Portland City Council approves Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund’s Community Responsive Grants funding portfolio

Portland, Ore.- Today, Sept. 11, 2024, Portland City Council unanimously approved the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) recommended portfolio for Request for Proposals (RFP) 3 of the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), which consists of 71 grants totaling nearly $92 million.

PCEF received 230 proposals for projects in response to its third RFP, which was open from November 2023 through February 15, 2024.

RFP 3 portfolio grant funding categories

This third round of RFPs is part of the 2023 Climate Investment Plan (CIP). PCEF's Community Responsive Grants program invests in non-profit led projects that equitably address Portland's climate action needs. RFP 3 marks the first community responsive grant funding opportunity under the CIP. As part of this initiative, PCEF staff recommended that City Council approve $91,916,334 to support 71 projects in the RFP 3 grant portfolio.

• Clean energy - 21 grants
• Transportation decarbonization - 14 grants
• Regenerative agriculture/Green infrastructure - 17 grants
• Workforce and contractor development - 10 grants
• Planning - 6 grants
• Other - 3 grants

Total requested funding authorization

The impact

Among the numerous testimonies given during the first hearing on Sept. 5, 2024, organizations spoke to the positive impact PCEF funding has created for climate justice work and the far-ranging community benefits.

Workforce Development Manager for Oregon Tradeswomen Courtney Hamilton said that the many of their graduates from their pre-apprenticeship program have risen to leadership roles in their careers. "We have been breaking barriers for more than 25 years," Hamilton said. "With the support of the PCEF fund, we will be able to continue breaking these barriers now and into the future."

PCEF funding will also provide critical improvements in low-income, multifamily housing in Northeast Portland that will reduce energy costs, improve residents' health and comfort, and increase the longevity of buildings to reduce displacement. "That's real money in the pockets of low-income households that they can use for necessities such as groceries, childcare, and health care," said Margaret Salazar, CEO of Reach Community Development. The impacts of PCEF funds are really about the long view, she explained. Making critical improvements today allows their organization to be good stewards for tomorrow.

Application review process and scoring criteria

The application review process included eligibility screening, technical review, and applicant vetting prior to applications moving to scoring panels and ultimately, the recommended portfolio. Applications were scored on criteria specific to their project type. Scoring criteria and information is publicly available online.

Scoring panels

Applications that passed the screening for eligibility, technical feasibility, and applicant vetting were assigned to a scoring panel. Each panel consisted of three members, including PCEF Committee members, program staff, and/or subject matter experts, with efforts made to ensure diversity and gender balance. Applications needed to receive more than half of the available points to be considered for funding. A calculated GHG impact score was also factored into the overall application score.

Recommended portfolio development

The recommended portfolio was developed based on a ranking of application scores, the allocations for each fund area, and the strength of proposals. All eligible applications submitted for funding can be viewed on the online portal.

About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS)oversees a world-renowned waste and recycling systemand leads the country in its commitment to digital equity, open data, and protecting communities in the application of technologies. Staff collaborate with partners on neighborhood, economic, historic, and environmental planningand provide research, policy, and technical services to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as policies and actions to address climate change. The bureau also oversees the innovative Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund(PCEF).

About the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) initiativewas passed by 65% of Portland voters in November 2018. It provides a consistent, long-term funding source and oversight structure to ensure that our community's climate action efforts are implemented to support social, economic and environmental benefits for all Portlanders, particularly communities of color and low-income residents. The initiative was supported by a broad coalition of groups and individuals and represents the first environmental initiative in Oregon led by communities of color.