According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, about 40% of Oregon’s total greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. As PGE works to achieve our emissions reduction targets and create a greener Oregon, supporting customers on their transportation electrification journey is a critical component. PGE’s strategy, as outlined in our 2023 Transportation Electrification Plan, is to plan for, serve and manage the new electric demand resulting from the adoption of electric vehicles so everyone can take part in the electrification journey. Transitioning to electric transportation will take more than simply swapping conventional cars for EVs. For PGE, this transition is also about helping all customers - of all sizes - make the shift through programs, grants and incentives that can lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions with every mile traveled. One out of every six vehicles sold in Oregon today is an EV, and to meet these growing needs and make transportation electrification accessible to more customers, PGE is focused on several programs and strategies:
The Electric School Bus Fund partners with school districts to pay for the incremental cost of owning electric school buses, while our Drive Change Fund partners with local nonprofits in their individual transportation electrification efforts. These funds are made possible by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program
Fleet Partner Program helps businesses and municipalities transition their fleets by taking out the guesswork, providing cost analysis, preliminary design, design, construction and other support services from start to finish.
PGE is working with cities and municipalities to make EV charging more accessible for everyone through Neighborhood EV Charging.
We’re also helping customers charge faster at home through PGE’s Smart Charging Program, which incentivizes customers to charge their electric vehicles during times when energy demand and prices are lower.
An electrified transportation sector is no longer a vision of the future – it’s a reality that PGE is working to make affordable, reliable and accessible to all.