Groundbreaking Cooling Portland program expands to help more Portlanders

News Article

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) will add $10.3 million to the program.

Cooling Portland installation

Portland will dramatically expand its groundbreaking program to reduce risk of heatwave deaths over the next two years, the city council decided Wednesday, Dec. 11. The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) will add $10.3 million to the Cooling Portland program, allowing it to help 10,000 additional households through 2026.

Cooling Portland community partners install free portable heat pump cooling units in the homes of vulnerable residents to protect against heatwave catastrophes like the one that killed more than 69 Multnomah County residents and hospitalized dozens more in 2021. Originally, the City planned to install 15,000 units over five years. Most of the equipment installed are efficient, dual-use heat pump units that provide cooling in the summer, as well as heat in the cooler months.

Just a phone call away

Cooling Portland's partnership with PDX 311 makes it simple for residents to connect with the program. "With just a call to 3-1-1, community members can quickly connect to a wide variety of information and services from their local government. We take pride in being able to assist residents, regardless of their language, ability, or resources, with the Cooling Portland program and other government services," said Michelle Kunec-North, PDX 311 Program Manager.

This year alone, PCEF and its community partners installed a record 6,000 units, for a total of 13,169 in just three years. Another 6,000 Portlanders joined a waiting list to get a unit, demonstrating the continued need for the program. Before Wednesday's action, the current Cooling Portland budget would have met initial goals ahead of schedule but could not have stretched to cover all those on the waiting list.

"We've installed a record number of cooling units in each year of Cooling Portland's existence," said Pilar Calderin, Climate Justice Program Manager at Earth Advantage. "However, we've also seen that the need in the community exceeds the funding level of the program. We're grateful to the city council for approving this much-needed expansion so that we can continue to help provide more Portlanders with the equipment they need to protect themselves during extreme heat events."

Safeguarding vulnerable Portlanders from the heat

A county analysis showed that most of those who died during the heat dome were living alone, over age 60 or had a health condition that made them vulnerable to the heat. PCEF designed the program to prioritize those groups.

"With the program's success, we've built a model that can help more people stay safe from the impacts of heat," said PCEF Strategic Partnerships and Policy Manager Jaimes Valdez. "By acting now, the City will be able to leverage the valuable community partnerships and capacity for installations over the next two years."

To qualify, households must earn 60% or less of the area's median income. That's about $71,000 annually for a family of four or $50,000 for an individual. People with specific vulnerabilities will receive units first. Portlanders can apply by calling 3-1-1 or by filling out a form online. The service can also connect applicants with utility programs to help them lower electricity, gas, and water bills.

Portland voters created the clean energy fund in 2018 with a tax on large retailers doing business in the city. It supports climate action efforts that help all Portlanders, particularly communities of color and people with low incomes.