1.8 million in grants are funded by Green Future℠, customers, who opt in to pay it forward, ensuring that a portion of their energy bill is allocated to fund new, clean energy initiatives. Previous year winners represent organizations delivering important community benefits, including affordable housing, mental health services, conservation and education.
“Oregonians have proven time and time again that they will come together to advance shared goals – whether that’s in time of need like we see today with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis or in the case of ensuring our future is powered by clean and green energy,” said John McFarland, Chief Customer Officer at Portland General Electric. “We have great appreciation for our customers who participate in the nation-leading Green Future renewable power program. A direct result of their participation is that the PGE Renewable Development Fund is able to fund more local, renewable projects in this difficult economic time. Given the financial hardship facing many non-profits right now, we encourage them to apply and offer our assistance throughout the process. Working together and investing locally, we can demonstrate the best of who we are as Oregonians and meet our climate goals.”
Community Partners for Affordable Housing’s Executive Director Rachael Duke said of the award they received in 2019, “Working with PGE on the Renewable Development Fund (RDF) grant has been a great experience for us! Finding ways to bring solar power to an affordable housing process can be challenging and complicated. The RDF team was incredibly helpful and supportive. They were able to work with the complications of our timelines and funding schedules to come up with an option that allowed us to move forward with solar on this project. Thanks to their help and support, 48 low income families and individuals with mental disabilities, will have access to clean, renewable energy.”
Quick Facts:
The PGE Renewable Development Fund has $1.8 million available this year with a maximum of $600,000 per project.
The grants provide up to 85% funding for eligible projects.
Applications can be submitted between June 1, 2020 and August 1, 2020.
Preference is given to applications providing a substantial educational, environmental and economic benefit to the community and PGE customers and those that benefit multi-family or low-income housing.
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.
Since the PGE Renewable Development Fund was launched in 1999, it has contributed $14 million in grants to help 61 local clean energy projects. To date, completed projects have added more than 14.5 megawatts of clean electricity capacity to our region – enough to power more than 1,500 homes. PGE’s Green Future is the most successful renewable power program of its kind in the country, with more than 225,000 customers voluntarily enrolled. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory announced in its most recent rankings that PGE has the largest participation in a renewables program of any U.S. electric utility for the 10th year in a row.
For more information about the application process, please visit the PGE Renewable Development Fund website.