Record number of community organizations will receive $6.4 million from PGE’s Drive Change Fund to support electric transportation projects

In celebration of National Drive Electric Month (Sept. 12 to Oct. 12), Portland General Electric is announcing a record-breaking year for the PGE Drive Change Fund. This year, PGE is awarding $6.4 million to 38 organizations across Oregon, the largest number of recipients in the program's history, to support electric transportation projects that strengthen community resilience, expand education, advance wildfire preparedness and more.

The Drive Change Fund is a grant program made possible by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program and administered by PGE, empowering grant recipients to invest in electrification projects across the utility’s service area with a focus on benefiting communities.

The 2026 grants will help fund 60 electric vehicles, including e-bikes, forklifts and many other vehicle types, in addition to 30 charging stations for community-focused groups. Each Drive Change Fund award expands access to reliable clean electric transportation while lowering unhealthy emissions and reducing the upfront and ongoing transportation costs for local organizations and municipalities.

First-time Drive Change Fund recipient, Silverton Fire District, will use its grant to integrate electric transportation with community risk reduction efforts. As wildfire becomes a growing safety concern, the district plans to use an electric pickup truck to support wildfire prevention and defensible space assessments across the community.

Assistant Fire Chief Keith Veit says the Silverton Fire District is excited to put this funding directly to work in his community.

“This electric vehicle gives us the opportunity to incorporate electric vehicle technology into the day-to-day operations of a rural fire district,” said Veit. “We greatly appreciate PGE’s investment in projects that help local fire districts expand their capabilities and better serve their communities.”

Veit says the electric pickup truck will also be used to support their smoke alarm and life jacket loaner station programs, public education and much more.

"The Drive Change Fund is so much more than electric transportation alone. It's about creating practical solutions that strengthen communities," said Kelly Yearick, PGE Clean Fuels Portfolio Manager. "The Drive Change Fund delivers tangible benefits for communities where it’s needed most to make a difference in their communities.”

Visit portlandgeneral.com to learn more about the Drive Change Fund.

2026 Drive Change Fund awardees:

To learn how recipients are using Drive Change Funds, click here.

About Portland General Electric Company

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to nearly 960,000 customers serving an area of approximately 2 million Oregonians. Since 1889, Portland General Electric (PGE) has been powering economies, delivering safe, affordable and reliable electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE continues to make progress toward emissions reduction targets, and customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE is ranked a top ten utility in the 2025 Forrester U.S. Customer Experience Index. In 2025, PGE employees and retirees volunteered over 18,300 hours to more than 400 nonprofit organizations. Through the PGE Foundation, along with corporate contributions and the employee matching gift program, more than $5 million was directed to charitable organizations supporting economic growth and community resilience across our service area. For information: portlandgeneral.com/news